Head Covering

Another question that sometimes arises for people is the tiny Greek word “anti” that appears in the Greek in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16.

If you look at verses 13-15 with an interlinear, you will find the end of the sentence in verse 15 reads: “For the long hair instead of a covering is given to her.”

The Greek word for “instead” in the interlinear that I use is “anti” which is defined as:

Strong’s Concordance 473e
anti: over against, opposite, hence instead of, in comp. denotes contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence
Original Word:
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: anti
Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee’)
Definition: over against, opposite, instead of
Usage: (a) instead of, in return for, over against, opposite, in exchange for, as a substitute for, (b) on my behalf, (c) wherefore, because.
HELPS Word-studies

473 antí (a preposition) – properly, opposite, corresponding to, off-setting (over-against); (figuratively) “in place of,” i.e. what substitutes (serves as an equivalent, what is proportional).

One common use of the English use of “anti” is well-illustrated by the venom injected by a snake bite. The snake injects venom that is poisonous to the human. The doctor gives the “anti-venom” or the drug to counteract or do the exact opposite reaction of what the snake intended to do to you.

However, many translations don’t use “anti” as the opposite, like in the snake bite example.

The majority of Bible translations render the word “anti” as our English word “for.”

“For” in English is more likely to mean with a purpose, “I run for exercise.”

“For” is also used to mean in connection with, “The equipment is for the army.”

“For” can mean as suiting the purpose or need of something, “Medicine is for the sick person.”

In Greek, “anti” is translated in other places as the word “for.” A good example is, “an eye for an eye.” See Matthew 5:38

Because verses 13-15 are a metaphor or analogy, then translating “anti” as “for” better fits the passage.

Translating “anti” to meaning “opposing” would interfere with the analogy being presented by Paul.

If verses 13-15 are to be read with “anti” translated to mean “opposed” then verse 13-15 would read the hair is not the covering.

In the context of the figurative speech device that Paul employs in verses 13-15, consistency requires a meaning that fits the context.

The English word “for” is consistent with Paul’s analogy of comparing the lack of hair in the natural world to the shame a woman should have for praying or prophesying without a covering.

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In other posts, I have provided you with my understanding of:

• why hair is not the covering for a woman,
• why head covering was not a cultural issue applicable only at the time, and
• responded to the various objections to the requirement for a woman to cover her head.

Redefining Head to Mean Something Else

An effort is underway to suggest a different meaning for the word “head.” 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

There is a new modern-day interpretation of the meaning.

The majority view is that “head” means authority. This has been the accepted meaning for a long time, (like for thousands of years).

In the past 25 years or so, some have begun to promote the idea that “head” in 1st Corinthians means “source.” Think of the head of the river or the source of the water in the river and you get the idea. This is a minority view, but becoming somewhat popular because it provides elasticity in other areas of gender roles.

Those teaching that head means “source” offer little reason for interpreting “head” as “source.”

Notably, the interpretation as “source” rather than “authority” is used to displace the husband’s rule in the home.

If the word “head” in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 doesn’t represent “authority”, then the husband has no right to rule his home. At least, this is the reasoning that comes with the idea that “head” really means “source.”

If the motive for redefining “head” to mean “source” is an attempt to defeat the authority of a husband in the home, then the teaching runs directly contrary to several other passages of scripture.

Please take care to observe the husband is appointed by God to serve as head of the wife. This is not an option for the husband. God appoints the man to the role.

I find the attempt to redefine “head” to mean “source” “is driven by a motive to get around God’s design for male leadership. Thus, I accept the definition that has long been accepted that the word “head” means authority.

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