King James Version

What Does 1 Corinthians 11:4 Mean?

1 Corinthians 11:4 in the King James Version says “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.” — study this verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.”

1 Corinthians 11:4 · KJV

Context

2

Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. ordinances: or, traditions

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.

Read 1 Corinthians 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head—Paul addresses male head covering first. In Jewish custom, men covered their heads in prayer (modern practice, though not universal in the first century). But in Greco-Roman culture, men typically prayed with heads uncovered. Paul sides with Greco-Roman custom here, but his reasoning is theological, not cultural.

The wordplay on kephalē (head) is crucial: the physical head represents the metaphorical head (Christ, v. 3). A covered head symbolically obscures the glory of God that man is to display (v. 7). Dishonoureth his head means both shaming his physical head and dishonoring his metaphorical head, Christ. When men pray or prophesy (both require Spirit-inspiration), they function as representatives of Christ's headship and must visibly display that glory, not veil it.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In Greco-Roman worship, men removed head coverings while women covered their heads (symbolizing modesty and respectability). Jewish practice was mixed—later rabbinic Judaism mandated male head covering, but first-century practice was diverse. Paul navigates these cultural customs with theological principle: worship should visibly display the created order and not confuse gender distinctions. The pneumatic activities (praying, prophesying) were accessible to both men and women (11:5), but gender-appropriate signs maintained creational order.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do our worship practices visibly honor Christ's lordship and created order?
  2. What cultural customs in your context communicate respect or disrespect in worship, and how should Christian practice engage them?
  3. In what ways might modern egalitarian impulses inadvertently obscure important biblical distinctions?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
πᾶς1 of 12

“Every”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

ἀνὴρ2 of 12

“man”

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

προσευχόμενος3 of 12

“praying”

G4336

to pray to god, i.e., supplicate, worship

ἢ4 of 12

“or”

G2228

disjunctive, or; comparative, than

προφητεύων5 of 12

“prophesying”

G4395

to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office

κατὰ6 of 12

“covered”

G2596

(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)

κεφαλὴν7 of 12

“head”

G2776

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

ἔχων8 of 12

“having”

G2192

to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio

καταισχύνει9 of 12

“dishonoureth”

G2617

to shame down, i.e., disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush

τὴν10 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κεφαλὴν11 of 12

“head”

G2776

the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively

αὐτοῦ12 of 12
G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Corinthians 11:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Corinthians 11:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 15:301 Corinthians 12:281 Corinthians 11:142 Samuel 19:41 Corinthians 12:10

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