When meeting a king or the president of a country, there are certain protocols that visitors must follow. Likewise, there are rules and regulations suitable for prayer and worship to the Most Holy God, the King of the universe. Today, churches have set their own standards for worship. During prayer in the Catholic Church, women wear veils while the pope, cardinals, and priests wear hats. In Protestant churches, both men and women do not cover their heads during worship. What does the Bible say about this?
Biblical Teaching About the Veil
When it comes to the regulation of the veil, the Bible gives men and women different instructions to follow. The Bible says that men should not cover their heads while praying or worshiping God.
[T]he head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 1 Co 11:3–4
The head of every man is Christ; therefore, if he covers his head during prayer, he dishonors Christ. Although it is difficult to glorify God, we as believers must never dishonor Him. Unlike men, women must wear veils over their heads when praying or worshiping God.
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. 1 Co 11:5–6
If a woman prays with her head uncovered, she dishonors her head. This means that she should cover her head during prayer. The Bible says that women should cut off their hair if they do not cover their heads. This does not imply that women do not have to wear a veil if they shave their heads. This is to emphasize that the shame of a woman with an uncovered head during prayer is equivalent to the shame of having her head shaved. For this reason, women must cover their heads during prayer.
Grounds for the Veil Regulation
The Bible teaches that men must not cover their heads while women must do when praying or worshiping. Before explaining the veil regulation, Apostle Paul said that Jesus Christ gave this teaching.
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Co 11:1
Humans did not set the veil regulation; the teaching was given by Christ, who was God in the flesh. Apostle Paul further explained that the providence of God, who created humankind, and God-given human nature support the veil regulation.
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. For man did not come from woman, but woman from 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. 1 Co 11:7–10
God made Adam first, then made Eve as His helper. Using this principle of creation, Apostle Paul explained that men should not cover their heads and women should. Since the angels in Heaven are watching, women should wear veils as a sign of authority.
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? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 1 Co 11:14–15
Apostle Paul said that God gave nature to a man to think it is disgrace to him if he has long hair, and nature to a woman to think it is glory to her if she has long hair. This tells us that men should not cover their heads but women should.
Veil Regulation in the Apostolic Age
For those who were contentious about this teaching, Apostle Paul emphasized that all the churches of God followed the regulation of the veil.
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? . . . If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. 1 Co 11:13–16
The veil regulation was the unified law among all the churches of God. In the Apostolic Age, women wore veils over their heads during prayer or worship. In other translations, this meaning is clearer.
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? . . . But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Co 11:13–16 (KJV)
Judge for yourselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head . . . But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship. 1 Co 11:13–16 (GNT)
Do Not Add to or Subtract From the Words of God
Some translations of the Bible extract content from the main text to create subheadings. Some of the different subheadings for 1 Corinthians 11 are as follows: Covering the Head in Worship (GNT), Head Coverings (ESV), and Advice about Head Coverings (ISV). This chapter talks about the veil regulation which states that women must cover their heads during prayer or worship.
According to the Bible, in the true church of God, men must not cover their heads and women must wear veils over theirs; however, churches today do not follow these biblical teachings. In the Catholic Church, while women wear veils during prayer, priests, depending on their position, wear a hat or a miter [mitre] during Mass service. In the Protestant churches, women do not wear veils over their heads when they pray. These churches do not fully follow the teachings of the Bible. God strictly warned His people not to add to or subtract from His words.
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. Dt 4:2
When reading a map, if you make a road that doesn’t exist or remove an existing one, can you reach your destination? No. It is the same with God’s words. If you add to or subtract from God’s words, you cannot reach the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Bible teaches that disobeying the veil regulation brings disgrace to God. There are people who call on the name of God during worship but despise the biblical teachings. Because of this, they deny and insult God with their deeds when they should glorify Him in spirit and truth. Those who ignore God’s decrees, follow their own thoughts and habits, and practice lawlessness, cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven no matter how much they praise the Lord (Mt 7:21–23). Therefore, as the Bible teaches, men must not cover their heads but women must do by wearing veils during prayer or worship.