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Home > Faith > Christian Head Covering > Head Covering Frequently Asked Questions
Head Covering Frequently Asked Questions
April 2017 – There are many differing views and opinions on the topic of head coverings. The answers I give to the following questions come from my own convictions and beliefs based on the Biblical, historical, and scientific study of the subject, and based on the personal experiences I have had as a Christian covering woman.
I feel like I still have so much to learn on the topic of head coverings for Christian women, so my answers to the following questions may change slightly in the years to come as I continue discovering new things about this topic. But currently, here is how I would answer the following commonly asked questions . . .
Q: Do Christian women need to wear head coverings? I was always told that this was a cultural issue that no longer applies to women today, or that, at the very least, a woman’s long hair is enough of a covering that it is not necessary to wear anything more than that.
To really answer this question well, we need to look directly at the Scriptures and
take an honest look at what God is saying to us through His Word. I would really
suggest the following articles for an explanation of 1 Corinthians 11 and an in-
>> Christian Women and Head Covering: A Verse-
>> Is a Woman’s Long Hair Her Covering?
Q: 1 Corinthians 11 only talks about the need for a woman to wear a head covering during times of prayer and prophecy, so why do some women feel the need to cover all the time?
Personally, I only see the NEED to cover in times of prayer and prophesy, but I am coming to see more and more that there are BLESSINGS in covering at other times as well.
On the one hand, while a woman is really only told she needs to cover during times of prayer and prophecy, 1 Thessalonians 5 also talks about praying “without ceasing”. When I first started covering I really only intended to cover when I was praying, but I quickly found it was very inconvenient to always be running to grab a head scarf every time I wanted to pray which is why I just started wearing the head coverings more frequently.
This concept of “praying without ceasing” is perhaps the most common reason why some women feel the need to cover all the time, but there are other reasons as well.
The head covering is a symbol of authority, an outward sign of the fact that you are under the covering and protection of a man, so some women cover all the time as a way of respecting the headship of their husband. Wearing a head covering can serve as a powerful reminder of the authority structure you are a part of (the woman submits to the man, and the man submits to Christ who also submits to God the Father).
There is also a matter of modesty. I don’t believe the head covering is a required part of modest dress, but it HAS been my experience that women who wear a head covering tend to draw less negative attention from men and also give the impression of being more feminine, more reserved, and more modest in their overall appearance.
Q: Is the head covering supposed to be for all women or just married women?
There is a bit of confusion about whether or not 1 Corinthians is saying that ALL women should wear head coverings or if it is specifically talking about the need for MARRIED women to wear the head coverings.
The Greek word used here could really be translated either way, as “women” or “wives” – the same word is often used for both.
Some scholars think that since the word for “men” here is clearly talking about ALL men and not just referring to husbands then it is likely that Paul is also referring to ALL women and not just specifically wives.
On the other hand, when you consider the culture of the time when Paul was writing this it may help us to understand why there isn’t much distinction between the words “women” and “wives” here.
There are a lot of cultures around the world that do not make much of a distinction between these two words.
From my years of serving in Africa, I can say that in many of the African cultures that I have been exposed to (except the ones that are most influenced by media and western influence), a man is considered to be a "man" from the moment he enters puberty. But for a woman, she is still considered to be a "girl" and not really thought to be a real woman as long as she remains under her father's headship.
In fact, most African cultures will not consider a girl to have earned the title of "woman" until she is married. For some cultures they would even go so far as to say that she is not truly a woman until she has born her husband 2 sons (this is most common in tribes where the girls are married off at a very young age).
Unfortunately, this creates an awkward situation for women who never get married or are unable to have children, but it is very interesting to see how marriage and children are so defining of a woman's identity in these cultures.
In fact, when I delivered our first child here in Africa the very first thing the midwife said to me (even before telling me the gender of the baby) was to congratulate me on the fact that I am "a real woman now".
I don't know enough about the Greek or Jewish cultures to know for sure if this was the case back then as well, but if it was this might help to explain why there is not much of a distinction between the words "woman" and "wife".
I expect that my exposure to these other cultures has influenced how I read this passage and why I would feel it more geared towards wives than just to women in general. But at any rate, I would say that wives, specifically, are required to wear a head covering during times of prayer and prophecy, and while other (unmarried) women may or may not be required to cover, there is certainly great blessing and benefit to covering, even if you are not married.
Q: How do you view hair length in view of 1 Corinthians 11?
I do not want to become legalistic and lay out rules for women that were not intended to be forced on anyone. But I will say that personally I tend to see these verses implying that the hair is “uncut”.
One of my "passions" you might say, is going through and looking at the science behind a lot of the instructions given in the Bible. It is a fascinating study! I've only just started studying the science behind 1 Corinthians 11, but am already getting some real insights into the topic.
I find it interesting that for each person the length of hair will vary. Hair grows differently for different people and science has shown that the hair will grow to just the right length for the individual and no further.
In my studies on the topic I have learned about how, when a woman cuts her hair, the body spends about 3 years using up valuable vitamins and nutrients just in the attempt of trying to replenish the hair and make it grow back again, whereas for women who do not cut their hair, but let it grow to its full length, the hair actually works to help soak up the sun rays and helps to SUPPLY the body with extra vitamins and nutrients.
A lot of women in our day and age really struggle with nutrient deficiencies and hormone problems that result from these deficiencies which leads me to wonder just how much of this is tied to the fact that women frequently cut their hair?!
I've only just started studying the science behind uncut hair, so I'm still in the process of verifying scientific facts and finding reliable sources, but here are the articles that got me started on studying this topic, if you're interested . . .
>> Uncut Hair
>> Hair, Our Antenna to the Subtle Realms
>> Does Having Long Hair Make You More Intuitive?
>> Improve Your Vitality and Meditation with Long Hair
>> The Spiritual Nature of Hair
(Please note that these are NOT Christian sources, and I certainly don't agree with everything that is said in these articles, they are just what I came across as a "starting point" for this study)
Q: How much of the hair is the head covering supposed to cover?
If you look at the passage in 1 Corinthians you will notice that it is not even talking about covering the HAIR, it is talking about covering the HEAD.
The Bible does not go into detail about the specifics of how much of the head/hair should be covered, and personally I think this is because God did not intend that these verses should be made into legalistic laws for women, but rather that women should have a heart and desire to be obedient in these matters, and that they would seek God as well as confide in their husbands, and follow the Spirit’s leading regarding what obedience to these verses will look like in their own walk of faith.
At the same time, when we look at the science behind the head covering, I tend to think that AT THE VERY LEAST the very top of the head (or the crown) ought to be covered during prayer and prophecy. Others would say that from the top of the forehead down to the back of the neck should all be covered. While still others would go so far as to say that the entire head should be covered with no hair showing, and even a veil to cover the face would be the most ideal.
Personally, I would say that if you are new to head covering, at the very least wear something that covers the crown of your head, and then continue to pray and seek God as to whether He would have to cover more than that, and be true to your conscience and obedient to however the Spirit leads you.
As you pray and seek the Lord regarding this, here are a couple thought to ponder:
1) The Bible tells us that a woman should cover her “head” when praying and prophesying. When you think about the human body, what all would you label as being “the head”?
2) The Bible tells us that the hair is the glory of a woman. When we go to God in prayer, especially in times of corporate worship, we want all the glory to be going to God and not being drawn to ourselves. How much of a covering do you need to wear in order for the attention to be drawn away from your hair so that all the glory can be focused on God?
Q: I went through a time where I was really struggling and I went out on an impulse and got my hair cut really short, now I can’t get over the guilty feeling that I was very wrong in doing this. Is it very wrong for a woman to cut her hair? Is God very displeased with me?
Speaking from a Biblical perspective, it was very customary in the Old Testament times to cut the hair short (or even shave it off completely) in the cases of slaves, captives, and people who needed to "let go of the past" and have a fresh start and a new identity.
There is actually scientific evidence for this as well, that somehow cutting the hair short actually helps the body to "let go" of the past. So, instead of feeling guilty about it and thinking you were "bad" in cutting your hair, maybe it would help to see it instead as a fresh start for you.
Short hair is not meant to be the style of a woman, but if you cut it short with the intent of growing it out again, I would say you are actually doing something healthy. It is very common for women to cut their hair short after a serious illness, a hurtful relationship, or at a time of major change in their lives.
The hair will grow back again (and there's certainly products or essential oils that can help stimulate that growth if you need them), but until then, don’t feel guilty and don’t let the Enemy use this against you, just embrace it as a symbol of "starting over".
Q: If wearing a head covering is “because of the angel” why do some women feel the need to cover in the presence of men?
It is true that the reason given in 1 Corinthians 11, as to why a woman should wear a head covering, says that it is because of the angels. But the head covering is also a symbol of authority, an outward sign of our submission to our husband and the fact that we are under his care and protection.
Personally, I have met MANY men who were under the impression that a woman's reserved nature (or even a direct "no" from a woman) really just means that she wants the man to "try harder" to seduce her. This certainly does not apply to all men, but I'm just saying, I have met a LOT of these men in my life.
When I was single I found it helped a lot to wear a purity ring, as it just helped to send out the unspoken message that I was one of “those girls” who was saving herself for marriage.
Now that I'm married the ring just doesn't seem to cut it anymore (there are enough guys who would even pursue the attentions of a married woman), but wearing a head covering seems to work even better than wearing a wedding ring. In a way, the covering helps to communicate that I take my marriage very seriously and that I can not be categorized or confused with other women who may not share those same convictions. It also serves as a warning that any man who decides to “mess with me” will have to answer to my husband.
Q: If a man is coming to my house and my husband is not home, do I need to have my head covered?
First of all, it is never a good idea to be alone with a man who is not your husband, however, I do understand that sometimes it just can’t be helped. In my case, I do try to avoid being alone with other men, but in the culture where we are living no one ever calls ahead before dropping in and my husband travels frequently, which leaves me to receive his guests.
If at all possible, I try to greet them outside. If they need to come in I leave the door open and wear a head covering. In all cases I try to keep the encounter brief, being sure to tell them (sometimes repeatedly) that my husband is not at home and that they should come back when he has returned. All these "measures" or "codes of conduct" are not ones I feel like I HAVE to do, but I feel more like they are ways in which I honor my husband and keep a high code of modesty without giving other men any "mixed signals".
In many cases, our culture tells us that wearing a wedding ring is essentially the same thing, in that it serves as a noticeable symbol of your commitment to your husband. But it has been my experience that there are plenty of men who would still feel at liberty to flirt or “make a pass” at a woman even if she is wearing a wedding ring, but there is a higher level of respect shown towards women who wear head coverings.
Again, I do do not feel like this is something we are REQUIRED to do, but I recognize that there can be great advantages to covering around other men, especially when your husband is not present.
Q: What does the verse mean when it says that a woman should wear a head covering “because of the angels”?
In the chapter of 1 Corinthians 11, Paul does not go into details about what he means when he says that that the covering is “because of the angels”. It is only after further, in depth studies of the Scriptures that we gain further insights into this topic.
Personally, I view this statement as a way in which Paul is reminding the Corinthians (or pointing out to the rest of us) that the head covering is so much more than just a part of cultural dress or a physical apparel, but that it also has spiritual significance.
This is one reason why I do not believe people who would try to reason that head coverings were only a part of the culture and are no longer required for women today. This one simple phrase, “because of the angels” tells us that there is a spiritual side to the covering as well. Angels are not bound to time and culture, they are eternal beings. So if wearing a head covering has any significance to angels, then it is no longer a matter of cultural dress but actually a matter of eternal and spiritual significance.
As for what that spiritual significance can be, there are several different speculations on the topic, several of which seem to have good Biblical evidence to back them up. But the most common understanding is the fact that angels are very present during times of prayer. There are passages of Scripture that describe how angels are ministering spirits that carry our prayers and present them to God.
It is impossible to know exactly what is taking place in the spiritual realm or what affect the woman’s head covering has in all of this, but what we DO know from Scripture is that angels are very present during times of prayer, and a woman’s head covering has spiritual implications for the angels.
Q: There are times when I can’t find my head coverings, or I forget to put on on before heading to church. In these cases, does this mean I am not protected?
I know there is a lot of teaching out there about how a woman’s head covering is like a shield of protection when she engages in spiritual warfare through prayer.
Personally, in the studies I have done on the topic, I would agree that there is a element of truth to this. However, I do NOT think that EVERY time you pray you are going to be under spiritual attack, and yet, as there is no way of knowing when you would be prone to attack it is always best to cover if you can.
On the other hand, the verses about head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11 is really talking more about authority structures and how it is SHAMEFUL for a woman to pray when uncovered. I think the added protection it offers is a byproduct of covering and not he main purpose behind why these instructions were given.
Even in covering, we must remember that ultimately it is GOD who protects us and not the fact that we are covered. To say that a head covering protects a woman from spiritual attack is to put our trust and confidence in the physical object instead of trusting in God for our protection, and that would be idolatry!
I often think about what it says in 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul is saying that if a woman “refuses” to cover her head then she should be shaved. The head covering is meant to be an outward sign of a heart condition.
Our protection ultimately comes from God, and obedience to the commands of God is one way in which we can enter into His protective covering. God has given the command that a woman should wear a covering when she prays. If there is any spiritual significance to the head covering in how it can supply protection to a woman when she is praying, that is of less importance than the fact that we are living in obedience to God when we cover.
Personally, I think that if you have a submissive heart that desired to obey God, and as a habit you DO wear a covering, then it is not so big of an issue if upon occasion it happens that you pray or prophecy without a covering, but do bear in mind that according to the passage of scriptures, in doing so you ARE bringing shame to your head. So I would encourage you to make every effort to let these times of praying with your head uncovered to be a “rare exception” and not to make excuses for it or allow it to become the “general rule” or a lifestyle habit.
