'Women Who Pray,Cover Your Heads' - 'Cover' means?

'' 1 Corinthians 11:5, 6 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head , she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.''

Dear people of God, in this meditation, as the Spirit of God helps us, let us understand what is the kind of covering that Apostle Paul is instructing for women, in the above Scriptures of
1 Corinthians.


'' 1 Corinthians 11:3 Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man and the head of Christ is God.''

Here are few Hebrew translations of the word '' Head '':
Head
Vertex
Brain
Skull
Leader
Summit
Minister

For the above verse 'Leader,' 'Minister,' 'Summit' will be the applicable words: Leader and Minister implies Power - i.e, one who has power.
And ''Summit'' means the ''Highest Point''

So, in this Scripture, ''Head'' reflects on ''Power.''

Let us look into some Scriptures to understand this:

1. Head of Christ is God ( Power of Christ is God ):

'' Ephesians 1:15 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation , so that you may know him better. ''

'' Ephesians 1:18 - 21 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ''

2. Head of every man is Christ ( Power of every man is Christ ):

'' Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything, for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way. ''

'' 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 2 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more .For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. ''

So, the authority with which Apostles gave us instructions is of our Lord Jesus.The power they have is the power of Christ.

'' John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.''

'' John 14:6 Jesus answered, '' I am the way and the truth and the life.No-one comes to the Father except through me.If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.''


3.Head of every woman is man (Power of every woman is her man , i.e., husband ):

'' 1 Timothy 2:11 - 13 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; She must be silent. For Adam was formed first , then Eve. ''

Apostle Paul quoting Adam and Eve, reflects on 'husband and wife' relation.

Let us now read from John and understand how Jesus works with the Power of God:

'' John 5:19, 20 Jesus gave them this answer : '' I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.''

'' John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. ''

'' Luke 10:22 All things have been committed to me by my Father. ''

From these Scriptures, we understand how Jesus submits to the Father.

We understand that Jesus never carried an independent attitude.
He doesn't do anything to please Himself, but the Father.

And Father has committed everything to the Son.

Now, though God is head of Christ, Father and Son are one.

Let us read the same from John:

'' John 17:11 Holy Father , protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one. ''

'' John 17:21 I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just a you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity.... ''

''John 14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me ? The words I say to you are not just my own.Rather it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.''


From these above Scriptures, we therefore understand that Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father, and Son works in the power of the Father, and does nothing for Himself or to please Himself.

And though Father and Son are one , Son works in the power of the Father and Son submits Himself to the Father.

This above meditation is to help ourselves better understand what is the meaning of 'submission to Power,' and what is meaning of 'working in oneness with a higher Power.'

Having understood this, let us come back to 1 Corinthians:

'' 1 Corinthians 11:8 - 11 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independant of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.But everything comes from God. ''

'' 1 Corïnthians 11:3 Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man and the head of Christ is God.''

These Scriptures speak about man and woman ( husband and wife ) and instruct that a woman and a man are not independent of one another.
But a woman was made for man, and a woman came from a man, meaning, woman is taken out of something already made. ( Eve was made out of Adam - 'wife' is made out of the husband)

Hence from which she was made, is her Power ( Head ). This authority is established by God.

'' Genesis 2:20 - 22 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. ''

Therefore, a woman must have this ''sign of authority'' over her head.
And because Man is the Head of Woman.

Let us now understand what must she do in order to carry this sign of authority:

Let us read further:

'' 1 Corinthians 11:5, 6 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is just as though her head were shaved.If a woman does not cover her head , she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.''

In this Scripture Apostle Paul instructs that a woman who prays or prophesies, must 'cover her head.'

'Covering her head' is carrying sign of authority on her.

Now what does ''cover'' mean ?

Apostle Paul, in these Scriptures, has used the word 'cover' in a verb form, and not as a noun.
Lets read those verses again:

'' 1 Corinthians 11:6 .. if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. ''

Now, the Hebrew translations of the Verb form of 'cover' are:

Wrap
Hide
Wear
Thatch
Expect (expected)
Wrap up
Network


And the Greek translations of Verb form of 'cover' :

Hide
Clothe
Shelter

Now, if we take the applicable translated words ( in Hebrew and Greek ), and use them in the above verse, it gives the meaning that a woman must :
hide herself..

or take shelter in..
or thatch herself inside..
or wrap up herself with..
or clothe herself..

'' 1 Corinthians 11:5, 6 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her 'head' ( This 'head' means her man )

The word ''uncovered'' therefore means:

doesn't Hide herself
or doesn't Take shelter in..
or doesn't Thatch herself inside..
or doesn't Wrap up herself with..
or doesn't Clothe herself with.. etc

So, applying this above meaning of 'uncovered' in the above Scripture, the phrase ''with her head uncovered'' means. ''without hiding/taking shelter/ wrapping herself with the sign of authority.''

Sign of authority is the power above her.
''1 Corinthians 11: 3 Head of the woman is man.''

So, Power of the woman is her man.

Power => Head

Power of Woman => her Man => her husband.

Therefore, this above Scripture means that a woman who prays or prophesies, must not be complacent and do things just to please herself, in the sense, must not carry an independent / rebellious attitude, but must always submit herself to the power ( head ) God set over her. Meaning, must always submit to her husband, as is fitting in the Lord.

'' Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.''

Wives must submit , as is fitting in the Lord.

Lord is holy.
''fitting in the Lord,'' here means being holy in all her matters - this means, wives must submit to husbands, conducting all their affairs as is fitting in the Lord.

'' Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ''

Now :
'' 1 Corinthians 11:6 If a woman does not cover her head , she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.''
'' 1 Corinthians 11:14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair , it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair , it is her glory ? For long hair is given to her as a covering. ''

In these Scriptures, cutting or shaving her head off is used as an analogy by Apostle Paul.

Let us understand what he meant :
Just like long hair is given to her as a covering on her physical head , as her glory, God set her husband as her power (head), for her to submit and made her the glory of man.

Now if she wants to reject or rebel against this power set on her, rejecting to be the glory of her man, then she must cut off her hair or shave off her physical head too which is given to her as her glory!

But no woman likes shaving off her ( physical ) head. Isn't it?

So, just like shaving off her head is shameful and this is something a woman doesn't like to do, she must not reject / rebel, but submit herself to her husband , for this is propriety for women who pray.

'' 1 Corinthians 11:11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independant of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered ? ''

Dear people, let us judge for ourselves: When God our Father made a woman out of man and a man is born from woman, meaning neither of them are independent of one another - then is it proper for a woman to go into God's presence to pray, while rejecting / rebelling against this power God set on her ? ( i.e., with her head uncovered ? )

I pray may God grant grace and revelation to every one reading this message to grasp the truth in these writings of Apostle Paul.

Dear people, a slightest misinterpretation of the word 'cover' actually gives an entirely different meaning to this Scripture.
Because the word 'cover' when interpreted as a Noun, in Hebrew translation also means a 'Handkerchief.'

But in this Scripture the word cover is used, not as a Noun, but as a Verb.
And neither the word ' Head ' is used to refer physical heads, but used to refer or reflect on ''Power'' ( except when Paul was explaining the analogy of long hair of women.)

Coming to the phrase ''women who prays and prophesies'' in the following verse:
'' 1 Corinthians 11:5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head''

When Apostle Paul used the phrase ''Every woman who prays or prophesies'' he doesn't mean to say, ''every woman during her prayer times or prophesy times.''

''Every woman who prays or prophesies'' means:
''Every prayerful women,'' or, ''every woman who claims to be prayerful or is a prophetess, speaking the words of God.''

Let us also read this following Scripture for a further and deeper insight on the phrase

'covering the heads':

''Isaiah 29:9-13 Be stunned and amazed,blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer.
The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep :
He has sealed your eyes ( the prophets);
he has covered your heads ( the seers ).
For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll.And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, ''Read this,please,''he will answer, ''I can't; it is sealed.''
Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, ''Read this, please, ''he will answer, ''I don't know how to read.''
The Lord says : These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.''

In this Scripture when God 'covered the heads of the seers,' He did not literally place a piece of cloth or any obvious object on their physical heads.
Yes ?

This phrase basically means he closed up their understanding.

Similarly when Apostle Paul is asking women to cover their heads, he doesn't mean to ask them to place some physical objects on their heads.

But he is instructing them to cover themselves with the sign of authorty given over them.
Or close themselves up in the power assigned over them, which means submit themselves to their husbands, and instructing them not to be complacent or rebellious towards their husbands.

Having now understood this, let us read further:

'' 1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. ''
'' 1 Corinthians 11:7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man. ''

Now, a man is the image and glory of God.

And when a man who professes to pray and prophesy ( or every man who claims to be prayerful or is a prophet speaking the words of God), covers himself behind his wife's power, and misuses God's name, then he dishonors his head, who is Christ.

'' 1 Corinthians 11:14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. ''

Now, just like a long hair is given to woman as her physical glory and she is made the glory of man,
if a man tends to hide himself or clothe himself with the power of woman( his wife), it is as good as he is covering his physical head too with the glory given to a woman, that is long hair.
(As we read above, 'cover' in Hebrew means : Hide, Take Shelter, Wrap up, Clothe )
If then, covering with long hair is a disgrace, submitting to wife's power is also a disgrace.

Therefore men must never make their wives as their heads, for he would dishonour Christ if he does so !
Because Christ is the head (power) of every man.And every man must submit to Christ.

So,
'' 1 Corinthians 11:8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;neither was man created for woman , but woman for man.For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. ''

'' 1 Corinthians 11:16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God. ''

If anyone wants to disagree with this, then Apostle Paul says there is no other practice that they have, neither do the churches of God .
And this practice is: wives submitting to their husbands.

Now, here are Scriptures that help us understand concerning unmarried virgins and widowed or deserted wives:

''1 Corinthians 7:34 An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs : Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.''

Unmarried woman who is devoted to God, therefore submits herself to God.

Concerning widows and wives deserted by husbands :

'' Isaiah 54:4 - 6 ''Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your maker is your husband - the Lord Almighty is his name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit - a wife who married young, only to be rejected,'' says your God. ''

The below Scriptures from Matthew, are concerning eunuchs and people who renounce marriage:

'' Matthew 19:11, 12 Jesus replied, ''Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.'' ''

Now, having understood this, let us read the following Scriptures to know that every Authority is established by God:

'' Romans 13:1, 2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ''

'' Romans 13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes,pay taxes;if revenue, then revenue; if respect , then respect, if honour then honour. ''

Having now come to the end of our meditation, let us now read the following Scriptures from Ephesians in which the whole of our above meditation is imbibed:

'' Ephesians 5:22 - 33:
Wives,submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body , of which he is Saviour.
Now as church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body.

''For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.''
This is profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church.However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.''

Dear people, true worship to God is abiding by His instructions and submitting ourselves to doing His commands, with all our hearts.

But not practising some man made rules.

'' Mark 7:6, 7 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' ''

Let us therefore devote our hearts to abiding by the instructions laid for us by Christ's Apostles.

If we rebel, then:
'' Acts 3:22 - 23 For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' ''

Let us finally look into 2 Peter that speaks about the distortion in people on Apostle Paul's writings, foretold by Peter:

'' 2 Peter 3:14 - 18 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.
His letters contain some things that are hard to understand , which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this , be on your guard so that
you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.''

God Bless You.