1 Corinthians 11:14

14 Doesn't the nature of things itself teach you that a man who wears his hair long degrades himself?

1 Corinthians 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 11:14

Doth not even nature itself teach you
By nature is either meant, the law and light of nature, reason in man, common sense, or rather custom, which is second nature; and which, in this case, must be restrained to the Greeks and Jews; for though among the Grecians the men cut their hair, and did not suffer it to grow long, as also did the Jews, yet there were many nations ^F11 who did not, even at that time, observe such a rule or custom; but as the Jews and Greeks were the persons chiefly, if not solely, known to the Corinthians, the apostle signifies, that the usages of these people might direct and inform them in this matter:

that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him;
he looks unmanly and womanish, and exposes himself to ridicule and contempt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Alex. ab. Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 5. c. 18. Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 10. prope finem.

1 Corinthians 11:14 In-Context

12 for as the woman was made from the man, so also the man is now born through the woman. But everything is from God.

13 Decide for yourselves: is it appropriate for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled?

14 Doesn't the nature of things itself teach you that a man who wears his hair long degrades himself?

15 But a woman who wears her hair long enhances her appearance, because her hair has been given to her as a covering.

16 However, if anyone wants to argue about it, the fact remains that we have no such custom, nor do the Messianic communities of God.