We realize from Luke 12:7 that our loving God is so concerned about us that our very hairs are numbered.   As we study God's Word, we also see in  1 Corinthians 11 that He is concerned about the length of our hair, the style, and whether it covers or uncovers our head. How we wear our hair shows God just how much we respect the authority of His Word, the Bible. Please read the following verses from God:

From this study, we have learned that God is concerned about  both the LENGTH of men and women's hair, and whether or not the HEAD is COVERED with that hair. The ears are part of the head and placed within the hair line.  When hair is long, and down, it will naturally cover the woman's ears and the neck, thus fulfilling God's desires for her as revealed in 1 Corinthians 11. It is obvious that although a woman has long hair, it can be arranged in an unnatural way to defeat the purpose of that hair.  What is the purpose of the long hair in verse15? _____________________

1 Cor. 11:1-10 teaches us that our hairstyles are important to our heavenly Father when we are praying and prophesying because of God's established authority between men and women, and because of the angels.  The words "praying" and "prophesying" should describe the daily activities of an obedient Christian.  Our lives should be spent praying — talking to God about our needs or the needs of others, or thanking Him and praising Him.  When we are not talking to God (praying), we should be prophesying — talking about God.  We should be trying to talk to others who don't know Him, or fellowshipping with other Christians. (There will be times when we are not praying or prophesying, but the Bible makes it clear that we need to be ready "in season and out of season" to meet the need of the moment.) 1 Cor. 14:3 defines prophesying as edifying, exhorting, and counseling other people, verbally ministering to believers as well as unbelievers.  We have seen in God's Word that men and women are to have proper hair styles at those times of praying and prophesying.  God expects us to be discreet, modest, and to give no offense when praying or prophesying because of the angels, and because we recognize God's established authority.  Although we have much lateral movement in our hairstyles, some of those that may satisfy God's principles in 1Cor. 11, do not meet the requirements of 1 Tim. 2:9. What  two words in 1 Tim. 2:9  describe  how our clothing (and HAIR) should appear? _______________  _______________

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;

In 1 Cor. 10:31, what should we do to the glory of God?______________________
What are we warned NOT to do to ANYONE in verse 32? ____________________
From the two words in 1 Tim. 2:9, and word in 1 Cor. 10:32, what are three words that should describe our hairstyle?  M__________________ D_____________________  NO___________________

Revelation 9:7-8 The appearance of the [demonic] locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.

In Rev. 9:7-8, what is the phrase God uses to describe the hair of these male demons? _________________  What do you think is distinct about their hair? ________________________  What is "hair like the hair of women?" ____________.  What is hair like a man? ___________.    Who should have long hair? _______________  Whose example are men following today if they have long hair?_______________________

Ezekiel 44:20 “Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.

Even in the Old Testament God reveals His concern for men's hair.  In the above verse, what two things are the Levitical priests NOT allowed to do with their hair? __________________________________

Leviticus 21:5 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh.

What else were they not allowed to do? _______________________________

Deuteronomy 32:41-42 If I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me. ‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’

In the above verses, God is speaking about His people, Israel—"Jeshurun."  In verse 32, He compares them to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and is going to allow Israel's enemies to punish them. In verse 41, God will punish Israel's enemies, and calls them His "adversaries".  In verse 42, what derogatory statement is made about the "leaders of the enemy"? _______________

Jeremiah 9:25-26   “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised and yet uncircumcised— Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”

Above, God refers to how He will "punish" certain people who are "circumcised and yet uncircumcised".  This means that they are the disobedient people of Israel. 

In verse 26, what are their hairstyles? _________________________________  How do these hairstyles violate the verse in Lev. 19:27 following? ___________________________

Leviticus 19:27 ‘You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.

Do you think, from what you have learned, that God wants long curls coming down from men's temples, like the religious Jews in Jerusalem, or does He want men to preserve the natural hairline He has created for them? ________________________  What do you think God's opinion is of some of the present-day hairstyles, such as the partially shaved mushroom, the mohawk, the shaving of lines or initials in the hairline, or the shaving of the back of the head? _______________________________  Are you ashamed, unhappy, or not content with the hairline God has given you?__________  Do you remember the three words that should describe a proper hairstyle?  M______________ D_________________  NO_________________

HIDE, HID , HIDDEN

A.Verbs
   1. krupto (2928), "to cover, conceal, keep secret" (Eng, “crypt” "cryptic," etc., is used (a) in its physical significance, eg, Matt. 5:14; 13:44; 25:18 (some manuscripts have No. 2); (b) metaphorically, e.g. Matt. 11:15 (some manuscripts have No. 2 here); 13:35,RV "(things) hidden"; KJV, "(things)” things which have been kept secret”; Luke 18:34; John 19:38, "secretly” See secret.
   5. kalupto 2572 signifies “to cover to conceal” so that no trace of it can be seen” ( hence somewhat distinct form number 1: It is not translated “to hide” in the RV: In 2 Cor. it is rendered “veiled," suitably continuing the subject of 3:13-18: in Jas. 5:20 “shall hide” KJV ( RV, “ shall cover”). See cover
   6. Parakalupto (3871 ), Lit., “to cover with a viel,”KJV, “hid” in Luke 9:45, “it was veiled from them”, see conceal.

COVER, COVERING

The above definitions from VINE'S Dictionary of New Testament Words helps us to understand the following truths that GOD reveals to us concerning hair in 1 Cor. 11:1-16:

*  the Greek word translated "cover, covered, or (un)covered" means to conceal so that no trace can be seen. (verses 5-7,& 13),

*  the word "covering" in verse 15 relates to a mantle or clothing and absolutely cannot refer to a "see-through" veil or small hat on top of a woman's head.

*  the definition of HAIR and its context in verse15 make it very clear that as VINE states, "the long hair [hanging down, thus covering the neck and ears] of the woman is as a veil, a sign of subjection to authority as indicated in the headships spoken of in verse 1-10. "

After completing this study, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind concerning our heavenly Father's attitude about our hair.  It should also be obvious that our Lord Jesus DID NOT have long hair, as Roman artwork portrays Him, and that the Shroud of Turin is nothing but a fraud, since it shows a dishonorable man with long hair. In John 8:29 Jesus says that He always does the things pleasing to His Father. Can that be said of us concerning our hairstyle?  Remember, 1 Cor. 11:14-15 are the key verses for us as Christians, concerning hair today.  The idea of requiring veils and hats for the women in the churches comes from the lack of understanding of 1 Cor. 11 that the HAIR is for the covering. The veil does not replace or allow for short hair.

Also understand that God's concern for our hair has never been a cultural issue. Instead, He addresses the topic of hair in regard to the man's authority, the woman under his authority, proper worship, and watching angels.  Our hairstyles show God, the world, and angels that we love Him by obeying Him. It is a test of our obedience and has nothing to do with our salvation.  We should obey our Father because we appreciate what the LORD JESUS did by suffering on the cross and in hell in our place.  We obey because we ARE saved, and born again, not to get or stay saved.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10  therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.     

What should your ambition as a Christian be?  _________________________  Why? (verse 10)  ______________________________
 

As we saw earlier, we  want to again leave God's Word as a final reminder to those who may be contrary or "contentious" concerning His teaching on men and women's hair.