1 Corinthians 11
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 11
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Liturgical Assemblies and Their Problems[a]
Propriety in Worship[b]
The Question of Head Coverings. 2 I praise you because you remember me in everything and you maintain the traditions just as I handed them down to you.
3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings disgrace on his head. 5 And any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings disgrace upon her head, for it is just as though she had her head shaved. 6 Indeed, if a woman refuses to wear a veil, then she might as well have her hair cut off. If it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil.
7 It is not right for a man to have his head covered, since he is the image of God and the reflection of his glory, whereas woman is the reflection of the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman was made from man. 9 Nor was man created for the sake of woman, but woman was created for the sake of man.
10 Therefore, a woman should have on her head a sign[c] of her dependence, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 Although woman came from man, so does every man come from a woman, and all things come from God.
13 The Question of Long Hair. 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 has long hair, he is disgraced, 15 whereas if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair was given to her as a covering. 16 However, if anyone wishes to argue further on this point, we have no such custom to do so, nor do any of the Churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper, Sign of Unity[d]
17 Do You Despise the Church of God? Now in giving you this instruction I cannot praise you, because your meetings tend to do more harm than good. 18 To begin with, when you come together in your assembly, I hear that there are divisions among you, and to some extent I am inclined to believe it. 19 There must be such factions among you so that it will become clear to you which groups should be trusted.
20 [e]When you do assemble, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, 21 for each of you goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another has too much to drink. 22 Do you not have homes in which you can eat and drink? Or do you have such contempt for the Church of God that you humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? In this matter, I cannot praise you.
23 You Proclaim the Death of the Lord.[f]For what I received from the Lord I handed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and after giving thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same fashion, after the supper,[g] he also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.” 26 And so, whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
27 God’s Judgment on the Community.[h] Therefore, anyone who eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner is guilty of an offense against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone should examine himself about eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29 For a person who eats and drinks without discerning the body of the Lord is eating and drinking judgment on himself.
30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 If we were to examine ourselves, we would not be condemned. 32 However, when we are judged by the Lord, he is disciplining us to save us from being condemned together with the world.
33 Practical Conclusion. Therefore, brethren, when you come together for the meal, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that in assembling you may not incur condemnation. As for the other matters, I will resolve them when I come.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 Gatherings of Christians are liturgical assemblies. The members listen to the Word of God, give thanks, break bread, the Lord is present and the Spirit enters their hearts. On more than one point, Christians readily imitated the mode of acting of the Jews, who came together in their synagogues on the Sabbath, but they were more distrustful of the religious customs of the pagans. In any case, through the celebration of the Eucharist and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Christian Liturgy is profoundly original. Paul does not wish to impose laws upon it but insists that it be genuine worship.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 In ancient times men went with heads uncovered, while women wore a veil as a sign of modesty and also of dependence on their husbands.
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 Sign: of the presence of the Lord, who demands holiness and propriety (see Deut 23:15).
- 1 Corinthians 11:17 From the very beginning, the Church has celebrated the Eucharist. She does so by renewing the actions and words of Jesus on the night of the Last Supper, and here we have the most ancient document written about it. The document evokes the celebration itself and expresses its most profound meaning. Nevertheless, Paul does not intend to give an explanation of the subject. He is simply intervening in the face of abuses. He stresses that the Eucharist is not to be celebrated in the same way as one organizes a sacred meal in a temple with one’s friends. We are not going to partake passingly in some magical or symbolic food of immortality. Celebrating the Eucharist is a serious action that engages the whole community in the highest reality of its faith: the union with Christ in his Passion, the unity that he imparts to human beings, and the expectation of his coming and its accomplishment for all. Such an action entails exigencies for Liturgy and life.
- 1 Corinthians 11:20 Before the Eucharist, the Corinthians apparently held an ordinary meal, an early form of the agape (see 2 Pet 2:13; Jude 12). Paul condemns the abuses that occurred in it.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23 This is the earliest written New Testament account of the institution of the Eucharist. The words over the bread and the cup stress the Lord’s self-giving, and the words “Do this in remembrance of me” command Christians to repeat his action.
- 1 Corinthians 11:25 After the supper: i.e., after the Passover supper. The Lord’s Supper was first celebrated by Jesus in connection with the Passover meal (see Mt 26:18-30). The cup: a symbol of the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus (Lk 22:20; see Jer 31:31-34). The Old Covenant was the Mosaic Covenant (see Ex 24:3-8).
- 1 Corinthians 11:27 In this passage Paul presents a profound teaching: The reception of Christ’s Body is a source of life and unity; it also has an effect on the relationships of human beings and on their salvation. But if the fraternal bond created by communion loosens, as at Corinth, the community becomes disunited in spirit and in body.
1 Corinthians 11
New King James Version
Worship and the Lord’s Supper
11 Imitate(A) me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Head Coverings
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that (B)the head of every man is Christ, (C)the head of woman is man, and (D)the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or (E)prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were (F)shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is (G)shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since (H)he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman (I)from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman (J)for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, (K)neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 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 [a]to her for a covering. 16 But (L)if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, (M)nor do the churches of God.
Conduct at the Lord’s Supper
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, (N)I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For (O)there must also be factions among you, (P)that those who are approved may be [b]recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and (Q)another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise (R)the church of God and (S)shame [c]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
Institution of the Lord’s Supper(T)
23 For (U)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: (V)that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, [d]“Take, eat; this is My body which is [e]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death (W)till He comes.
Examine Yourself
27 Therefore whoever eats (X)this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and [f]blood of the Lord. 28 But (Y)let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks [g]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the [h]Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many [i]sleep. 31 For (Z)if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, (AA)we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you (AB)come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:15 M omits to her
- 1 Corinthians 11:19 Lit. manifest, evident
- 1 Corinthians 11:22 The poor
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 NU omits Take, eat
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 NU omits broken
- 1 Corinthians 11:27 NU, M the blood
- 1 Corinthians 11:29 NU omits in an unworthy manner
- 1 Corinthians 11:29 NU omits Lord’s
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 Are dead
1 Corinthians 11
King James Version
11 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
1 Corinthians 11
English Standard Version
11 (A)Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Head Coverings
2 Now I commend you (B)because you remember me in everything and (C)maintain the traditions (D)even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that (E)the head of every man is Christ, (F)the head of a wife[a] is her husband,[b] and (G)the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife[c] who prays or (H)prophesies (I)with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same (J)as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since (K)he is the image and glory of God, but (L)woman is the glory of man. 8 For (M)man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but (N)woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[d] 11 Nevertheless, (O)in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And (P)all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 (Q)If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do (R)the churches of God.
The Lord's Supper
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, (S)I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[e] 19 for (T)there must be factions among you in order (U)that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, (V)another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise (W)the church of God and (X)humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For (Y)I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that (Z)the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[g] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death (AA)until he comes.
27 (AB)Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord (AC)in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning (AD)the body and blood of the Lord. 28 (AE)Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some (AF)have died.[h] 31 (AG)But if we judged[i] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, (AH)we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be (AI)condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers,[k] when you come together to eat, wait for[l] one another— 34 (AJ)if anyone is hungry, (AK)let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things (AL)I will give directions (AM)when I come.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 Greek anēr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report
- 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or I believe a certain report
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 Some manuscripts broken for
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 Or as my memorial; also verse 25
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
- 1 Corinthians 11:31 Or discerned
- 1 Corinthians 11:32 Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord
- 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or brothers and sisters
- 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or share with
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
