Divine pattern in marriage 5
By Ivan Ho 01 June 2025
While I am on the subject of marriage, there is a side issue in I Corinthians 11 on which I would like to share my thoughts, the passage that tends to be a subject of debate in some churches. Even today, some church leaders would take the following verse literally and require women to wear head coverings whenever they attend church gatherings:
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1 Corinthians 11:5-6 KJV
Some would interpret the above verses literally to mean that God requires all women to wear head garments to cover their heads in church whereas others say that it only applies to the cultural practice during Paul’s time which is no longer relevant today. Both interpretations, I’m afraid, are inaccurate as I will explain why the above passage has nothing to do with hats or head garments for women. If women want to wear head garments in church as a fashion statement, by all means, but there is absolutely no requirement from the word of God to do so at all.
The key verses which form the foundation for understanding the whole passage in 1 Corinthians 11 is as follows:
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.
When Paul mentions the word “head“, he is not really talking about a person’s physical head but the principle of headship as ordained by God, that the head of every man (and woman) is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Paul is merely using the physical head of man and woman to illustrate an important spiritual principle.
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1 Corinthians 11:10 KJV
The word “power” in the above verse is the same root word “exousia“, translated as “power” in Romans 13:1-3.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
When Paul talks about “power” (exousia), he is referring to higher spiritual powers that are ordained by God, rather than any hierarchical power structures set up by man.
The word “exousia” has the following meanings: “delegated influence: – authority; jurisdiction; liberty; power; right; strength”. (Strong’s Concordance)
So in 1 Cor 11:10 “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels“, God is referring to the delegated authority or influence to the woman, i.e. specifically her husband, or her father/ spiritual father who is the spiritual covering God ordains for the woman.
So what does Paul mean when he says: “for this cause…”? The answer is in the preceding verses:
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
I have already covered this in previous discussions so I won’t repeat myself here, but just to emphasise that it refers to marital relationship between husband and wife.
There are bi-fold meanings when Paul uses the phrase “head covering for a woman”: 1) “spiritual covering” from God ordained relationship i.e. her husband or father; and 2) physical head covering (because of the angels).
Regarding physical head covering, here are my thoughts. When angels look at mankind from heaven above, the first thing they can notice are our heads. Imagine if men and women all have the same hairdos, there is no way angelic beings can easily distinguish between who are males and who are females. If in our day and age, it’s not always easy for us mankind to tell the difference between a man and a woman, what chance do angels have? That’s why God in His wisdom gives women natural long hairs and man natural short hairs. 1 Corinthians 11:10
Not only is it necessary for angels to identify males and females, they want to see if a woman has spiritual covering over her or not.
Angels often carry out assignments based on visual signs of identification. For example, angels of death at the Passover would bypass households with the blood of lamb on their door posts, pointing to redemption of man through the blood of Jesus.
Here’s the question: If God has already given women long hairs as a symbol of authority over them, why do they still need to wear head coverings? In wearing hats or some sort of head garments, don’t they have to bind up and cover their natural hairs?
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
God not only gives women long hair for natural covering, but also uses it as a symbol of spiritual covering over her.
The woman is the glory of the man
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1 Corinthians 11:5-7 KJ
When Paul says that it is shameful for a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered, he is not referring to her head garment but rather her spiritual or headship covering. There are many ways a woman could fail to recognise or dishonour her husband/ spiritual authority above her, but not wearing a head garment isn’t one of them. When a woman dishonours her husband in church, it is likened to her exposing her head in shame.
The woman is supposed to reveal or reflect the glory of her husband in Christ by recognising the spiritual covering above her rather than to dishonour him publicly.
However, when a woman is independent of any spiritual authority above her, not following any instructions and councils, it is like she has no covering upon her head. Even though she may think she is doing “spiritual” things such as praying or prophesying, she becomes exposed spiritually. She may think her “anointing” comes directly from God, but because of her being independent, she is susceptible to deceptions.
I personally encountered a woman from Singapore who came to Melbourne by herself, saying that she received a vision from God to start a church. I was invited to a house meeting in which she prayed, prophesied and tried to do deliverance on people. She prophesied over everyone at the meeting including me but in my spirit, I knew something didn’t sit right with me even though she was full of zeal and seemingly doing spiritual things. I didn’t go back to her meetings and some years later, I was told she returned to Singapore out of some mental issues and the church she started in Melbourne was no more. I have nothing against her and saw that she was full of zeal for the Lord, but because she was not under any spiritual covering, she became deceived.
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Man to reveal the glory of Christ
On the other hand, when a man prays or prophesies, he ought not cover his head. What it means is that the man of God is supposed to allow Christ to be revealed in him rather than to conceal His glory.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
The above scriptures are written specifically for married couples but the principles also apply for single men and women.
A man ought not to cover his head, for he is the image and glory of God. A man having his head covered is not allowing Christ to manifest through him. He may be praying and prophesying and seemingly doing spiritual things but at the same time walking in disobedience to God and doing things that dishonour Him. When he is in that condition, it is like his head is being covered and the glory of God cannot manifest through him.
For married couples, “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord“. There are three parties in this verse: the man, the woman, and above them, the Lord Jesus.
As long as there is a strong connection between all three parties, no external parties can enter in to cause division between the husband and the wife.
However, when the husband and wife are independent of each other, even if they may be together physically, it becomes a totally different scenario altogether. What happened in the garden of Eden, even though Adam and Eve were physically together, Eve was targetted by the devil being the weak link on her own. During her conversation with the serpent, she became detached and isolated from her husband, Her mind was poisoned by suggestions from the devil and her soul was enticed by what looked good to her, and she became deceived. That is why a person who is full of himself (or herself) and not willing to listen to and submit to God ordained authorities is vulnerable to all kinds of demonic attacks. James 4:7-8
Hope it all make sense to you. If not, ask your own husband at home 🙂