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

1Imitate me as I imitate Christ. 2I praise you for always thinking about me and for carefully following the traditions that I handed down to you. However, I want you to realize that Christ has authority over every man, a husband has authority over his wife, and God has authority over Christ. 4Every man who covers his head when he prays or speaks what God has revealed dishonors the one who has authority over him. 5Every woman who prays or speaks what God has revealed and has her head uncovered while she speaks dishonors the one who has authority over her. She is like the woman who has her head 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• I would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• youσύsu · youG4771
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• the headὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the 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 1:22God has put everything under the control of Christ. He has made Christ the head of everything for the good of the church.
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head.
• Ephesians 5:23The husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. It is his body, and he is its Savior.
• Philippians 2:10so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel
• Colossians 1:18He is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that he would have first place in everything.
• Colossians 2:10and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
• Genesis 3:16He said to the woman, “I will increase your pain and your labor when you give birth to children. Yet, you will long for your husband, and he will rule you.”
• Ephesians 5:22Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority.
• Colossians 3:18Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. This is appropriate behavior for the Lord’s people.
• 1 Timothy 2:11A woman must learn in silence, in keeping with her position.
• 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men ⌞for Christ⌟ by the way they live without saying anything.
• 1 Corinthians 3:23You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
• 1 Corinthians 15:27Clearly, God has put everything under Christ’s authority. When God says that everything has been put under Christ’s authority, this clearly excludes God, since God has put everything under Christ’s authority.
• Isaiah 49:3He said to me, “You are my servant Israel. I will display my glory through you.”
• Isaiah 52:13My servant will be successful. He will be respected, praised, and highly honored.
• Isaiah 55:4I made him a witness to people, a leader and a commander for people.

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