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Read the Bible

New King James Version

1 Corinthians 11:4

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Wife;   Women;   The Topic Concordance - Men;   Women;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Garments;   Prophets;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Women;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Marriage;   Overseer;   Woman;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Lord's Supper;   Worship of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Dress;   James, the General Epistle of;   Synagogue;   Veil;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Covering the Head;   Veil;   Woman;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Paul the Apostle;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Clothes;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Woman;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Veil;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Head;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostle;   Veil (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bareheadedness;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Every man who prophesies or prays with his head covered brings shame to his head.
Revised Standard Version
Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Eevery ma prayinge or prophesyinge havynge eny thynge on his heed shameth his heed.
Hebrew Names Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
International Standard Version
Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head,1 Corinthians 12:10,28; 14:1;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.
New Century Version
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame to his head.
Update Bible Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
Webster's Bible Translation
Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoreth his head.
English Standard Version
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
World English Bible
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Weymouth's New Testament
A man who wears a veil when praying or prophesying dishonors his Head;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ech man preiynge, or profeciynge, whanne his heed is hilid, defoulith his heed.
English Revised Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Berean Standard Bible
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
Contemporary English Version
This means that any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head brings shame to his head.
Amplified Bible
Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head [and the One who is his head].
American Standard Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.
Bible in Basic English
Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head.
Complete Jewish Bible
Every man who prays or prophesies wearing something down over his head brings shame to his head,
Darby Translation
Every man praying or prophesying, having [anything] on his head, puts his head to shame.
Etheridge Translation
Every man who prayeth or prophesieth having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Murdock Translation
Every man, who prayeth or prophesieth with his head covered, dishonoreth his head.
King James Version (1611)
Euery man praying or prophecying, hauing his head couered, dishonoureth his head.
New Living Translation
A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying.
New Life Bible
If any man prays or preaches with his head covered, he does not give honor to Christ.
New Revised Standard
Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Euery man praying or prophecying hauing any thing on his head, dishonoureth his head.
George Lamsa Translation
Every man who prays or prophesies, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Every man, praying, or prophesying, having anything upon his head, putteth to shame his head;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered disgraceth his head.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euery man praying or prophesiyng, hauyng any thing on his head, shameth his head.
Good News Translation
So a man who prays or proclaims God's message in public worship with his head covered disgraces Christ.
Christian Standard Bible®
Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head.
King James Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Lexham English Bible
Every man who prays or prophesies while having something on his head dishonors his head,
Literal Translation
Every man praying or prophesying, having anything down over his head shames his head.
Young's Literal Translation
Every man praying or prophesying, having the head covered, doth dishonour his head,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Euery man that prayeth or prophecieth, and hath eny thinge on his heade, shameth his heade.
Mace New Testament (1729)
every man who prays or prophesies having his head covered, dishonoureth him who is his head: but every woman who prays
New English Translation
Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head.
Simplified Cowboy Version
A man who rides in front of Jesus, even when praying to God, dishonors the one with authority over him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.
Legacy Standard Bible
Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, shames his head.

Contextual Overview

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 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 the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or 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 shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is 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 he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

or: 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

having: 1 Corinthians 11:14, 2 Samuel 15:30, 2 Samuel 19:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 11:25 - they prophesied Deuteronomy 22:5 - woman shall not 1 Kings 18:29 - prophesied Ezekiel 44:18 - bonnets Acts 21:9 - which 1 Thessalonians 5:20 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 6:4
There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Genesis 11:8
So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.
Genesis 11:9
Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
Genesis 11:11
After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:13
After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters.
Deuteronomy 1:28
Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."'
Deuteronomy 4:27
And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.
Deuteronomy 9:1
Exodus 32:1-35">[xr] "Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,
2 Samuel 8:13
And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians 1 Chronicles 18:12).">[fn] in the Valley of Salt.
Psalms 92:9
For behold, Your enemies, O LORD, For behold, Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Every man praying or prophesying,.... This is to be understood of praying and prophesying in public, and not in private; and not to be restrained to the person that is the mouth of the congregation to God in prayer, or who preaches to the people in the name of God; but to be applied to every individual person that attends public worship, that joins in prayer with the minister, and hears the word preached by him, which is meant by prophesying; for not foretelling future events is here meant, but explaining the word of God, the prophecies of the Old Testament, or any part of Scripture, unless singing of psalms should rather be designed, since that is sometimes expressed by prophesying: so in 1 Samuel 10:5 "thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall prophesy". The Targum renders it thus, ואנון משבחין, "and they shall sing praise"; upon which Kimchi observes, that it is as if it was said, their prophecy shall be שירות, "songs" and praises to God, spoken by the Holy Ghost. So in 1 Samuel 19:23 it is said of Saul, that he "went on and prophesied". The Targum is, he went on, ומשבח, "and praised". And again, "he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied". Targum, ושבח, "and praised", or sung praise. Once more, in 1 Chronicles 25:1 it is said of Asaph, and others, that they "should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals"; which Kimchi explains of Asaph's singing vocally, and of his sons playing upon musical instruments.

Having his head covered; which, it seems, was the custom of some of them so to do in attendance on public worship: this they either did in imitation of the Heathens r, who worshipped their deities with their heads covered, excepting Saturn and Hercules, whose solemnities were celebrated with heads unveiled, contrary to the prevailing customs and usages in the worship of others; or rather in imitation of the Jews, who used to veil themselves in public worship, through a spirit of bondage unto fear, under which they were, and do to this day; and with whom it is a rule s, that

"a man might not stand and pray, neither with his girdle on, ולא בראש מגולה, nor with his head uncovered; nor with his feet uncovered.''

Accordingly it is said t of Nicodemus ben Gorion,

"that he went into the school grieved, and נתעטף, "veiled himself", and stood in prayer;''

and a little after that

"that he went into the sanctuary and "veiled" himself, and stood and prayed;''

though the Targum on Judges 5:2 suggests,

"that the wise men sit in the synagogues, בריש גלי, "with the head uncovered", to teach the people the words of the law;''

and on Judges 5:9 has these words,

"Deborah in prophecy said, I am sent to praise the Scribes of Israel, who when they were in tribulation did not cease from expounding the law; and so it was beautiful for them to sit in the synagogues, "with the head uncovered", and teach the people the words of the law, and bless and confess before the Lord;''

but it seems that a different custom had now prevailed; now from this Gentile or judaizing practice, the apostle would dissuade them by observing, that such an one that uses it, "dishonoureth his head"; meaning either in a figurative, spiritual, and mystical sense, his head Christ, in token of the liberty received from him, and because he is above in heaven, and clear of all sin, the head must be uncovered in public worship; or otherwise the reverse is suggested of him, which is highly to dishonour him, and is the sense many interpreters give into: rather the reason should be, because Christ, the believer's head, appears for him in heaven, opens a way of access for him, gives him audience and acceptance in his person, and through his blood and righteousness; and therefore should appear with open face and head uncovered, as a token of freedom and boldness; otherwise he dishonours his head as if his blood and sacrifice were not effectual, and his intercession not prevalent: but the natural head, taken in a literal sense, is rather meant; and the sense is, that by covering it, it looks as if he was guilty and ashamed, and in subjection; whereas to appear uncovered expresses freedom, boldness, and superiority, like himself, who is the head of the woman; whereas to be covered, as with a woman's veil or hood, is effeminate, unmanly, and dishonourable.

r Macrob Saturnal. l. 3. c. 6. Alex. ab. Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 14. & 19. & 22. s Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 5. sect. 5. t T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 20. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Every man praying or prophesying - The word “prophesying” here means, evidently, “teaching;” or publicly speaking to the people on the subject of religion; see the note at Acts 2:17. See also the subject considered more at length in the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:0. Whether these persons who are here said to prophesy were all inspired, or claimed to be inspired, may admit of a question. The simple idea here is, that they spoke in the public assemblies, and professed to be the expounders of the divine will.

Having his head covered - With a veil, or turban, or cap, or whatever else is worn on the head. To remove the hat, the turban, or the covering of the head, is a mark of respect for a superior when in his presence.

Dishonoreth his head - Does dishonor to Christ as his head 1 Corinthians 11:2; that is, he does not, in his presence and in his service, observe the usual and proper custom by which a subordinate station is recognized, and which indicates respect for a superior. In the presence of a prince or a nobleman, it would be considered as a mark of disrespect should the head be covered. So in the presence of Christ, in whose name he ministers, it is a mark of disrespect if the head is covered. This illustration is drawn from the customs of all times and countries by which respect for a superior is indicated by removing the covering from the head. This is one reason why a man should not cover his head in public worship. Another is given in 1 Corinthians 11:7. Other interpretations of the passage may be seen in Bloomfield’s Critical Digest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 11:4. Praying, or prophesying — Any person who engages in public acts in the worship of God, whether prayer, singing, or exhortation: for we learn, from the apostle himself, that προφητευειν, to prophesy, signifies to speak unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort, 1 Corinthians 14:3. And this comprehends all that we understand by exhortation, or even preaching.

Having his head covered — With his cap or turban on, dishonoureth his head; because the head being covered was a sign of subjection; and while he was employed in the public ministration of the word, he was to be considered as a representative of Christ, and on this account his being veiled or covered would be improper. This decision of the apostle was in point blank hostility to the canons of the Jews; for they would not suffer a man to pray unless he was veiled, for which they gave this reason. "He should veil himself to show that he is ashamed before God, and unworthy with open face to behold him." See much in Lightfoot on this point.


 
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