Can a Woman Use a Scarf, Bonnet or Hat as a Covering?
1) Direct answer
No. A scarf, bonnet, or hat is not the Scriptural covering. God gave the woman her long, uncut hair as her covering.
2) Scriptural explanation
- “If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering” (1 Corinthians 11:15).
- “Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head… 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” (1 Corinthians 11:5–6).
- “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels” (1 Corinthians 11:10).
Now notice, Paul ties “uncovered” and “shorn” together. That shows he is speaking about the hair. If she’s “not covered,” he says, “let her also be shorn.” If it’s a shame to be shorn, then “let her be covered”—let it grow. And the Bible says plainly, “her hair is given her for a covering.” Not a man‑made cloth, but the God‑given sign on her head.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- If a veil or hat were the covering, a shorn woman could fix the dishonor by putting on a hat. But Paul points to the shame of being shorn and directs her to be “covered” by letting her hair be her covering.
- Nature itself makes the distinction: short hair for the man; long hair for the woman (1 Corinthians 11:14–15). That’s the sign of authority “because of the angels.”
- “Long” in Scripture means uncut—let it grow. Not a length you measure, but a submission you keep.
4) Reinforcing statement
A woman may wear a scarf or hat for modesty, weather, or culture, but it does not replace the biblical covering. Her obedience is shown by keeping her hair uncut—the covering God gave her.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Jehovah-Jireh, part 1
62-0705 §51
And the Bible said, "It's a dishonorable thing for a woman to cut her hair." She does it, she dishonors her head. She dishonors the angel, the angel of light. The seven church angels, the one bringing the light will stay with the Word. Dishonorable! She ought to have hair on her head. My, such! It used to be wrong for them to do it. In first Pentecost, it was wrong. What happened? You did run well, what happened? And some of our Pentecostal women dress in them dresses, look like a skin over a wiener, out here somew...
Questions and Answers on Hebrews, part 3
57-1006 §54
All right, now the 4th verse ... or the fourth question: QUESTION: "What did the scarlet thread in Genesis 38 represent?" The scarlet thread, if you'll notice, it was Judah. And he had sons, and one of his sons married a Canaanite woman. And this Canaanite woman didn't have any children, and his son died. Then, the law then was to take ... the next son had to take the brother's wife, and raise up seed to the dead. And the other man did not cooperate and do as he should do, and the Lord slayed him. Then he had one y...
Hebrews, Chapters 5 and 6, part 1
57-0908M §81
I said, "But, Sister, I don't care, the blood's still around you. This world's covered over with blood." If it didn't, God would kill us, every one. When that blood's moved, look out for judgment. But now, if you die without that blood, you go beyond that place, then there's nothing to act for you. Today the blood acts in your stead. I said, "Lady, sure, the blood's still got you covered. As long as you got breath in your body, the blood has you covered. But someday when the breath leaves here (the soul goes out),...
Seals 7: The Fifth Seal
63-0322 §142
I went to a doctor and asked him what did he think. He said, "Well, see, your pores are open. You're sweating from preaching. That air comes, it puts a cold germ up here in a mucus, it runs down over your throat. The next morning you're hoarse. That's it." And so... Oh, my, you fellows that's got hair, you don't know how thankful you should be. That is right, see. Well, now, I found out then I'm going to ... one of these days if I don't get my teeth, I'm going to have to have some of them, and so ... or either do w...
Life Story
50-0200 §57
But just to show you, the way of a transgressor's hard. I never will forget. I was trying to work to get the bill paid off. And then all of... One day I was out, and I heard a call come say, "If you want to see your wife alive, come at once." I rushed out to the hospital. I never forget it. I jerked off my hat and throwed it in the truck; I run up through there real quick. And here come little Doctor Adair walking out. God bless his little old heart. He's a fine man. And he come walking out. We'd eat together, slep...