What Determines If a Woman's Head Is Covered? Is It the Scalp Visibility or the Uncut Hair? Does It Matter If the Hair Is Matted in Cornrows or Plait?
1) Direct answer
A woman’s head is covered when her hair is uncut and allowed to grow. It is not about hiding the scalp with fabric, and it’s not undone by how the hair is arranged. Cornrows, plaits, or other styles do not remove the covering so long as the hair remains uncut and the styling is modest.
2) Scriptural explanation
- 1 Corinthians 11:15: “Her hair is given her for a covering.” The God‑given covering is hair itself.
- 1 Corinthians 11:5–6: Uncoveredness is linked with being shorn or shaven. That shows cutting the hair brings the shame of uncoveredness.
- 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3 warn against showy “broided/plaited” hair as outward adornment. The issue is vanity and display, not the mere act of arranging hair.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- Covered = hair God gave, uncut and growing (that is “long”—not measured by inches but by not cutting what God gives).
- Uncovered = shorn/shaven/cut, even if a hat or scarf hides the scalp.
- Styling (cornrows, plaits, buns, etc.) does not cancel the covering, but Scripture cautions against ornate, attention‑seeking braiding. Keep it modest and feminine.
4) Reinforcing statement
Keep what God gave—don’t cut it—and wear it with modesty. That is the Bible’s covering for a woman. Final biblical conclusion: A woman is covered by her uncut, growing hair (1 Corinthians 11:15). Scalp visibility and hats are irrelevant. Plaiting or cornrows do not remove the covering, but must be modest and not for display (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3).
Existing Follow-Up Answers
- So What If a Woman by Accident, Age or Health Condition Has Short or No Hair, How Should She Be Covered If Hats and Scarfs Are Not a Covering?
1) Direct answer If a woman loses hair by accident, age, or sickness, she is not made “uncovered” in guilt before God. The Bible’s covering is he
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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.
Questions and Answers, Part 3
64-0830M §117
All right, read, Brother Neville ... like 4---4 to 6, all right, all right. Every man praying or prophesy, ... his head covered, dishonors his head. (That is, if he's got long hair. All right.) But every woman that prayeth or prophesy with her head uncovered dishonors her head: (That's her husband.) for that is even all as one if she were shaven. For if a woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: (If she wants to bob her hair, make her shave it all off slick. See? If she can't have...) but if it be not a shame f...
Questions and Answers, Part 3
64-0830M §118
That's---that mean that they're taking on hair or off ... I think the person might've got mistaken in thinking there that it meant a man prophesying with his head covered, then he takes his covering off. See? No. That isn't that he had long hair, it means, if he's covered... Now, you read on down just a little further, you that asked the question, and you'll find out that the woman's head is her husband. How many knows that? And the man's head is Christ; therefore, a man should cut his hair because of Christ, 'caus...
Questions and Answers on Hebrews, part 3
57-1006 §75
Now, now if you... The 8th question: QUESTION: "Why hair because of angels of I Corinthians?" Now somebody get me I Corinthians, the 11th chapter, and we will see there, that you'll find out that... In I Corinthians, the 11th, we find out that Paul is speaking. Let me get over to it just a minute, and then we will read it right quick and then we will have it down. I got something to say on this other verse here, that I hope the Lord gives it to us the way we should have it. If somebody find it... I think that's the...
Questions and Answers, Part 2
64-0823E §84
No, Brother, if you want a flattop haircut, I'll tell you; You just wait till you get about my age, you'll have one. So... That's all right. I didn't mean that like that, buddy. Bless your heart if you believe Brother Branham tell you the truth. I don't think God says anything about men, his covering is just as long as he cuts his hair. If he lets his hair grow down long like a woman, the Bible says it's a shame for a man to do that. But now, if ... as long as you got your hair and you're a little boy. And I know I...
Questions and Answers on Hebrews, part 3
57-1006 §89
Now watch: Does not even nature [That's that 14th verse.] ... teach you, that, it's a shame for a man to have long hair? [That belongs to a woman.] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:... Now what's he talking about? A hat that you Catholic people wear in church? No indeedy! A little covering over top of your head, with a handkerchief? He's talking about your hair. Now! And if a woman cuts off her hair, she cuts off her glory, and is not permitted to the altar to pray. Just what it said here, "Is it...