1 Corinthians 11:14

14 Doesn't nature itself teach you that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair?

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.


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 As a woman came into existence from a man, so men come into existence by women, but everything comes from God.
13 Judge your own situation. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Doesn't nature itself teach you that it is disgraceful for a man to have long hair?
15 Doesn't it teach you that it is a woman's pride to wear her hair long? Her hair is given to her in place of a covering.
16 If anyone wants to argue about this [they can't, because] we don't have any custom like this--nor do any of the churches of God.
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