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The Bible undeniably states that a woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.
“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.” 1st Corinthians11:5 NKJV (Bold added)
Who is dishonored?
Once married, a woman dishonors her husband by praying or prophesying with an uncovered head.
What then is the significance of the woman who dishonors her husband?
Why does it matter?
Who cares?
Undisputably many, many husbands are prideful, sinful, and routinely annoying to their wives.
Not to mention that the typical Christian husband in America probably isn’t going to complain about the “dishonor.”
The reality is the average, ordinary husband probably doesn’t feel any “dishonor” by the wife refusing to cover her head.
So a fair question arises, does this “dishonor” seriously make any difference (especially if the husband doesn’t seem to care)?
I have been married for a long time (my wife says it feels like a lot longer).
Do I feel dishonor because she does not cover her head in prayer?
Nope, on an emotional level, I do not feel any dishonor because she does not cover.
So then why does it matter?
The focus is not on how the man feels from an emotional state of mind.
The emotional feeling of the husband is not the point, nor is God’s concern that the husband’s pride might somehow be offended.
God’s pronouncement is that the woman’s conduct brings dishonor. God’s objective determination is sufficient.
The dishonor is not about the husband’s internal emotions (or the internal feelings of a father if the daughter is not married).
Here’s an example to illustrate the point that the husband’s emotional state of feeling honor or dishonor is not the central issue.
The sin of going naked at the beach is obvious. However, the participants may not feel any shame. A husband may not feel any dishonor as his wife walks around naked in front of everyone.
The sinful nature of the wife being unclothed is not determined by how her husband feels about her not wearing clothes. He may be perfectly fine with her public appearance.
The husband’s emotional reaction to the wife not wearing clothes to cover herself does not make her actions any less sinful.
The same holds true with the father who approves of his daughter’s public nakedness. A weirdo father may not feel any dishonor by his daughter parading herself around without clothes.
Whether the husband or father feels dishonor when his wife or daughter prays uncovered is truly not the point. It is ultimately God that is being dishonored by the wife showing dishonor to the man He created.
A woman who dishonors the head that God appointed – dishonors God.
She also demonstrates disrespect for Christ because He is the head of the man.
What if the woman doesn’t realize that she is demonstrating dishonor?
Dishonor remains dishonor, though it results from the lack of knowledge.
Going back to the beach example with the naked wife. She may not realize what she is doing is sinful, but it is.
A woman may not realize that she is dishonoring anyone, but she is.
Sinful acts can be performed with a pure conscience.
Paul before his conversion persecuted the church with zeal believing with all his heart that he was doing what was right. He oppressed Christians and locked them in prison. He did these things in complete ignorance. He held a pure conscious and believed his actions to be righteous.
But he wholly repented upon learning the truth.
Israel’s zeal for God without knowledge offers another example for us.
Paul writes in the book of Romans:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4 NKJV (Bold added)
Can a spiritually zealous woman bring dishonor due to a lack of knowledge about the need for appropriate head covering in prayer?
In light of Paul’s comments on zeal without knowledge, it is certainly something to consider.
I believe the answer is that she absolutely can show dishonor without meaning to do so.
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