Shalom my Friends:

Here is yet another question from one of my viewers in regard to head coverings.  I get this one a lot and it is really not that complicated to address from a Biblical stand point.  First you need to know my heart as I write the answer.  I am a man who loves women and I feel that there is a great place for women in the Body of Messiah Yeshua.  We as men are not the sole persons who rule and reign!  If we as men were complete, then why was there someone sought to be a "Helpmate"?  So please do not flame me thinking that I am against women.  I am not at all.  I honor them.  Now one cannot come to this topic of head coverings with an attitude that all men are sexist either.  We all must have ahumble view of ourselves whether man or woman.  Wemon, you are not all the movements and all of the TV shows declare you to be.  Men you are not some kind of demogog my way or the highway persons either.  We must see ourselves as the way YHVH made us and in the positions that YHVH has placed us.  If we see ourselves as the ones who deserve that our feet be washed by the opposite sex, then we are prideful and cannot approach this topic of head coverings appropriately.  We must be like our Master Yeshua who took a towel and washed feet.  This is true humility.  And I might ad, that this is the purpose of the head covering.  It is a place of humility and thus exaltation.  So again, please know that I am not some sexist male looking to debase the woman.  If you come away thinking that, then you do not know me very well.    I am not telling you what to do in regard too wearing a covering.  I am simply providing some texts and other's opinions based upon Jewish custom and historical evidences.  The Spirit must be your guide from the Word.  That said let us dive into the question and then the topic.

Here is the question:

Brother David, With your understanding of the Bible...what kind of covering do you
believe is to be worn by a woman? Is it something to be worn at all
times or only during praying and prophecying and when the Word is being
read? I'm very curious about this...and have been researching it for a
while. I would greatly appreciate an answer :-)

Here is my response:

My Dear Sister:

First let me thank you for your question about head coverings.  I have to tell you that I cover my head with a Kippa as a means of respect for G-d.  I am a man UNDER His authority and His creation.  I humble myself beneath Him alone as Elohim. I am the created and He is the Creator.  I share this with you because I want you to see that even man should humble himself and indeed does so as a Jew.  I would find it unfair for me as a man to ask my Wife or any woman that I minister to to wear a covering and be humble, if I indeed did not do so myself under G-d.  All men should follow my example before they require q woman to humble herself.  If we as men do not humble ourselves first, then how can we escape hypocrisy by asking the women in our lives to do so?  Then head coverings are sexist and not right.  Men, head coverings on women are really based upon how you as a man submit yourself to Elohim!  Do not be arrogant and think that women must submit and be humble while you somehow get away with pride.  It all begins with you as the head of the home, the priest of your home. We as men must get back to what Yeshua taught us.  WASH FEET and become the least that you might become the greatest.  It all is based upon humilty and it must start with the man.  As your Wife see's your submission before Elohim, then she might just be willing to submit to you.  Women are submissive many times because we force them to be.  How is that submission?  It is not submission but dominance!  We make them do things and yet we do not even humble ourselves! 

I wear a kippa.  I cover my head as I mentioned.  This is the starting point for a woman to begin her walk in humilty.  It begins with me as a man.  I know that the Bible does not command a man to cover his head wearing a kippa.  So why do this?  Again it is not forbidden either.  You might argue that indeed it is from Paul's words in 1Co 11:7 "For a man indeed should not cover his head, since he is the likeness and esteem of Elohim, but woman is the esteem of man".  Here Paul is speaking in regard to the manner or the final purpose of wearing the covering.  Else a man could never wear a hat at all.  He obviously is not speaking about the covering in that way.  I may elaborate a little on that topic, but our focus here is upon the woman.  I want to answer your question my Sister so please bear with my rambleing as well.  I think that we need to hit all areas of this topic to better have understanding.  So Paul's words are not in opposition to any Torah commandment nor are they contrived traditions by an Apostle.  We as men can wear a kippa.

Here is why and I get this from the Jewish understanding of why men cover their heads.  The world and the Gentile community all know well what a Jewish man looks like.  In history, we as Jews were commanded to wear funny clothes and other garments so that we would be easily identifyable.  That was antisemitism.  Yet, we wore these items and we were somehow different from the rest of the people.  G-d has always wanted Jews to be seperate and "peculiar".  That said, the kippa was a "badge or identification".  A jewish man wears a kippa.  When you see a guy with a kippa on, you assume he is a Jew.  Over the years, this has proven to be more than true.  Now, Jews wear a kippa to identify themselves with the Nation of Israel and better, with the G-d of Israel.  We choose to be humbled with what some call a "Beanie".  We are made fun of and rediclued because we wear this little hat.  But we choose to do this as Moshe chose to be identified with Israel and the people of Elohim.  If you wear a kippa as I do, you know what I am saying here very well.  You WILL be made fun of and stared at.  But notice my motive and the motive of the man who chooses to be rediculed.  He does this and allows this because he chooses to be associated with Hashem and the people of YHVH.  His heart is pure and is wanting to walk in humility.  I have included below the Jewish perspective from a Jewish Learning site.  Take a look at this later.

Now that I have elaborated my Sister so long in regard to the man and his attitude, you might just be able to see and be will more willing to choose and humble yourself.  All women if they were to see how we as men humble themselves and choose, might just be willing to follow our example.  Even Yeshua humbled Himself and became flesh.  He learned obediance as a Son.  Should we not do the same?  Men and women both together? Yeshua washed feet for an example.  OK men, lead the way for the women!

Here is the text from the Scriptures in regard to head coverings. I will comment under the text below.

1Co 11:1  Become imitators of me, as I also am of Messiah.

As I mentioned above, copy and imitate.  Not demand and require a head covering!  This insistance is not how Paul starts the discussion.  He says follow me.  Men do the same and then you will have earned the right to ask or mention anything about a head covering.

1Co 11:2 And I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in every way and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you.

Wait!  Did Paul say "brothers"?  Why not sisters?  Because it starts with men!  Just as I have told you above.

1Co 11:3 And I wish you to know that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of woman is the man, and the head of Messiah is Elohim.

The world will tell you that Paul was a "Sexist Pig".  No he is not nor is the Bible.  Yet, it is clear in regard to the order of creation.  The man is the head of the home and the priest of the home. It is all about leadership and a G-d given order, nit about who is smarter of better able.  Many women will run circles around a man, even in a leadership role!  I have seen far many MORE wise and smart women than men believe me.  Men can be block heads.  It certainly cannot be smarts or intelligence that men are the heads.  If that were the rule, then we as men many times would be the last on the bus if you catch my drift. It all has to do with the way YHVH mad mankind upon the earth.  Adam and then Eve next.  Nothing more.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, brings shame to his Head.

What kind of covering is Paul talking about?  Think of it like clothing.  A man traditionally wears pants and a woman a dress (Usually and by custom).  A man wears a kippa and a woman a veil of sorts against her head.  Remember that Paul was walking according to Torah and he knew full well the commandment against a man wearing a women's clothing.  So Paul here is establishing the same way of Torah living.  Men are not to wear a veil like cloth upon their heads as a woman does.  Just like hair differentiates a man from a woman by appearance, thus a covering does the same thing.  Men should look and be men men and women should look like and be women.  Thus the Creator's natural differntiation between the sexes.  Our natural naked features used to do this in the Garden of Eden. Now it is done with a humble heart and a outward garment.

1Co 11:5 And every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered brings shame to her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

Ask any cancer patient who is a woman and she will full well be able to indentify with the concept of loosing hair as a woman.  What does such a one do?  She buys a hat or a scarf or a wig.  Why?  She wants to maintain her dignity and her beauty.  The veil over one's head does the same thing.  I guess "bald is beautiful" to a point, but the fact remains, most women would rather dies than have their head be bald.

1Co 11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

Again the cultural outrage.  And at the time it was often a punishment for a woman caught in a sin to be shaven.  A public scarlet letter upon her head for all to see and shame her thereby.  Again however, let me be clear.  You might as well be shaven bald even if you wear a head covering and your heart is prideful or you are legalistic.  The heart determines all when it comes to the head covering.  No difference between a man or a woman.  You can wear a kippa all day long and if your heart is prdeful and legalistic, then forget it!  Humility, humility, humility!

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed should not cover his head, since he is the likeness and esteem of Elohim, but woman is the esteem of man.

Again, the woman's veil type covering.  Like long hair identifies a woman in society, so does a veil type head covering for a woman.  A kippa is for the male.  A woman should not wear a kippa for this is a man's garment.  A man should not wear a veil type covering for this is a woman's garment.  We imitate the creation by what we wear many times.  We also dent the creation and the differnces between Adam and Eve by what we wear as well.  This is not an expose about dresses only on women by the way.  There are women's pants too that men would never wear.  You see my point however.  It has nothing to do with legalism.  It is humility and submitting to the creative process under Elohim.

1Co 11:8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man.

 Enough said.

1Co 11:9 For man also was not created for the woman, but woman for the man.

I can expound on this, but that is another blog and message all in itself.  Focus on the creative order not on some demeaning debasing of women. You miss the point if you think that Paul was speaking about women be slaves for men.  Men you ought not to think some silly notion either!  It is all about humility and submitting one to another.  I will leave it there for now.

1Co 11:10 Because of this the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the messengers (angels).

Notice that a head covering is a symbol of authority!  Not one of debasement and a lesser class of person.  The Angels were not submissive and about 1/3 of them followed ha-satan in Revelation 12:4.  So women you have the Divine distinction to be a testiomny for YHVH in that you can have an indication, a sign upon your head exemplifying humilty and submission to G-d.  Tha Angels who followed ha-satan did not do this!  Angels are all around us and you have been chosen by G-d to be a living testimony!!!!  Men were not chosen to be this example.  Women were chosen.  What an honor and what authority has indeed been given to you and you alone!  Head coverings are not were they intended to be a way for men to overlord women!  They have a Divine purpose and this is what should be the focus.  If you see this purpose and cebter your heart on this Divine reason, then the sexist garbage goes away and your heart becomes the basis.

A woman must choose to wear this covering from her own heart.  The reason for the veil is submission to YHVH really.  Allowing the Divine purpose to be an example to even angels.  What a calling.  If it becomes a man thing and a way for your husband to rule you, or if you do it to please your Rabbi, then you miss the point!  Men if you force your Wife to wear a covering and demand this, then you miss the point as well!  It has all to do with heart motive and love for YHVH.  Honor your Rabbi and your Husband sure.  But we must not let the real reason ellude us.  Angels need to see one follow and submit to YHVH.  They need to see how a woman loves the L-rd and denies the one who is like ha-satan.

1Co 11:11 However, man is not independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Master.

Guys, YHVH made us dependent upon our ladies.  Never forget this. Some of you are nothing more than commanders!  Be like Yeshua and be a foot washer. Without her, you can't do much of anything and the whole human race would die off!  Give a woman respect and honor your Wife.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman was from the man, even so the man also is through the woman. But all are from Elohim.

1Co 11:13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered?

Now you can see why a covering is honorable when praying.  Remember the angels.

1Co 11:14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man indeed has long hair, it is a disrespect to him?

The way we look should be an indication of what YHVH created.  Man looking like men and women looking like women.  We are not Adam and Eve.  We have clothes and our sexual parts are covered.  In the Garden it was obvious who was who now we must take a step to identify our gender by what we wear and how our hair is kept.

1Co 11:15 And if a woman has long hair, it is an esteem to her, because the long hair has been given to her over against a veil.

Double glory!  A G-d given covering and an act of humilty by covering.  As much of our walk with YHVH, it comes from a choice we make.  Thus the addition of the additional covering over the hair.  One you were born with and have no choice, the other is a choice of love and devotion from your loving heart.  And do not forget the example to the angels.  Your Divine purpose.  Hair alone is not the covering.

1Co 11:16 If, however, anyone seems to be contentious, we do not have such a habit, nor do the assemblies of Elohim.

Ok, bottom line.  If you will seperate and hate one another and divide your mariage, then skip the covering.  If you will be full of hate and bitterness and feel like you are a door mat, then skip the covering.  If you feel like you are domineered by man, then skip the covering.  Why?  Your heart is not humble and your heart is not pure before YHVH.  You are simply following your Rabbi and some other dominant male.  Paul says if their is a contention, then we have no such custom!  The head covering is s sign to angels about love, obediance and humility.  So your motives must be this before the L-rd.  Else your traditions is simply that.  It becomes a dirty rag as you seek somehow to be more holy than the woman next to you.  You begin to wear it for pride sake.  Tha angels were prideful and left with ha-satan.  Why be like them and defile your Divine reason for wearing a covering?  Heart rules!  Love rules and humility must rule.  And men if you have this kind of demanding spirit, then yu deny the Divine purpose too.  So let a woman not cover her head if the man or she is not pure and humble.  But, if your heart is good and pure and meek, then go ahead an wear the covering.

Let everything be done decently and in order in the House of YHVH.

My Sister, I hope that this lengthly letter is helpful!  I know it is long.  But I have posted the answer to my website on my blog.  It will help many who have the same question.

May YHVH bless you and thanks for the question.

Brother David
www.1shalom.com


Now here is a Jewish website and article that describes well the practice of modern day Jews and head coverings.  I am not aware of the other teachings from this Rabbi, but on this topic, he is right on the mark. I fully agree and practice this myself.  Keep in mind he may have other topics that I do not agree with at all!

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Our_Bodies/Clothing/Hats_and_Head_Coverings.shtml