Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 11:4
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian assembly regarding corporate worship, establishing a structural order where Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3).
The words — The verbs προσευχόμενος (proseuchomenos) and προφητεύων (prophēteuōn) identify the activities of praying and prophesying, while ἔχων (echōn) κεφαλῆς describes the physical condition of having a head covered.
The thread — Head covering is noted in 2 Samuel 15:30 as part of David’s mourning procession, whereas 1 Corinthians 11:14 addresses the natural disgrace of a man having long hair rather than discussing coverings.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that a man dishonors his head when he prays or prophesies with it covered. It requires the reader to maintain the prescribed worship posture without deviation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
- 2 Samuel 19:4 But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
- 1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.