1 Corinthians 11:5

Woman. This verse brings out the contrast that is to be maintained between the sexes, in the light of current customs, as they take part in church activities.

Prophesieth. There are several instances recorded in the OT where women were endowed with the gift of prophecy, and served the church as prophetesses (Ex. 15:20; Judges 4:4; 2 Kings 22:14; Neh. 6:14). Likewise in NT times there were women in the church who prophesied (Luke 2:36, 37; Acts 21:9). It is possible that the Corinthian women argued that in their discharge of spiritual functions such as prayer and prophesying they should appear uncovered as did the men (1 Cor. 11:4). Some may have also reasoned that the liberty of the gospel (see Gal. 3:28) set aside the obligation to observe various marks of distinction between the sexes. Paul exposed the falsity of their reasoning.

Uncovered. Gr. akatakaluptos, literally, “not having a veil hanging down [from the head].” It was customary for women to cover their heads with a veil, as an evidence that they were married, and also as a matter of modesty.

Dishonoureth. In view of the fact that anciently women did not go abroad with uncovered heads, it would be regarded as a disgrace to a woman and to her husband if she should appear publicly without a veil, especially in the capacity of a leader of worship. For a woman at Corinth to take public part in the services of the church with her head uncovered would give the impression that she acted shamelessly and immodestly, without the adorning of shame-facedness and sobriety (see 1 Tim. 2:9). Paul seems to reason that by thus discarding the veil, a recognized emblem of her sex and position, she shows a lack of respect for husband, father, the female sex in general, and Christ.

Shaven. Short hair was sometimes the mark of a woman of poor repute, thus a Corinthian woman who took a part in the public services of the church with her head uncovered might be regarded as having put herself on the same level as a low, perhaps lewd, woman.