1 Corinthians 11:14

1 Corinthians 11:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
• New International Version (NIV)Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

Context of 1 Corinthians 11:14

12For just as the woman came from the man, so also the man comes through the woman—but all things are from God. 13Judge for yourselves—is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Doesn’t the natural order of things teach you—if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him; 15but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory, for her hair was given to her as a covering. 16But if anyone intends to be contentious, we have no such custom—nor do God’s communities.

1 Corinthians 11:14 word by word

οὐδὲ ἡ φύσις αὐτὴ διδάσκει ὑμᾶς ὅτι ἀνὴρ μὲν ἐὰν κομᾷ, ἀτιμία αὐτῷ ἐστιν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Dothἤē · orG2228
• notοὐδέoude · norG3761
• evenμένmen · on the other handG3303
• natureὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• natureφύσιςphusis · natureG5449
• itselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• teachδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• youσύsu · youG4771
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• a manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• have long hairκομάωkomaō · be long-hairedG2863
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a shameἀτιμίαatimia · dishonourG819

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 11:14

• 2 Samuel 14:26When he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he would cut it because the hair got so heavy on him that he had to cut it. The weight of the hair from his head was 200 shekels by the royal weight.
• 1 Corinthians 14:35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home—for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak out in the community.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Doth not - nature - teach you, that, if a man have long hair - Nature certainly teaches us, by bestowing it, that it is proper for women to have long hair; and it is not so with men. The hair of the male rarely grows like that of a female, unless art is used, and even then it bears but a scanty proportion to the former. Hence it is truly womanish to have long hair, and it is a shame to the man who affects it. In ancient times the people of Achaia, the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Doth not even nature itself - The word nature ( ́ phusis) denotes evidently that sense of propriety which all men have, and which is expressed in any prevailing or universal custom. That which is universal we say is according to nature. It is such as is demanded by the natural sense of fitness among people. Thus, we may say that nature demands that the sexes should wear different kinds of dress; that nature demands that the female should be modest and…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. 14Doesn't nature itself teach you?: In Paul's culture, men did not wear long hair.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. The fact that nature has provided woman, and not man, with long hair, proves that man was designed to be uncovered, and woman covered. The Nazarite, however, wore long hair lawfully, as being part of a vow sanctioned by God (Nu 6:5). Compare as to Absalom, 2Sa 14:26, and Ac 18:18.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 11:14

• Women

In the dictionaries

• Comely
• Cover
• Cup
• Custom
• Guilty
• Hair
• Hear
• Judge
• Set
• Beard

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