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show, the woman’s glory (her hair) is not to be in evidence, so that if a woman be not covered her hair is to be cut off. Covering the head is preferable to that, as most women would no doubt agree.

That women do not need to have on a head-covering at all times is evident because Paul singles out the matters of praying and prophesying. As we have seen in Scripture, men often did not wear head coverings, though for some purposes they did, such as when exercising the priesthood. Some Christian women consider that they should be covered when they are giving thanks at table in the home or when another man (or another woman) is doing so. Sensibilities would come in here and I think most would feel that the matter should be left as a matter of personal judgment.

The point is to see that a women should normally be covered when in public and should put (or keep) a covering on when engaging in public prayer or prophecy. Some in the apostle’s day may have thought they should uncover their heads when engaging in prayer or prophecy, perhaps basing their view on Numbers 5:18. (This passage would suggest that women were normally covered when in public) Men on the other hand may have thought they should cover their heads when engaging in public prayer or prophecy, whereas Paul says “not to cover his head” (JND note to 1 Corinthians 11:7). The man should take any covering off (if worn) when engaging in public prayer or prophecy.

That women in Scripture normally had their heads covered when appearing in public (an assembly is a public place as those other than recognised brethren may come in - 1 Corinthians 14:24). This can be shown from a number of Scriptures. The bride in the Song of Solomon wore a veil when abroad in the city (chapter 5 verse 7). There are several other references in the Song indicating that a veil was worn (chapter 4:1,3 and 6:7). These passages refer to what is behind the veil. Even today a bride usually wears a veil at a marriage ceremony, probably based on Genesis when Rebecca “took the veil, and covered herself” before meeting Isaac (Genesis 24:65). The fact that she took the veil, rather than a veil, suggests that she had it ready for use. Possibly Leah wore a veil in Genesis 29:21-25 so that Jacob was deceived into thinking she was Rachel. We are told that Tamar “covered herself with a veil” so

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