1 Corinthians 11:2-16

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Head Coverings

² I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.^{(A) 3} But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man^[a] is the head of the woman,^[b] and God is the head of Christ.^{(B) 4} Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head,^{(C) 5} but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. ⁶ For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. ⁷ For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection^[c] of God, but woman is the reflection^[d] of man.^{(D) 8} Indeed, man was not made from woman but woman from man.^{(E) 9} Neither was man created for the sake of woman but woman for the sake of man.^{(F) 10} For this reason a woman ought to have authority over her head,^[e] because of the angels.^{(G) 11} Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. ¹² For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, but all things come from God. ¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? ¹⁴ Does not nature itself teach you that, if a man wears long hair, it is dishonoring to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.^(H)