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

1And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 2I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.

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 all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
• Ephesians 4:15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
• Ephesians 5:23For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.
• Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
• Colossians 1:18Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
• Colossians 2:10So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
• Genesis 3:16Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
• Ephesians 5:22For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
• Colossians 3:18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 2:11Women should learn quietly and submissively.
• 1 Peter 3:1In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over
• 1 Corinthians 3:23and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
• 1 Corinthians 15:27For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)
• Isaiah 49:3He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.”
• Isaiah 52:13See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.
• Isaiah 55:4See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations.

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