A question that arises often within the faith community concerns the issue of the head covering for men.  Let’s take a look at the issue:

Qorintiym Ri’shon (1 Cor.) 11:1-10

Be ye followers of me [Sha’ul], even as I also am of HAMASHIACH. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is HAMASHIACH; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of HAMASHIACH is ELOHIYM. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonours his head. 5 But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 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. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of ELOHIYM: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

I like this passage, because it stirs the pot and challenges the discernment of the believer.  All scripture must be read with discernment, which means the reader must receive the word with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily, to see whether those things are so, Ma’aseh (Acts) 17:11, and be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YAH. Romayim (Romans) 12:2.

First, we have this difficult passage commanding the shaving of the heads of women who pray or prophesy without their heads being covered.  Many in the modern church who insist on attending Sunday after Sunday do so without the heads being covered, praying and even prophesying without the benefit of a head covering.  Yet, no one has showed up with a razor.  What goes?

The argument I hear is that to be covered means that the woman is covered by the man, either her husband or her father, in a spiritual or even legal sense, and that this passage has nothing to do with actually wearing a head covering such as a prayer shawl, scarf or other form of hat.  This is the figurative meaning.

Well, then, if that is the case, let us conclude that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.  If the passage does not refer to a physical head covering for the woman, then the proscription banning the covering of the head of the man could only mean that a man may only prophesy or pray if he is without the spiritual or legal covering of his wife or father / mother, i.e., he must be his own man. Does this make sense?  Under this line of thinking, this passage has nothing to do with a hat at all, but relational authority. 

Take a quick look at the word that is interpreted as head. In the Greek, the word is κεφαλη kephale, which comes from the primary kapto (in the sense of seizing).  This word means the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively.

If this passage is to be taken literally, then a man of faith does not cover his head with any form of covering when he prays or utters prophecy, but a woman either covers her head when she prays or prophesies, or she is to have her head shaved.   This is the literal translation.  Can someone else point to a passage of scripture where the application appears only in its figurative understanding without the benefit of a literal application (or where the application appears only in its literal understanding with the benefit of a figurative application).  Let’s compare with the teaching of HAMASHIACH in the gospels:

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 6:5-8

And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Amen I say unto you, They have את (eth) their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Again, we look to the Greek to see what is being said.  MASHIACH directs us to enter into a closet and shut the door. The word for closet is ταμιειον (tameion) which is a contraction of the word tamias (meaning a dispenser or distributor).  Therefore the word tameion means a dispensary or magazine, i.e. a chamber on the ground-floor of an Oriental house, a place generally used for storage or privacy.  It is often used to mean a secret chamber, closet, or storehouse.

As we consider this, and again taking the position that the gospel of Matthew was originally written in Hebrew (Eusibeus recorded this as the gospel according to the Hebrews), then we must look to the word for closet in the Hebrew, and the word is חֻפָּה chuppah, i.e., the Bridal canopy.

Tehilliym (Psalms) 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of EL; and the firmament shows his handywork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber (chuppah), and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 4:4-6

When ADONAI shall have washed away את eth the filth of the daughters of Tsiyon, and shall have purged the blood of Yerushalayim from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And YAHUAH will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Tsiyon, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence (chuppah). 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Yo’el (Joel) 2:15-17

Blow the shofar in Tsiyon, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet (chuppah). 17 Let the priests, the ministers of YAHUAH, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O YAHUAH, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their ELOHIYM?