But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
Parallel translations
- KJV But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
- BSB but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
- NKJV But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
- NASB but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering.
- NLT And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A woman's long hair is her glory, given to her as a covering. Nature itself supports the propriety Paul commends.
Overview
Paul observes that a woman's long hair is honoring and serves as a natural covering. This reinforces his argument that distinctions in appearance reflect God's design. Whether the hair is itself the covering or a parallel to the worship covering is discussed, but the point stands that such distinctions are fitting and honorable.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 11:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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