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

1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 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. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she 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
• haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• youὑμᾶςhumas · youG5209
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• headκεφαλήkephalē · headG2776
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• isἐστίesti · he isG2076
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• womanγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 11:3

• Ephesians 1:22And put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
• Ephesians 4:15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:
• Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
• Philippians 2:10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;
• Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may have the preeminence.
• Colossians 2:10And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power:
• Genesis 3:16To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
• Ephesians 5:22Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
• Colossians 3:18Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
• 1 Timothy 2:11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
• 1 Peter 3:1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the behaviour of the wives;
• 1 Corinthians 3:23And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
• 1 Corinthians 15:27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is evident that he is excepted, who did put all things under him.
• Isaiah 49:3And said to me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
• Isaiah 52:13Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
• Isaiah 55:4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the 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