Veil

There are certain laws and regulations we must observe when offering prayer and worship to God, the King of the entire universe. Now let’s focus on the regulation regarding the veil. The regulation regarding the veil states that men shall not wear anything on their heads, while women shall wear a veil when praying or worshiping. Let’s confirm this from the Bible.

The Veil Covering Is Not for a Man

1 Corinthians 11:3-4 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ… and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

1 Corinthians 11:7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God…

When praying or worshiping, a man shall not cover his head. What is the reason? The Bible teaches us that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God. Therefore, every man who prays or worships with his head covered dishonors his head, which is Christ. How dare we dishonor Christ who bore our sins and sacrificed for us by shedding his blood on the cross? Moreover, since man is the image and glory of God, if he covers his head when praying or worshiping, it covers God’s glory, which defeats the purpose of worshiping God. Thus, a man should not have his head covered when praying to or worshiping God.

Does the same rule apply to women? Let’s verify this from the Bible.

The Veil Covering Is for a Woman

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head – it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

When praying or worshiping, a woman should have her head covered, which means she shall wear a veil while praying. Otherwise, she dishonors her head, as if her head were shaved or her hair cut off. Why is it a disgrace to a woman when her head is shaved? In ancient Israel, female slaves would have their hair cut off. According to Numbers 5:18-22 of the King James Version, if a woman was suspected of adultery, the priest shall uncover her head and loosen her hair in public. So, a woman’s beauty would be diminished, and the image of adultery would arise if her hair were shaved or her head was uncovered.

1 Corinthians 11:7-10 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

The principle of creation in the Bible also explains why a woman should cover her head. God first created the man, Adam, from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Afterward, God created the woman, Eve, from Adam’s rib. The Bible indicates that man is the image and glory of God and woman, the glory of man. So, a woman shall have a sign of authority on her head. Therefore, for a woman, wearing a veil on her head is a sign of authority, in alignment with God’s creation of man and then, woman.

Veil Regulation Is Made by God and Not Men’s Tradition

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ

Apostle Paul, the writer of 1 Corinthians, mentioned that the teachings regarding the regulation of the veil were not his own but from Christ. At that time, some women in the church of Corinth wanted to be treated identically as men by not wearing a veil during prayer or worship.

1 Corinthians 11:13-15 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?

1 Corinthians 11:13-15, Today’s English Version Judge for yourselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God in public with nothing on her head. Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair on a man is a disgrace, but on a woman it is a thing of beauty. Her long hair has been given to her to serve as a covering.

Paul emphasized that nature expresses that a woman looks beautiful with long hair whereas it is a disgrace for a man with long hair. Hence, a man ought not to cover his head while a woman ought to cover her head with a veil.

Do churches nowadays follow this veil regulation as taught in the Bible? They do not. In Catholic churches, even though women wear veils during prayer or worship, men such as the pope, cardinals and priests also wear hats to cover their heads, which goes against the regulation of the veil. In Protestant churches, although men do not cover their heads, women also do not wear anything to cover their heads, which also goes against God’s will.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

God commanded us not to add to or subtract from his words. Therefore, we shall obey the veil regulation recorded in the Bible: men shall not wear anything on their heads, but women shall wear a veil during prayer or worship.