Scriptural Headship

by Matthew Coover

MANKIND is to be under (subject to) his head (leader), being  Yahshua  (Eph 5:23b, 1 Cor. 11:3a). The woman is to be under her head, being the man (Eph. 5:22, 1 Cor. 11:3b, 1 Timothy 2:12), and the children are to be under their head, being the parents (Eph. 6:1).

A man should not pray or prophesy with his head covered, meaning that he should not attempt to hide or cover up the Messiah. (1 Cor. 11:4,7).

A woman should not pray or prophesy with her head (husband) uncovered by  Yahshua , or “not of the faith” (1 Cor. 11:5).  If a woman's husband is not a believer, she should not be teaching other women in the assembly.  To do so would be setting a poor example, for her family situation is not the ideal example of an upright home.  This is very similar to the scripture which requires a shepherd of the flock (assembly) to have his household in order.  (See 1 Timothy 3:4)

Paul is not speaking about a “veiling” or long hair in this passage at all. He is merely using long hair on women and short hair on men as an analogy to help us better understand the point which he is trying to get across.

The   other  side  of  the  coin  is  that  Yahweh  does not forbid the wearing of a head covering.  Although we are not to add to the inspired word by teaching that women must wear a head covering, neither should we add to it by teaching that they should not.

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees must also be avoided.  Those which teach that a veiling should be worn only during the time period from opening to closing prayers of an assembly appear to be missing the mark.  If a physical head covering is looked upon as symbolic of spiritual headship, it must be remembered that wives are to be in submission to their husbands at all times.  Under such circumstances, the witness would be much greater if the head covering was worn at all times, and scriptural headship was practiced at all times as  well.