Her hair is her glory

[Lamb]

1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

What does this mean?

 

[Lucian Hodoboc]

Saint Paul: *writes anything*
People reading his epistles:

 

[Jazzy]

Paul is saying that, even from the natural perspective, long hair is glory for a woman. In most cultures and times, women naturally wear their hair "longer," particularly in comparison to men. In this way, it serves as a natural covering. Paul does not seem to be saying that long hair is a substitute for an additional head covering when the Corinthian women are praying or prophesying in church services. Rather, his point is that the near-universal association of "longer" hair with femininity supports the idea that a covering is needed.

The general principle Paul has revealed in all of this is that of modesty with respect to culture. Christians ought not send "mixed signals" with their behavior, dress, or personal style. In the era when Paul wrote these words, a woman with an uncovered head in public was not unlike a modern-era woman wearing a revealing bathing suit to church. Obviously, specific cultural standards have changed; the principle remains the same. Believers—both male and female (1 Corinthians 11:4–5)—are obligated to consider the social implications of their appearance.

 

[Angel Michael]

1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

What does this mean?

This depends on the translation you are using. In the one you have given there is no question mark which alters the meaning of the verse. It goes:

but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

I will give you the answer of this question taken from a website:

Paul is making one last argument in favor of women covering their heads when praying or prophesying in Corinthian worship services. He pointed out in the previous verse that nature demonstrates the male tendency to keep hair shorter. Relatively speaking, "shorter" hair is typically considered a male trait, and "longer" hair a female trait. Men are disgraced when they violate this standard, as most cultures see this as an expression of femininity.

Now he says that, even from the natural perspective, long hair is glory for a woman. In most cultures and times, women naturally wear their hair "longer," particularly in comparison to men. In this way, it serves as a natural covering. Paul does not seem to be saying that long hair is a substitute for an additional head covering when the Corinthian women are praying or prophesying in church services. Rather, his point is that the near-universal association of "longer" hair with femininity supports the idea that a covering is needed.

The general principle Paul has revealed in all of this is that of modesty with respect to culture.

 

[BruceLeiter]

1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

What does this mean?

@Lamb, as always, the context of a verse is very important to discover for any good interpretation.

First, we need to read at least the whole chapter and look for the principles or main ideas that Paul is basing his thoughts on.

Second, we discover that verse 3 states the main idea, "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God."

Third, we also see that Paul applies his principle to his culture, that is, in terms of women's hair and other particular items.

Fourth, we investigate the word "head" in verse 3 and discover that as in Ephesians 5, the word means servant-leader, not dominator.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Eph 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Fifth, the whole word study sheds the light of God's Word on this perplexing verse and should enable us to apply his principle to our marriages and churches.

 

[Edward429451]

@Lamb, as always, the context of a verse is very important to discover for any good interpretation.

First, we need to read at least the whole chapter and look for the principles or main ideas that Paul is basing his thoughts on.

Second, we discover that verse 3 states the main idea, "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God."

Third, we also see that Paul applies his principle to his culture, that is, in terms of women's hair and other particular items.

Fourth, we investigate the word "head" in verse 3 and discover that as in Ephesians 5, the word means servant-leader, not dominator.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Eph 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Fifth, the whole word study sheds the light of God's Word on this perplexing verse and should enable us to apply his principle to our marriages and churches.

That's the spiritual answer and a good one. The way I figure it, is there's 3 messages in each passage or verse. The best way is to read it 3 times. 1st time for the textual content so the soulish interp is, well of course women's hair is a glory to her because girls with longer hair look better than women with short hair. @nd the 2nd reading/interp would give us the spiritual interp (your interp) and I doubt I have anything to add to that! And the 3rd reading/interp is always looking for the spiritual principle that manifests in that verse that they can apply to their life. Like, in this one, how a wife should/can keep herself covered by recognizing and acknowledgding that the Husband is the leader and she is the helper, so be as good as helper as you can be!

The Word speaks to us on different levels, and reading the Word is like looking into a Mirror. The word will reflect to you all aspects of your life.

 

[BruceLeiter]

That's the spiritual answer and a good one. The way I figure it, is there's 3 messages in each passage or verse. The best way is to read it 3 times. 1st time for the textual content so the soulish interp is, well of course women's hair is a glory to her because girls with longer hair look better than women with short hair. @nd the 2nd reading/interp would give us the spiritual interp (your interp) and I doubt I have anything to add to that! And the 3rd reading/interp is always looking for the spiritual principle that manifests in that verse that they can apply to their life. Like, in this one, how a wife should/can keep herself covered by recognizing and acknowledgding that the Husband is the leader and she is the helper, so be as good as helper as you can be!

The Word speaks to us on different levels, and reading the Word is like looking into a Mirror. The word will reflect to you all aspects of your life.

Thank you, @Edward429451. I have had a lot of practice with these steps of interpretation as a pastor for 27 years and a published author of Christian books (almost 17 years).

 

[Edward429451]

Thank you, @Edward429451. I have had a lot of practice with these steps of interpretation as a pastor for 27 years and a published author of Christian books (almost 17 years).

Yes Sir, Brother. But I am talking to myself as much as you, lol. Working out my Salvation with Fear & Trembling.

It makes sense that we're on the same page. When He Promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us into "All Truth" It can only be the same truth and it's refreshing to run into someone who is, let's say on the same section of the yellow brick road. I mean, alll of us are on the same path. Some are ahead of us. Some are behind us. So sometimes people don't always understand each other and what they know to be truths! And that's ok too. But when you say stuff like you did, it's encouraging to me! I know what you're talking about because He has been teaching me the same thing.

Aha, so I'm not wacky insane, lol. Prolly lots of people on this forum think I'm weird, lol. Well, I think they're weird! But still, they are Brothers & Sisters. It is true though, when a person begins to climb the Mountain of God, it starts getting very steep, very quick. This sure isn't what they taught me in Sunday School!

 

[grumix8]

Is that it is culture the hair symbolizes many things. If you look at babylon and roman culture hair was important for appearance. Babylon culture let people have long hair for beards and it was natural. And Rome people did shave to cleaness and hygiene.

Why do woman have longer hair ? For some it to cover their face and thus keep their beauty reserved for God and they can keep worship to God. It is a veil so amn don't go looking their beauty and they both fall in sin.

 

[Frankj]

Why do woman have longer hair ? For some it to cover their face and thus keep their beauty reserved for God and they can keep worship to God. It is a veil so amn don't go looking their beauty and they both fall in sin.

For most men, at least at some point in their lives, a woman's hair is a highly attractive thing that leads them to noticing their beauty rather than ignoring it.

 

[Edward429451]

For most men, at least at some point in their lives, a woman's hair is a highly attractive thing that leads them to noticing their beauty rather than ignoring it.

From what I can tell young girls keep long nice hair because they want to be pretty because they are on the market and there's lots of competition. Then after their married and settle down it starts being more of a hassle to keep up and besides, she's not on the market anymore...Then at some point they get older and chop it off for convenience and easier to care for.

When I married my wife when she was young, she didn't wear makeup and I liked that about her. Fast forward 22-23 years and then she starts wearing makeup. Which told me right away, she's going back on the market for herself. Bait. I was right too.