1 Corinthians 11:15

1 Corinthians 11:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
• New International Version (NIV)but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

Context of 1 Corinthians 11:15

13Judge for yourselves—is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Doesn’t the natural order of things teach you—if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him; but 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. 17But in giving you this instruction I do not praise you, for when you meet together it does more harm than good.

1 Corinthians 11:15 word by word

γυνὴ δὲ ἐὰν κομᾷ, δόξα αὐτῇ ἐστιν; ὅτι ἡ κόμη ἀντὶ περιβολαίου δέδοται αὐτῇ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• a womanγυνήgunē · womanG1135
• have long hairκομάωkomaō · be long-hairedG2863
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• to herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• hairὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• hairκόμηkomē · hairG2864
• is givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• forἀντίanti · forG473
• a coveringπεριβόλαιονperibolaion · coveringG4018

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But if a woman have long hair - The Author of their being has given a larger proportion of hair to the head of women than to that of men; and to them it is an especial ornament, and may in various cases serve as a veil. It is a certain fact that a man's long hair renders him contemptible, and a woman's long hair renders her more amiable. Nature and the apostle speak the same language; we may account for it as we please.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15It is a glory unto her - It is an ornament, and adorning. The same instinctive promptings of nature which make it proper for a man to wear short hair, make it proper that the woman should suffer hers to grow long. For a covering - Margin, “veil.” It is given to her as a sort of natural veil, and to indicate the propriety of her wearing a veil. It answered the purposes of a veil when it was allowed to grow long, and to spread over the shoulders and ever…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. 15Paul argues that social rules about hair length show basic differences between men and women. For long hair is given to her as a covering: Paul suggests that women's long hair, which covers their heads, indicates that God wants women to have some form of "covering."Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. her hair ... for a covering--Not that she does not need additional covering. Nay, her long hair shows she ought to cover her head as much as possible. The will ought to accord with nature [Bengel].Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 11:15

• 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