1 Corinthians 11:3

1 Corinthians 11:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Context of 1 Corinthians 11:3

1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 2Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

1 Corinthians 11:3 word by word

Θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ὅτι παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἡ κεφαλὴ ὁ Χριστός ἐστιν, κεφαλὴ δὲ γυναικὸς ὁ ἀνήρ· κεφαλὴ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ θεός.¶Read the interlinear

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• I wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• youσύsu · youG4771
• to understandεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• of everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• of the womanγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 11:3

• Ephesians 1:22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
• Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
• Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
• Colossians 1:18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
• Colossians 2:10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
• Genesis 3:16To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
• Ephesians 5:22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
• Colossians 3:18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 2:11A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
• 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives
• 1 Corinthians 3:23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
• 1 Corinthians 15:27For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
• Isaiah 49:3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”
• Isaiah 52:13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
• Isaiah 55:4Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The head of every man is Christ - The apostle is speaking particularly of Christianity and its ordinances: Christ is the Head or Author of this religion; and is the creator, preserver, and Lord of every man. The man also is the lord or head of the woman; and the Head or Lord of Christ, as Mediator between God and man, is God the Father. Here is the order - God sends his Son Jesus Christ to redeem man; Christ comes and lays down his life for the world…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3But I would have you know - “I invite your attention particularly to the following considerations, in order to form a correct opinion on this subject.” Paul does not at once answer the inquiry, and determine what ought to be done; but he invites their attention to a series of remarks on the subject, which led them to draw the conclusion which he wished to establish. The phrase here is designed to call the attention to the subject, like that used so often…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-16Verses 2-16 Here begin particulars respecting the public assemblies, ch. 1Co 14. In the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on the Corinthians, some abuses had crept in; but as Christ did the will, and sought the honour of God, so the Christian should avow his subjection to Christ, doing his will and seeking his glory. We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid every thing that may dishonour Christ. The woman was made subject to man, because made for…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God: The word head serves as a metaphor for either source or authority. The immediate context and Paul's overall teaching suggest that head means authority in this context (see Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:21–23; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. The Corinthian women, on the ground of the abolition of distinction of sexes in Christ, claimed equality with the male sex, and, overstepping the bounds of propriety, came forward to pray and prophesy without the customary head-covering of females. The Gospel, doubtless, did raise women from the degradation in which they had been sunk, especially in the East. Yet, while on a level with males as to the offer of, and standing in grace (Ga 3:28), their…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 11:3

• Church
• Family
• Husband
• Jesus Continued
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Comely
• Cover
• Cup
• Custom
• Guilty
• Hear

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings