We realize from Luke 12:7 that our loving God is so concerned about us that our very hairs are numbered.   As we study God's Word, we also see in 1Corinthians 11 that He is concerned about the length of our hair, the style, and whether it covers or uncovers our head. How we wear our hair shows God just how much we respect the authority of His Word, the Bible. Please read the following verses from God:

Read 1Cor. 11:3-13 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who has something [long hair] on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved [prostitute]. For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off [like the prostitutes]; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority [long hair] on her head, because of the angels. However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

14-15 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.

Now read again 1Cor . 11: 14-15. These are the key verses in this portion of Scripture. In verse 14, what should you naturally understand? ______________________________________
What should you understand in vs. 15?__________________________________________
According to vs. 16, did other churches have a different teaching?__________
What kind of person would not agree with this teaching?_______________________
What does "contentious" mean?________________________________________________
According to vs. 3, who is the head of the woman?______________________________
In vs. 9, why was the woman created?________________________________________
Vs. 7 tells us why the man should not have long hair. The man is __________________________
According to vs. 4, a man praying or prophesying with long hair does what?  ________________
In vs. 14, what makes a man "dishonorable?"______________________________________

Romans 1:24,26 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

The word "dishonor" is a very strong word. In Romans 1:24, the word is used to explain what? __
_____________________________.
The same word, in Greek, is used in Romans 1:26 as "degrading". What were the dishonorable or "degrading" things being done in this verse? ________________________________________
In 1Cor. 11:5, what does it say about a woman who has her head uncovered?   _____________  What kind of women do you think shaved their heads?__________________________
In verse 6, what two things are disgraceful?  _________________________________________ According to verse 15, what is the covering God wants her to use? _______________________

There are three situations or reasons for proper hair length for men and women given in 1 Cor. 11.
The first one is found in vv. 4,5, "...when _________________ or _____________________ ." How often should one be praying and prophesying (edifying, exhorting, and consoling)? ________
The second reason is explained in vv. 7-9, and summarized in vs. 10 as a symbol of your understanding of God's established ____________________ .
The third reason is related to the second, and is found at the end of vs. 10, "...because of the ______________ ". What do you think the angels are doing? ________________________ What two types of angels are there? _________________, _______________.
Why do you think these angels are watching you? _____________________________

From this study, we have learned that God is concerned about  both the LENGTH men and women's hair, and whether or not the HEAD is COVERED with that hair. The ears are part of the head and placed within the hair line. When hair is long, and down, it will naturally cover the woman's ears and the neck, thus fulfilling God's desires for her as revealed in 1Corinthians 11. It is obvious that although a woman has long hair, it can be arranged in an unnatural way to defeat the purpose of that hair. What is the purpose of the long hair in verse15? _____________________

1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,

In 1 Tim. 2:9, women are given certain guidelines of modesty. What is said about hair? _______  ___________________________
Braided hair or pony-tails may leave the ears, neck and head uncovered. How does this violate
1 Cor. 11:15? _______________________________________________________
What are the two disgraceful things mentioned in 1 Cor. 14:6 that also expose the ears and neck? ____________________  ________________________.
If a man's hair naturally covers his ears and neck, but he has it braided up, or in a pony-tail, is his head uncovered? _______ Does he have long hair?_________________ Is he pleasing to God according to verse 14?  ________ Is a woman with braided hair or pony-tails, (exposing her ears, neck, and head), pleasing to God according to verse 5? ________________.

1 Cor. 11:1-10 teaches us that our hair styles are important to our heavenly Father when we are praying and prophesying because of God's established authority between men and women, and because of the angels.

The words "praying" and "prophesying" should describe the daily activities of an obedient Christian. Our lives should be spent praying -- talking to God about our needs or the needs of others, or thanking Him and praising Him. When we are not talking to God (praying), we should be prophesying --- talking about God. We should be trying to talk to others who don't know Him, or fellowshipping with other Christians. (There will be times when we are not praying or prophesying, but the Bible makes it clear that we need to be ready "in season and out of season" to meet the need of the moment.) 1 Cor. 14:3 defines prophesying as edifying, exhorting, and counseling other people, verbally ministering to believers as well as unbelievers. We have seen in God's Word that men and women are to have proper hair styles at those times of praying and prophesying. God expects us to be discreet, modest, and to give no offense when praying or prophesying because of the angels, and because we recognize God's established authority.

Although we have much lateral movement in our hairstyles, some of those that may satisfy God's principles in 1Cor. 11, do not meet the requirements of 1 Tim. 2:9. What are the two words  that  describe  how our clothing and HAIR should appear? _______________ , _______________

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;

In 1 Cor. 10:31, what should we do to the glory of God?______________________
What are we warned NOT to do to ANYONE in vs. 32? ____________________________
From the two words in 1 Tim. 2:9, and word in 1 Cor. 10:32, what are three words that should describe our hairstyle? M__________________ D_____________________ NO___________________

Revelation 9:7-8 The appearance of the [demonic] locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.

In Rev. 9:7-8, what is the categorical distinction God uses to describe the hair of these male demons? _________________
What do you think is distinct about their hair? _______________________________
Who should have long hair? _______________
Whose example are men following if they have long hair?_______________________

Ezekiel 44:20 “Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.

Even in the Old Testament God reveals His concern for men's hair. In the above verse, what two things are the Levitical priests NOT allowed to do? __________________________________

Leviticus 21:5 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh.

What else were they not allowed to do? ___________________________________________

Deuteronomy 32:41-42 If I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me. ‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’

In Deut. 32:31-42. God is speaking about His people, Israel--"Jeshurun."  In verse 32, He compares them to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and is going to allow Israel's enemies to punish them. In verse 41, God will punish Israel's enemies, and calls them His "adversaries". In verse 42, what derogatory statement is made about the "leaders of the enemy"?_______________

Jer. 9:25-26   “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

Above, God refers to how He will "punish" certain people who are "circumcised and yet uncircumcised". This means that they are the disobedient people of Israel. In vs. 26, what are their hairstyles? ___________________________________________________
How do these hairstyles violate the verse in Lev. 19:27 below?___________________________

Leviticus 19:27 ‘You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.

Do you think, from what you have learned, that God wants long curls coming down from men's temples, like the religious Jews in Jerusalem, or does He want men to preserve the natural hairline He has created for them? ________________________
What do you think God's opinion is of some of the present day hairstyles, such as the partially shaved mushroom, the mohawk, the shaving of lines or initials in the hairline, or the shaving of the back of the head? ______________________________________________________
Are you ashamed or unhappy with the hairline God has given you?__________
Do you remember the three words that should describe a proper hairstyle? M______________ D_________________  NO_____________________

HIDE, HID , HIDDEN

A.Verbs
   1. krupto (2928), "to cover, conceal, keep secret" (Eng, “crypt” "cryptic," etc., is used (a) in its physical significance, eg, Matt. 5:14; 13:44; 25:18 (some manuscripts have No. 2); (b) metaphorically, e.g. Matt. 11:15 (some manuscripts have No. 2 here); 13:35,RV "(things) hidden"; KJV, "(things)” things which have been kept secret”; Luke 18:34; John 19:38, "secretly” See secret.
   5. kalupto 2572 signifies “to cover to conceal” so that no trace of it can be seen” ( hence somewhat distinct form number 1: It is not translated “to hide” in the RV: In 2 Cor. it is rendered “veiled," suitably continuing the subject of 3:13-18: in Jas. 5:20 “shall hide” KJV ( RV, “ shall cover”). See cover
   6. Parakalupto (3871 ), Lit., “to cover with a viel,”KJV, “hid” in Luke 9:45, “it was veiled from them”, see conceal.

COVER, COVERING

A. Verbs
      5. katakalupto (2619) “to cover up” ( kata, intensive), in the middle voice, “to cover oneself” is used in 1Cor. 11:6-7 (RV, “veiled”.)
Note: In 1 Cor. 11:4, “having his head covered” is lit, “having ( something) down the head.”

B. Nouns
   1. peribolaion (4018) lit. denotes “ something thrown around” (peri, “around,” ballo, “to throw”); hence, “ a veil, covering,” 1Cor. 11:15 ( marg.), or “ a mantle around the body, a vesture,” Heb.1:12. See CLOTHING,NOTE(1), vesture.

HAIR

A. Nouns
   2. kome (2864) is used only of “human hair” but not in the NT of the ornamental.  The word is found in 1 Cor. 11:15, where the context shows that the “covering” provided in the long “hair” of the woman is a veil, a sign of subjection to authority, as indicated in the head ship spoken of in vv. 1-10.

B. Verb
   komao (2863) signifies “to let the hair grow long, to wear long hair,” a glory to a woman, a dishonor to a man ( as taught by nature, ) 1Cor. 11:14-15.

The above definitions from VINE'S dictionary of New Testament Words helps us to understand the following truths that GOD reveals to us concerning hair in 1 Cor. 11:1-16:

*  the Greek word translated "cover, covered, or (un)covered" means to conceal so that no trace can be seen. (vv. 5-7,& 13),

*  the word "covering" in vs. 15 relates to a mantle or clothing and absolutely cannot refer to a "see-through" veil or small hat on top of a woman's head.

*  the definition of HAIR and its context in vs.15 make it very clear that as VINE states, "the long hair [hanging down, thus covering the neck and ears] of the woman is as a veil, a sign of subjection to authority as indicated in the headships spoken of in vv. 1-10. "

After completing this study, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind concerning our heavenly Father's attitude about our hair. It should also be obvious that our Lord Jesus DID NOT have long hair, as Roman artwork portrays Him, and that the Shroud of Turin is nothing but a fraud, since it shows an image with long hair. In John 8:29 Jesus says that He always does the things pleasing to His Father. Can that be said of us concerning our hairstyle? Remember, 1 Cor. 11:14-15 are the key verses for us as Christians, concerning hair today. The idea of requiring veils and hats for the women in the churches comes from the lack of understanding of 1 Cor. 11 that the HAIR is for the covering. The veil does not replace or allow for short hair. Also understand that God's concern for our hair has never been a cultural issue. Instead, He addresses the topic of hair in regard to the man's authority, the woman under his authority, proper worship, and watching angels. Our hair styles show God, the world, and angels that we love Him by obeying Him. It is a test of our obedience and has nothing to do with our salvation. We obey our Father because we appreciate what the LORD JESUS did by suffering on the cross and in hell in our place. We obey because we ARE saved, and born again. In 2 Cor. 5:9, what should your ambition as a Christian be?  _____
____________________Why? (verse 10)  _______________________________________
 

As we saw earlier, and want to leave again as a final reminder, God's summary warning concerning this teaching on men and woman's hair to those who may be contrary or "contentious." This is the correct practice for obedient Christians and there is none other that is acceptable.

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