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11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But 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. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For 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. 7For 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. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
111Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Women’s Head Coverings
2I praise you[a] because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman,[b] and God is the head of Christ. 4Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. 5But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head. 6For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head. 7For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. 9Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority[c] on her head, because of the angels.[d] 11In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not nature[e] itself teach you that 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 is given to her for a covering.[f] 16If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper
17Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident.[g] 20Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. 21For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. 22Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, 24and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28A person should examine himself first,[h] and in this way[i] let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. 29For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard[j] for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.[k] 31But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world. 33So then, my brothers and sisters,[l] when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 tc The Western and Byzantine texts, as well as one or two Alexandrian mss (D F G Ψ 33 M latt sy), combine in reading ἀδελφοί (adelphoi, “brothers”) here, while the Alexandrian witnesses (P46 א A B C P 81 630 1175 1739 1881 2464 co) largely lack the address. The addition of ἀδελφοί is apparently a motivated reading, however, for scribes would have naturally wanted to add it to ἐπαινῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς (epainō de humas, “now I praise you”), especially as this begins a new section. On the other hand, it is difficult to explain how the shorter reading could have arisen from the longer one. Thus, on both internal and external grounds, the shorter reading is strongly preferred.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “the husband is the head of his wife.” The same Greek words translated “man” and “woman” can mean, as determined by context, “husband” and “wife” respectively. Such an approach is followed by NAB, TEV, NRSV, and NLT (with some variations).
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 sn Paul does not use a word specifying what type of “covering” is meant (veil, hat, etc.). The Greek word he uses here (ἐξουσία exousia; translated symbol of authority) could be (1) a figure of speech that may substitute the result (the right to participate in worship) for the appropriate appearance that makes it possible (the covered head). Or (2) it refers to the outward symbol (having the head covered) as representing the inward attitude the woman is to possess (deference to male leadership in the church).
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 sn Paul does not explain this reference to the angels, and its point is not entirely clear. It seems to reflect an awareness that angels are witnesses to church life (cf. Eph 3:10) and would be particularly sensitive to resistance against God’s created order.
- 1 Corinthians 11:14 sn Paul does not mean nature in the sense of “the natural world” or “Mother Nature.” It denotes “the way things are” because of God’s design.
- 1 Corinthians 11:15 sn No word for veil or head covering occurs in vv. 3-14 (see the note on authority in v. 10). That the hair is regarded by Paul as a covering in v. 15 is not necessarily an argument that the hair is the same as the head covering that he is describing in the earlier verses (esp. v. 10). Throughout this unit of material, Paul points out the similarities of long hair with a head covering. But his doing so seems to suggest that the two are not to be identified with each other. Precisely because they are similar they do not appear to be identical (cf. vv. 5, 6, 7, 10, 13). If head covering = long hair, then what does v. 6 mean (“For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair”)? This suggests that the covering is not the same as the hair itself.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19 tn Grk “those approved may be evident among you.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:28 tn The word “first” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. It has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Corinthians 11:28 tn Grk “in this manner.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:29 tn The word more literally means, “judging between, recognizing, distinguishing.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 tn Grk “are asleep.” The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
- 1 Corinthians 11:33 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3But 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.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6For 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.
7For 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.
8For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
111Follow my example,(A) as I follow the example of Christ.(B)
On Covering the Head in Worship
2I praise you(C) for remembering me in everything(D) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.(E) 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,(F) and the head of the woman is man,[a](G) and the head of Christ is God.(H) 4Every man who prays or prophesies(I) with his head covered dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies(J) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.(K) 6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image(L) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;(M) 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.(N) 10It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.(O)
13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.(P)
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper(Q)
17In the following directives I have no praise for you,(R) for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions(S) among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.(T) 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.(U) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God(V) by humiliating those who have nothing?(W) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?(X) Certainly not in this matter!
23For I received from the Lord(Y) what I also passed on to you:(Z) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(AA) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(AB) in my blood;(AC) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(AD)
27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(AE) 28Everyone ought to examine themselves(AF) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.(AG) 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.(AH) 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined(AI) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.(AJ)
33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry(AK) should eat something at home,(AL) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come(AM) I will give further directions.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or of the wife is her husband
- 1 Corinthians 11:7 Or 4Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7A man ought not to have long hair
- 1 Corinthians 11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 : S 1Co 4:16
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 : Ro 15:3; 1Pe 2:21
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 : ver 17, 22
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 : 1Co 4:17
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 : ver 23; 1Co 15:2, 3; 2Th 2:15; 3:6
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 : S Eph 1:22
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 : Ge 3:16; Eph 5:23
- 1 Corinthians 11:3 : 1Co 3:23
- 1 Corinthians 11:4 : S Ac 11:27
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 : S Ac 21:9
- 1 Corinthians 11:5 : Dt 21:12
- 1 Corinthians 11:7 : Ge 1:26; 5:1; 9:6; Jas 3:9
- 1 Corinthians 11:8 : Ge 2:21-23; 1Ti 2:13
- 1 Corinthians 11:9 : Ge 2:18
- 1 Corinthians 11:12 : S Ro 11:36
- 1 Corinthians 11:16 : S 1Co 7:17; S 10:32
- 1 Corinthians 11:17 : 11:23-25pp — Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:17-20
- 1 Corinthians 11:17 : ver 2, 22
- 1 Corinthians 11:18 : 1Co 1:10-12; 3:3
- 1 Corinthians 11:19 : 1Jn 2:19
- 1 Corinthians 11:21 : 2Pe 2:13; Jude 12
- 1 Corinthians 11:22 : S 1Co 10:32
- 1 Corinthians 11:22 : Jas 2:6
- 1 Corinthians 11:22 : ver 2, 17
- 1 Corinthians 11:23 : Gal 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 11:23 : S ver 2
- 1 Corinthians 11:24 : 1Co 10:16
- 1 Corinthians 11:25 : S Lk 22:20
- 1 Corinthians 11:25 : 1Co 10:16
- 1 Corinthians 11:26 : S 1Co 1:7
- 1 Corinthians 11:27 : Heb 10:29
- 1 Corinthians 11:28 : 2Co 13:5
- 1 Corinthians 11:30 : S Mt 9:24
- 1 Corinthians 11:31 : Ps 32:5; 1Jn 1:9
- 1 Corinthians 11:32 : Ps 94:12; 118:18; Pr 3:11, 12; Heb 12:7-10; Rev 3:19
- 1 Corinthians 11:32 : Jn 15:18, 19
- 1 Corinthians 11:34 : ver 21
- 1 Corinthians 11:34 : ver 22
- 1 Corinthians 11:34 : S 1Co 4:19
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