CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Corinthians 11:10 For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/11-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/46_1Co_11_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Corinthians 11:10 - Roles in Worship" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_corinthians/11-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_corinthians/11-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_corinthians/">1 Corinthians</a> > <a href="/1_corinthians/11.htm">Chapter 11</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad10.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-9.htm" title="1 Corinthians 11:9">◄</a> 1 Corinthians 11:10 <a href="/1_corinthians/11-11.htm" title="1 Corinthians 11:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/1_corinthians/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/1_corinthians/11.htm">New International Version</a> It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. <a href="/nlt/1_corinthians/11.htm">New Living Translation</a> For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority. <a href="/esv/1_corinthians/11.htm">English Standard Version</a> That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/bsb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/blb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Because of this, the woman ought to have authority on the head, on account of the angels. <a href="/kjv/1_corinthians/11.htm">King James Bible</a> For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. <a href="/nkjv/1_corinthians/11.htm">New King James Version</a> For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/nasb_/1_corinthians/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Therefore the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/nasb/1_corinthians/11.htm">NASB 1995</a> Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/nasb77/1_corinthians/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/lsb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/amp/1_corinthians/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, for the sake of the angels [so as not to offend them]. <a href="/csb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/hcsb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/asv/1_corinthians/11.htm">American Standard Version</a> for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/cev/1_corinthians/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> And so, because of this, and also because of the angels, a woman ought to wear something on her head, as a sign of her authority. <a href="/erv/1_corinthians/11.htm">English Revised Version</a> for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/gwt/1_corinthians/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Therefore, a woman should wear something on her head to show she is under [someone's] authority, out of respect for the angels. <a href="/gnt/1_corinthians/11.htm">Good News Translation</a> On account of the angels, then, a woman should have a covering over her head to show that she is under her husband's authority. <a href="/isv/1_corinthians/11.htm">International Standard Version</a> This is why a woman should have authority over her own head: because of the angels. <a href="/net/1_corinthians/11.htm">NET Bible</a> For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/nheb/1_corinthians/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/wbt/1_corinthians/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/wey/1_corinthians/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels.<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/web/1_corinthians/11.htm">World English Bible</a> For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_corinthians/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> because of this the woman ought to have [a token of] authority on the head, because of the messengers; <a href="/blb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Because of this, the woman ought to have authority on the head, on account of the angels. <a href="/ylt/1_corinthians/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> because of this the woman ought to have a token of authority upon the head, because of the messengers; <a href="/slt/1_corinthians/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Therefore the woman ought to have power upon the head for the angels.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels. <a href="/cpdv/1_corinthians/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the Angels. <a href="/nabre/1_corinthians/11.htm">New American Bible</a> for this reason a woman should have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/nrsvce/1_corinthians/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_corinthians/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For this reason the woman ought to be modest and cover her head, as a mark of respect to the angels. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/1_corinthians/11.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Because of this, a woman is obligated to have authority over her head, for the sake of the Angels.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/1_corinthians/11.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For this reason ought the woman to have a token of subjection on her head, on account of the angels. <a href="/godbey/1_corinthians/11.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Therefore the woman ought to have authority on her head, on account of the angels. <a href="/haweis/1_corinthians/11.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Therefore ought the woman to retain upon her head this badge of authority, because of the angels of the churches. <a href="/mace/1_corinthians/11.htm">Mace New Testament</a> therefore the woman ought to be veil'd, out of regard to the angels. <a href="/wey/1_corinthians/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels. <a href="/worrell/1_corinthians/11.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head because of the angels. <a href="/worsley/1_corinthians/11.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> For this reason ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels. <a href="/parallel/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g-wZWoK_LZU?start=2276" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_corinthians/11.htm">Roles in Worship</a> …9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10<a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">For this reason</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: touto (DPro-ANS) -- This; he, she, it. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynē (N-NFS) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">a woman</a> <a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: opheilei (V-PIA-3S) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">ought</a> <a href="/greek/2192.htm" title="2192: echein (V-PNA) -- To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.">to have</a> <a href="/greek/1849.htm" title="1849: exousian (N-AFS) -- From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.">a sign of authority</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">her</a> <a href="/greek/2776.htm" title="2776: kephalēs (N-GFS) -- From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively.">head,</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">because of</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/32.htm" title="32: angelous (N-AMP) -- From aggello; a messenger; especially an angel; by implication, a pastor.">angels.</a> 11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Genesis 6:2</a> the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose. <a href="/genesis/24-64.htm">Genesis 24:64-65</a> And when Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she got down from her camel / and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “It is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26-27</a> Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” / So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. <a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">Genesis 2:18</a> The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.” <a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Genesis 3:16</a> To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” <a href="/numbers/5-18.htm">Numbers 5:18</a> After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse. <a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2</a> Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. <a href="/ezekiel/1-11.htm">Ezekiel 1:11</a> Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. <a href="/psalms/8-5.htm">Psalm 8:5</a> You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. <a href="/daniel/10-5.htm">Daniel 10:5-6</a> I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. / His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. <a href="/matthew/18-10.htm">Matthew 18:10</a> See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven. <a href="/matthew/22-30.htm">Matthew 22:30</a> In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven. <a href="/luke/20-36.htm">Luke 20:36</a> In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God. <a href="/acts/23-8.htm">Acts 23:8-9</a> For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. / A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” <a href="/romans/8-38.htm">Romans 8:38-39</a> For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, / neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.power.<a href="/genesis/20-16.htm">Genesis 20:16</a> And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.<a href="/genesis/24-64.htm">Genesis 24:64,65</a> And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel… because.<a href="/ecclesiastes/5-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:6</a> Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?<a href="/matthew/18-10.htm">Matthew 18:10</a> Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.<a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Hebrews 1:14</a> Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_corinthians/10-28.htm">Account</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-3.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/9-18.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-32.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-7.htm">Head</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-3.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-7.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-13.htm">Power</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-30.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-7.htm">Right</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-22.htm">Sign</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/9-27.htm">Subjection</a> <a href="/zechariah/3-8.htm">Symbol</a> <a href="/luke/21-7.htm">Token</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-7.htm">Veil</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_corinthians/11-30.htm">Account</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/13-1.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-24.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-14.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-13.htm">Head</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/13-1.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-28.htm">Ought</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/12-2.htm">Power</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-30.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-13.htm">Right</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-22.htm">Sign</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-34.htm">Subjection</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-9.htm">Symbol</a> <a href="/philippians/1-28.htm">Token</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-15.htm">Veil</a><div class="vheading2">1 Corinthians 11</div>1. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-1.htm">He reproves them, because in holy assemblies,</a> 4. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-4.htm">their men prayed with their heads covered,</a> 6. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-6.htm">and women with their heads uncovered;</a> 17. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-17.htm">and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse;</a> 21. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-21.htm">as, namely, in profaning with their own feast the Lord's supper.</a> 25. <a href="/1_corinthians/11-25.htm">Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_corinthians/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_corinthians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_corinthians/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>For this reason This phrase refers back to the preceding verses where Paul discusses the order of creation and the roles of men and women. It emphasizes the theological basis for the instructions that follow, rooted in the creation narrative found in <a href="/genesis/2.htm">Genesis 2</a>, where woman was created from man and for man.a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head The "sign of authority" is often interpreted as a head covering, which in the cultural context of Corinth, symbolized a woman's submission to her husband and acknowledgment of the divine order. This practice was common in the Greco-Roman world, where head coverings were a sign of modesty and respectability. The head covering serves as a visible symbol of the spiritual truth of headship, as outlined in <a href="/1_corinthians/11-3.htm">1 Corinthians 11:3</a>, where Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman.because of the angels This phrase has been the subject of much debate. One interpretation is that angels, as witnesses to the order and worship of God, observe the conduct of believers. The presence of angels in worship settings is supported by passages like <a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Hebrews 1:14</a>, which describes angels as ministering spirits. The mention of angels underscores the seriousness of maintaining proper order and decorum in worship, as angels are seen as guardians of God's order. Another interpretation suggests that angels, who are aware of the divine order, are to be respected by adhering to these practices.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a> The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing issues within the Corinthian church. 2. <a href="/topical/c/corinth.htm">Corinth</a> A major city in ancient Greece, known for its diverse population and cultural influences, which affected the church's practices. 3. <a href="/topical/a/angels.htm">Angels</a> Spiritual beings mentioned in the verse, whose presence and role are considered in the context of worship and authority. 4. <a href="/topical/w/women_in_the_corinthian_church.htm">Women in the Corinthian Church</a> The primary focus of this passage, concerning their conduct and appearance during worship. 5. <a href="/topical/h/head_coverings.htm">Head Coverings</a> A cultural practice in the Corinthian church symbolizing authority and propriety in worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_authority.htm">Understanding Authority</a> The "sign of authority" on a woman's head symbolizes her acknowledgment of God's order in creation and the church. This reflects a heart of submission to God's design. <a href="/topical/c/cultural_context_and_application.htm">Cultural Context and Application</a> While head coverings were a cultural practice in Corinth, the underlying principle of honoring God's established order remains relevant. Believers should discern how to apply this principle in their cultural context. <a href="/topical/a/angelic_observation.htm">Angelic Observation</a> The mention of angels suggests that our worship and conduct are observed by spiritual beings, reminding us of the sacredness of our actions in worship. <a href="/topical/g/gender_roles_in_worship.htm">Gender Roles in Worship</a> This passage highlights the importance of understanding and respecting gender roles as outlined in Scripture, promoting harmony and order in the church. <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_and_worship.htm">Symbolism and Worship</a> Symbols, such as head coverings, can serve as outward expressions of inward truths. Believers should consider how their actions and appearance reflect their faith and submission to God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_corinthians_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 11</a> <a href="/q/why_must_women_cover_'because_of_angels'.htm">What does 1 Corinthians 11:10 mean by women needing a head covering "because of the angels," and why is there no historical or scientific basis for this?</a> <a href="/q/how_reconcile_1_cor_11_3-10_with_gal_3_28.htm">In 1 Corinthians 11:3–10, how can the requirement for women to cover their heads be reconciled with the claim that there is “no male and female” in Galatians 3:28? </a> <a href="/q/why_mention_angels_in_1_cor_11_10.htm">Why consider angels in 1 Corinthians 11:10?</a> <a href="/q/why_do_churches_vary_on_head_coverings.htm">Why do modern churches differ in head covering practices despite 1 Corinthians 11:2 mentioning traditions from Paul, suggesting a contradiction or lost context?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_corinthians/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head.--The two clauses which compose this verse are, perhaps, the two most difficult passages in the New Testament, and, accordingly, have given rise to an almost endless variety of interpretation. What is meant, first, by the woman having "power on her head?"1. There have been many--some of them most fanciful--suggestions that the word for power (exousia) may have crept in instead of some other word by the mistake of some copyist; or that the word used by St. Paul may have been exiousa--"When she goes out in public;" or two words (ex ousias)--"in accordance with her nature." All explanations, however, which require an alteration in the Greek text of the passage must be set aside, for (1) there is no MS. evidence whatever to support any other reading than the ordinary one, exousian; and (2) any alteration of a difficult or unusual word would have been naturally into a word that would simplify the passage--whereas here, if alteration has taken place, it has been to insert a word which has increased the obscurity of a difficult passage.2. It has been maintained that the word exousia here means the sign of power, i.e., a veil, which is the symbol of the husband's power over the wife. The fatal objection to this view, however, is that exousia expresses our own power, and not the power exercised by another over us. It is a word frequently used by St. Paul in this sense. (See <a href="/1_corinthians/8-9.htm" title="But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.">1Corinthians 8:9</a>; <a href="/context/1_corinthians/9-4.htm" title="Have we not power to eat and to drink?">1Corinthians 9:4-5</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/9-12.htm" title="If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.">1Corinthians 9:12</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/9-18.htm" title="What is my reward then? Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.">1Corinthians 9:18</a>.) Whatever interpretation, therefore, we put upon this passage, it must be consistent with this word being interpreted as meaning some "power" which the woman herself has, and not some power exercised over her by her husband.Most commentators have quoted a passage from Diodorus Sic. i. 47, in which the Greek word "kingdom" (basileia) is used to signify "crown," as an illustration of the use of the word indicating the thing symbolised for the symbol itself. The parallelism between that use of the word kingdom, and the use here of the word "power," has been very positively denied (Stanley and others), on the ground that the "use of the name of the thing signified for the symbol, though natural when the power spoken of belongs to the person, would be unnatural when applied to the power exercised over that person by some one else." But the parallelism will hold good if we can refer the "power" here to some symbol of a power which belongs to the woman herself. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_corinthians/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 10. - To have power on her head. A great deal of irrelevant guesswork has been written on this verse. Under this head must be classed the idle attempts to twist the word exousia, power, or authority, into some other reading - an attempt which may be set aside, because it is not sanctioned by a single manuscript. We may also dismiss the futile efforts to make exousia have any other primary meaning than "authority." The context shows that the word has here a secondary sense, and implies some kind of covering. The verse, therefore, points the same lessons as <a href="/genesis/24-64.htm">Genesis 24:64, 65</a>. This much may be regarded as certain, and this view is adopted by the steadfast good sense of our English translators, both in the Authorized and Revised Versions. The only question worth asking is why the word exousia had come at Corinth, or in the Corinthian Church, to be used for "a veil," or "covering." The simplest answer is that just as the word "kingdom" in Greek may be used for "a crown" (comp. regno as the name of the pope's tiara), so "authority" may mean "a sign of authority" (Revised Version), or "a covering, in sign that she is under the power of her husband" (Authorized Version, margin). The margin of the Revised Version, "authority over her head," is a strange suggestion. Some have explained the word of her own true authority, which consists in accepting the rule of her husband; but it probably moans a sign of her husband's authority over her. Similarly the traveller Chardin says that in Persia the women wear a veil, in sign that they are "under subjection." If so, the best comment on the word may be found in the exquisite lines of Milton, which illustrate the passage in other ways also - "She, as a vei1, down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore... As the vine curves her tendrils, which implied Subjection, but required with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him best received." The fact that Callistratus twice uses exousia of "abundance of hair" is probably a mere coincidence, resembling the Irish expression "a power of hair." Nor can there be any allusion to the isolated fact that Samson's strength lay in his hair. The very brief comment of Luther sums up all the best of the many pages which have been written on the subject. He says that exousia means "the veil or covering, by which one may see that she is under her husband's authority" (<a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Genesis 3:16</a>). Because of the angels. In this clause also we must set aside, as idle waste of time, the attempts to alter the text, or to twist the plain words into impossible meanings. The word "angels" cannot mean "Church officials," or "holy men," or "prophets," or "delegates," or "'bridegroom's men," or anything but angels. Nor can the verse mean, as Bengel supposes, that women are to veil themselves because the angels do so (<a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2</a>), or (as Augustine says) because the angels approve of it. The only question is whether the allusion is to good or bad angels. In favour of the latter view is the universal tradition among the Jews that the angels fell by lust for mortal women, which was the Jewish way of interpreting <a href="/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1, 2</a>. This is the view of Tertullian ('De Virg. Vel.,' 7) in writing on this subject. A woman, in the opinion and traditions of Oriental Jews, is liable to injury from the shedim, if she appears in public unveiled; and these evil spirits are supposed to delight in the appearance of unveiled women. The objection to this view, that angeloi alone is never used of evil but always of good angels, is not perhaps decisive (see <a href="/1_corinthians/6-3.htm">1 Corinthians 6:3</a>). The verse may, however, mean (in accordance with the Jewish belief of those days) that good angels, being under the possibility of falling from the same cause as their evil brethren, fly away at once from the presence of unveiled women. Thus Khadijah tested that the visitant of her husband Mohammed really was the angel Gabriel, because he disappeared the moment she unveiled her head. On the whole, however, the meaning seems to be, out of respect and reverence for the holy angels, who are always invisibly present in the Christian assemblies. (On this point, see <a href="/luke/15-10.htm">Luke 15:10</a>; <a href="/ephesians/3-10.htm">Ephesians 3:10</a>; <a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Hebrews 1:14</a>; <a href="/hebrews/12-1.htm">Hebrews 12:1</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-6.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:6</a>; <a href="/psalms/138-1.htm">Psalm 138:1</a> [LXX.]; Tobit 12:12. See Latimer's 'Sermons,' p. 253). "Reverence the angels" is St. Chrysostom's remark. <a href="/commentaries/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>For this reason διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. a woman γυνὴ (gynē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife. ought ὀφείλει (opheilei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty. to have ἔχειν (echein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_2192.htm">Strong's 2192: </a> To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold. a sign of authority ἐξουσίαν (exousian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1849.htm">Strong's 1849: </a> From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence. on ἐπὶ (epi) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. [her] τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. head, κεφαλῆς (kephalēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2776.htm">Strong's 2776: </a> From the primary kapto; the head, literally or figuratively. because of διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the τοὺς (tous) Article - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. angels. ἀγγέλους (angelous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_32.htm">Strong's 32: </a> From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 11:10 For this cause the woman ought (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Corinthians 11:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Corinthians 11:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Corinthians 11:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Corinthians 11:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>