King James Version

What Does 1 Corinthians 11:5 Mean?

1 Corinthians 11:5 in the King James Version says “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as i... — study this verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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.

1 Corinthians 11:5 · KJV


Context

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.

7

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head—Crucially, Paul assumes women are praying and prophesying in public worship. This isn't forbidden (contrast 14:34-35, which addresses disruptive questioning, not Spirit-inspired speech). The issue is how women participate, not whether they participate. An uncovered head dishonors both her physical head and her metaphorical head (the man, v. 3).

For that is even all one as if she were shaven (ἓν γάρ ἐστιν καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ τῇ ἐξυρημένῃ)—A shaved head signaled shame: prostitution, adultery, or mourning in Greco-Roman culture. Paul's shocking comparison means that removing the head covering in worship carried the same shameful connotation as shaving the head. The covering wasn't mere decoration but a symbol of honor, modesty, and submission to created order. For a woman to prophesy (speak God's word!) while symbolically rejecting that order was contradictory—exercising a gift while despising the Giver's design.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Respectable Roman and Greek women wore head coverings (veils or draped fabric) in public as signs of modesty and marital status. Unveiled women were often prostitutes or adulteresses. A shaved head was a mark of public shame—sometimes forced on adulteresses as punishment. Some Corinthian Christian women, perhaps influenced by libertine slogans like 'all things are lawful' (6:12, 10:23), were abandoning head coverings as symbols of newfound spiritual freedom, unwittingly communicating sexual impropriety.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Paul affirm women's spiritual gifts (prophecy) while maintaining creational distinctions (head covering)?
  2. What modern parallels exist where Christian freedom is misunderstood as license to abandon symbolic practices that communicate biblical truth?
  3. How can churches honor both women's giftedness and biblical gender distinctions without collapsing into either chauvinism or egalitarianism?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 21 words
πᾶσα1 of 21

every

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

δὲ2 of 21

But

G1161

but, and, etc

γυνὴ3 of 21

woman

G1135

a woman; specially, a wife

προσευχομένη4 of 21

that prayeth

G4336

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

5 of 21

or

G2228

disjunctive, or; comparative, than

προφητεύουσα6 of 21

prophesieth

G4395

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

ἀκατακαλύπτῳ7 of 21

uncovered

G177

unveiled

τῇ8 of 21
G3588

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

κεφαλὴν9 of 21

head

G2776

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

καταισχύνει10 of 21

dishonoureth

G2617

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

τὴν11 of 21
G3588

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

κεφαλὴν12 of 21

head

G2776

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

ἑαυτῆς·13 of 21

her

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

ἓν14 of 21

all one

G1520

one

γάρ15 of 21

for

G1063

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

ἐστιν16 of 21

that is

G2076

he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are

καὶ17 of 21

even

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸ18 of 21
G3588

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

αὐτὸ19 of 21

as if

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

τῇ20 of 21
G3588

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

ἐξυρημένῃ21 of 21

she were shaven

G3587

to shave or "shear" the hair


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 11:5 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 11:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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