1 Corinthians 11:3
1 You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
2 Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
- KJV
- But 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.
- WEB
- But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
- ASV
- But 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.
- DARBY
- But I wish you to know that the Christ is the head of every man, but woman's head [is] the man, and the Christ's head God.
- BLB
- But I want you⁺ to 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.
- ÅB
- Men jeg vil at dere skal vite at Kristus er enhver manns hoved, og mannen er kvinnens hoved, og Gud er Kristi hoved.
- OTB
- Jeg ønsker at dere skal forstå at Kristus er lederen for hver mann, mannen er lederen for en kvinne, og Gud er lederen for Kristus.
- B1930
- Men jeg vil at I skal vite at Kristus er enhver manns hoved, og mannen er kvinnens hoved, og Gud er Kristi hoved.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Read in contextColossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:23
and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Read in contextColossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Read in contextEphesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
Read in contextColossians 2:19
He has lost connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
Read in context1 Peter 3:5–6
For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,
Read in contextEphesians 5:22–24
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Read in context