text: Typically a covering over the hair. Think of Orthodox Jewish women and you will get the picture. The practice in Paul's day for Jewish women to cover their hair was about the same as it is today. It is a sign of the power of God over their lives, just as the yarmulke (kippah / skullcap) is a sign of God's authority over men. It is a sign of respect.\n\nYes it is a sign of authority, but not in the way the church would normally take it.  A careful reading shows that a man doesn't have any authority above him except for Messiah. There is not supposed to be a "covering" over him like a pastor, bishop, archbishop, cardinal, pope, priest or rabbi.  All of these are unneeded. The concept of a hierarchy that the church has established over people is unbiblical.  Each of us are to be independant thinkers!\n\nMessiah is the head over the Body. He has authority over the Bride. Similarly the husband is to excercise the same sort of loving authority over his household. Messiah is not a tyrant and the husband is not to be a tyrant over his household either.  Way too many men over the years have gotten that wrong.  They look upon their wives and families as slaves, servants, etc, instead of as helpers and advisors. The person answer above who claimed that women didn't get respect is incorrect. Read Proverbs 31:10-31 about how the virtuous woman was viewed. There is no disrespect there. She make decisions to purchase property on her own, she is a good business woman. This passage, called Aishyt Chayl is read by the husband to the wife every week at the beginning of the Sabbath in a Jewish home.\n\nMany Christians dispensationalize this passage and say that it was for the culture of Paul or Corinth but is not for our culture today.  But the verse which you cite doesn't speak of human culture, rather it speaks of angels. To dismiss the command in this way is to claim that the "culture" of the angels has changed.  So my own belief is that the command is still in effect.\n\nThe second way in which this command is dismissed by many Christians is to say that the covering is a woman's long hair. This is based on their understanding of verse 15.  However, verse 6 would appear to deny that since it says if she doesn't wear the covering she should have her head shaved. So a woman who doesn't have long hair should have her head shaved until she gets long hair? No, of course not. Rather it is a scarf that she wears over her hair, and if she doesn't wear the scarf, she is to shave her head as well.\n\nSome will claim that the command is only to a married woman. But I will point out that verse 5 says "every woman", not "every wife". It is a general command and is not specifically for married women. The scarf is a symbol of the power and authority she has in Messiah, whether she has an earthly husband or not.\n\nThe fact that women cover their hair is also attested to in Numbers 5:18. The fact that women always covered their hair is widely attested to in regards to the women of Israel. Paul was speaking to the formerly pagan women of Corinth and giving them general instruction in the reason why this was done amoung the women of Israel.\n\nAs to whether you choose to start wearing a scarf, that is between you and God. Hopefully this will help you to arrive at the correct understanding of the passage.