Some, in resisting Scripture, have wrested it by seeking to prove that a woman’s hair is the covering that is required. The attempt to misuse the divine instruction should be so plain as to scarcely deserve comment. But for some who may have been misled by this strange twisting, it is well to call attention to some points. If a woman’s covering could be deduced to mean her hair, then a man’s hair would be his covering also. Now this evidently could not be the meaning in his case. What man would have his head shaved to be devoid of a covering? Even nature indicates only “short hair” for him. And he, who is supposed to have “short hair,” is not “to cover his head” when speaking to God or for God.
“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God.” v. 7.
How could “not to cover” possibly mean to not let his hair grow long like a woman’s when he is praying? The words of this verse express action or lack of action at the time of prayer. It is an act which he is not to do when praying. He may cover his head at other times, but these instructions refer to the time of “praying or prophesying.” How could anyone think otherwise? Therefore, we see that in a man’s case his hair is not the covering spoken of; he is not to put a hat or other covering on his head at this designated time.
Notice again the sixth verse. To make a woman’s hair her covering, instead of a hat or some other object, would make something quite ridiculous out of it. Such reasoning would make that verse say that if a woman did not have any hair on her head, then her hair was to be cut off — an obvious impossibility. The folly of seeking to prove that a woman’s hair is her covering, should be apparent. In verse 15 it should read, “in lieu of a veil.” Her long hair simply marked in nature a certain subordinate, retiring place.
Some in Christendom have written, in an effort to turn aside the plain directions, saying that it means “her long hair” is the covering, and that it simply amounts to a ban against having her hair cut short. Now it is sad when a Christian woman cuts her glory, and in doing so is “conformed to this world.” But how could she have short hair the rest of the time, and make it long when praying? It is a question of her showing and acknowledging her divinely appointed place when speaking to God or for God. This is to be done by placing a covering on her head at that time. Obviously if she has long hair all the time, there is still something to be done when praying. As we noticed in the case of a man, God spoke specifically about an act not to be done at the time of prayer. A woman already has a place of retirement in nature, already has long hair which marks her position, and now is to place a covering on her head to signify her subjection in that place. Is not that simple enough? For her to be without a covering would be a sign of her having taken the place of authority, and having left her own position. It would be confusion of God’s order, witnessed by angels. God has gone to great lengths to show the reasons for such a rule. Why should any labor to make something else out of it? It is to be feared that the refusal to show the outward mark of subordination is merely the indication that the God-given place itself is refused.