Head Covering

Many are confused concerning the issue of head covering for women. In the Evangelical Church, women covering their heads, during church as well as a in day-to-day living, is becoming more popular. The head covering apparel industry has a small foothold in the marketplace, and the practice, with style, is making a comeback in American society.

But what does the Bible say about head coverings for women? In fact, what does it say about head coverings for men as well? Both are referred to in the Bible, although the issue of head covering usually has its reference to women only.

To begin, we need to define what a “head covering” is, at least as far as how the Bible defines it.

Old Testament

The Priests

In Exodus 28, Moses wrote the requirements for the dress of the priests. Their requirements, listed exclusively in this chapter, were for “glory and for beauty.” The vestments, as the apparel of the priests is called, are also “holy garments” in order to set the priests aside as “holy” to YHWH. These articles of specific clothing are meant to separate the work of the priest from those who come to him for that work.

As it regards to headgear, however, it had a specific function. The high priest would have one made for him, by a special craftsman, a wrapped turban made of fine linen, and in the center of that turban would be a golden plate, a golden “tag,” with the inscription, “Holy to Yahweh.”This plate of gold would be visible for all to see, and to respect Yahweh, whom the priest is serving.

Moses

It is of interest to note that Moses also wore a veil at a specific time. When Moses, at the request of God, went up to the top of the mountain to meet with Him and receive His commands, his face shone brightly from having been in the presence of YHWH. It was shining so brightly that when people saw him, they were afraid because of his shining face. The remedy for this was to put a “veil” over the face of Moses in order to hide the shine of his skin. This veil was present when he spoke with the people and was removed in the presence of YHWH. This condition demonstrated the accommodation of the prophet to the spiritual condition of the people. He had to cover his face because of the (presumed) radiance which scared the people. It was right to scare the people, however, because the glow was from having been with YHWH, the God who delivered them. He is the Almighty One, the glorious One, and the holy One. Although there is no indication that Moses’s glow was hurting him, or anyone around him, it was enough for the people to know that Moses had been with the glorious YHWH and that alone was enough to cause dread in the wayward people.

It is evident that the main issue involved with this situation is that of the spiritual condition of the Hebrews, those who visibly saw Moses’s face shining. The apostle Paul informs us that the people needed this veil over Moses’s face. Although they looked at Moses, they did not appreciate him, nor did they believe in YHWH, even though he was reflecting His great glory.

Paul’s point is that when Moses appeared before God, apart from the people who could not look at him, he was able to remove the veil and he could see God and God could see him. The relationship was what it should be. Moses was able to take the barrier away because of the intimacy he had with YHWH.

In the same way, the barrier of an unbelieving heart is removed from a person when they turn to the Lord. The reconciliation has been made, and the person is now able to reflect the image and glory of YHWH in Christ. This personal interaction which Moses had with YHWH demonstrates to us the difference between the use of the turban by the priest, the veil by Moses, and the New Testament instruction to have no such covering for men in leadership in the church. This difference shows the real contrast between the Old Testament Israel and the New Testament church.

Women

There are a few times wherein women in the Bible wore a veil. Their veil, however, did not have the spiritual import as Moses, nor as the New Testament idea of a veil. However, in order tobalance out those uses, a more moderate consideration is important.

In Genesis 24:62-67 we have the record of the time when Isaac met Rebekah for the first time. Rebekah accompanies Abraham’s servant back to Abraham’s home, where Isaac is, and upon seeing Isaac coming toward them across the field, she is told that the man is Isaac, her future husband. Rebekah’s immediate reaction is to take the shawl that is around her shoulders, and to cover her head, and possibly her face altogether.

The woman in the Song of Songs also wore a veil. When YHWH wanted to warn Israel and the nations of his impending judgment upon them, He promised to “tear off their veils” of the women. When wicked Tamar, the widow of Judah’s son Er, wanted to have a child by Judah, she wore a veil to disguise herself as a prostitute.

In addition to these examples, there are scores of examples in secular writing and art that demonstrate that, especially in the areas of wind and blown debris, veils, scarves, and head gear were a prominent point of public recognition and status.

Rabbinic Law

“A woman is not allowed to go out (even in private ground) either with woolen or linen bands or with straps on her head to keep her hair in tresses (as a precaution lest she enter public ground and take off the bands to show to her friends, thereby becoming guilty of carrying movable property for a distance of four ells or more).”

The rabbi’s were teachers of the Old Testament in early Judaism. Their interpretations often were fanciful and highly speculative. However, they attempted to adhere to the Mosaic Law to the letter. Therefore, regarding head coverings, or a headband, or the shawl, or the veil, the issue for the woman was not whether she should wear one, or not. The issue was whether that veil would produce a work for her on the Sabbath, before or after prayer times, or on feast days. There are many regulations in their writings about women and the proper use of veils and headbands. What that illustrates is that there was an already practiced custom of the women to wear a headband, or veil, both in the house and out of the house.

New Testament

In the New Testament, there is little regarding statements about head coverings, for men or women. Of course, the foundational passage regarding head coverings is found in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. This passage, almost single-handedly, has become the ground zero for the discussions concerning head coverings. It is not possible to cover this chapter in its entirety here. However, we can summarize the key points that Paul wrote in order to make the rest clear.

The few key interpretive components to 1 Corinthians 11 are found in the following verses:

1 Corinthians 11:3 (LSB)

     3       But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:4–5 (LSB)

     4       Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, shames his head.

     5       But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, shames her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.

1 Corinthians 11:7 (LSB)

     7       For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man.

1 Corinthians 11:14–15 (LSB)

     14       Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,

     15       but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

With these particular verses from 1 Corinthians 11, we can deduce the meaning of this sometimes volatile chapter.

As it regards creation, which is recorded in Genesis 1-2, the man and the woman are both under the authority of someone above them. The woman, Eve, was created from the man. This becomes the basis for the authority of the man regarding the woman. As the man, Adam, is the basis for the existence of the woman, so is the man the authority regarding the woman.

Lest the man become proud, and demanding, note that the man, Adam, was created from dust. However, the purpose for his creation was to be the “image and likeness” of God. This likeness involves both the heart of the man as well as the formation of a body in order to accomplish the will of God on the planet newly created for him. Therefore, Christ, after whose image the man was created, is the Head of the man. Headship is not a struggle between superiority and inferiority, however, as can be seen by the fact that God is the Head of Christ.

Therefore, when it comes down to the service of the church, and the public activities of the church ministries, like praying and prophesying, it must be carried out with a recognition of this headship. A woman, given temporary giftedness in order to pray and prophesy before the church, must recognize the authority that exists above her, and give some kind of visible recognition of it. Paul’s conclusion is that although the woman is free to wear a veil, as is culturally acceptable,her long hair is actually given to her from God at creation as a public sign, before men and angels, of her unique place in creation as the glory of a man. A man, being the image and glory of God since Adam was created for that reason, must also recognize his Head and give some kind of visible recognition of it by not wearing anything on his head.

The covering of a man during those times of praying and prophesying in the church service would be a dishonor to him since he is the head of the woman, and the one who was commissioned to rule in the world. This leadership is a great glory to God, and specifically to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as the man was made in His image. The public display of that image before others, including angels, is important to the purpose of God on the earth.

Conclusion

The discussion of head coverings need not be the cause of contention. Although some societies, religions, and individuals, base their sense of right and wrong upon the use of some kind of head gear for man and women, it should not be this way in the church. The instructions from the Apostle Paul are fairly clear.

Men, being made in the image and likeness of God, must not cover his head while in ministry, either by head gear, or long hair. To do so is a dishonor to him, as well as a dishonor to Jesus Christ, his Head.

Women, as one made in the likeness of men for she was taken from the man and compliments him, must have some indication of such a position of the man. This indication was given to her in creation by the long hair that, in many ways, define a woman. This beauty and design is a glory to her, and to her head.