What Is Meant When Scripture Says, That the Head of the Woman Is the Man?

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WHAT IS MEANT WHEN SCRIPTURE SAYS, THAT “THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN IS THE MAN?”

We have one more section of Scriptures to look at. These probably serve as the cornerstone of the traditional view concerning the subjection of the wife to her husband, and by analogy, what some churches declare in their teaching on church leadership, that is the exclusion of a woman from being placed in a leadership position in the church. Please go to 1 Corinthians 11.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

3 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

The traditional explanation of this verse assumes that the word man refers to a male, and the word woman refers to a female. Why is this important? This is important because describing these two words in this manner means that we’re not talking about the relationship between a husband and wife in marriage but between a male and female in the church.

Under this rendering, the word head in the phrase the head of every man is Christ can be taken to mean ruler. Therefore, this verse could be rewritten as Christ is the ruler (has authority over) the man, the man is the ruler (has authority over) the woman, and God is the ruler (has authority) over Christ. This idea has been extended by many churches to mean that in the leadership positions of the church, only males are called to be the rulers.

An example of this perception is found in the verses that follow. These talk about whether a man or woman should wear a head covering when attending the assembling of the saints. These verses will be interpreted based on the understanding that church leadership is for males only.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:4-12

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

Today, we might think that whether a man or woman wears a hat in church is no big deal. But during this time, it was very significant. The Apostle Paul was instructing the Corinthian believers, and he was making it pretty clear that if a Christian male was leading prayer or prophesying (proclaiming God’s message), he should do so without wearing a covering (a turban) on his head. Why was this prohibited? It was prohibited because this would dishonor (disrespect) his head, Christ. In what way?

It was custom when someone went before a superior that they would remove their veil or turban as a sign of respect. Even though Scripture tells us that Christ is the head of the man, the reason he does not wear a covering is that he is ministering to others in Christ’s stead.

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

The woman, however, being subordinate in the home and the church hierarchy would wear a veil, whether leading others in prayer or prophesying (speaking publicly in the church). And by the way, because of her subordinate role, she would only be allowed to lead others if she were given permission by one of the male leaders.

10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

For these reasons, the woman should have power (a sign of subjection, i.e., a veil) on her head because of the angels (those who are present and are looking at whether the authority structure in the church is being implemented).



Is there an alternative way to translate these verses?

There is.

3 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

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The first thing that needs to be addressed is to find out what the word man or woman is referring to. Does man mean male and woman mean female, or does the word man mean husband, and the word woman mean wife? The word man in Greek is the word andros from aner. The word husband from Ephesians 5:23 in Greek is the word aneer from aner. It’s evident that the English words man and husband are from the same Greek word.



What about the word male? Is there any verse (or verses) that contain this word in the New Testament?

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

In both of these verses, the word male in Greek is arsen, which is different from the Greek word for man and husband. This tells us that the word man in 1 Corinthians 11:3 refers to a husband and not a male. Therefore, what is being discussed is the relationship between a husband and wife.

3 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.

Now that we have a different meaning of the word man, is there another way to define the word head? The word head in this verse could be used metaphorically, of the authority or direction of God in relation to Christ, of Christ in relation to believing men, of the husband in relation to the wife49. This implies not rank but voluntary submission. In other words, the direction of God in terms of His plan being fulfilled for mankind is dependent on Christ’s voluntary response to His Father’s spiritual initiations. The direction of Christ given to the Christian husband is based on the man’s voluntary response to being filled with the Spirit. The direction of the Christian husband in terms of bringing about spiritual harmony in the marriage is dependent on him being filled with the Spirit and the wife’s voluntary response to his spiritual initiations.



How could this relationship in the marriage between a husband and wife be evidenced in the church?

What I mean by this question is, if the husband in the home is an example of Christ-likeness to his Christian wife and she is responding to such, why did she have to wear a head covering when praying or prophesying in church? Please turn your Bible to 1 Corinthians 11:4.



Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:4-12

The question we’re attempting to answer here is, why would a woman need to have her head covered in church? The traditional answer is to show deference of authority or submission as if to illustrate that this is also what was taking place in the marriage. There could be another explanation.

6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

In society at this time, any woman who chose not to wear a head covering was considered by cultural standards to be a prostitute, an adulteress, or slave. The prostitutes wore their hair very short, and they did not wear a head-covering in public. Their hairstyle and manner announced to others just what they were and what they were offering.50 In Jewish law, a woman, proven guilty of adultery, had her hair cut off (Numbers 5:11-31).Paul used two different words in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6: shaved means exactly that all the hair shaved off, shorn means "cut short." Either one would be a disgrace to a woman.51 It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil.52

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

If a married woman attended a local assembly, and in this instance, took the lead in prayer or prophesying without wearing a veil, she would be dishonoring her husband by giving the appearance to others that she had committed adultery or prostitution. Nothing else is mentioned as to prohibit her from being used by God in either manner of prayer or prophesying.

10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

I’m sure there will be those who, after reading this study, will say that the inference that a woman could be called to a leadership position in the church is based solely on circumstantial evidence, has no scriptural basis, is invalid, and would be considered false teaching. I’ve learned that doctrinal differences, or, in this case, a doctrinal inference, can bring about explosive responses, especially from those in leadership. I understand that scripturally the subject of women in leadership positions in the church is not as clearly delineated as men in leadership in the church. However, just because there’s more evidence of one gender than another doesn’t mean that the lesser emphasis has no validity.

What I would like to do next in the following chapter is present you with an example of a court case that involved circumstantial evidence. I’m not going to choose a murder case because I don’t want to focus on someone else’s demise in that manner. I’m not sure what example I’ll choose, but when you turn to the next chapter, there will be an example of such.



Endnotes

49Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985).

50The Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989, 01 December 2019 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

51The Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989, 01 December 2019 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

52Adam Clarke’s Commentary.

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