The Long & Short Of It

Old subject that keeps coming up, lets see what Scripture says about it and what was the times and custom of the day in history concerning the subject. Many have suffered under the teaching because they have taken the word of the teacher not looked into studying out the subject for themselves.
1 Cor. 11:13 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Paul was sent to the Gentiles and many of his ‘converts’ were priestess from the occult who ‘service’ male members. (History of the Tower of Babel.)
They shaved there heads that they would stand out from other women. None but public prostitutes go without veils (hair on their head). If a woman should appear in public without hair she would appear like to those women who had their hair shorn off as the punishment of whoredom, or adultery.
G-d called His followers to ‘be separate’ from the world – why would we be surprise that satan did the same thing by doing the opposite of what G-d wanted. The men there, on the contrary, shave all the hair off their heads, excepting one lock; and those that wear hair are thought effeminate.
1 Cor. 11:6 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.
Paul must teach these women new ways, serving an idol is different than serving G-d. In effect, as if she cut her hair short, and wore it in the distinguishing form of the men. In those ages, men wore their hair exceeding short, as appears from the ancient statues and pictures.
Even in mourning it was considered disgraceful to be obliged to shear off the hair; and lest they should lose this ornament of their heads, the women contrived to evade the custom, by cutting off the ends of it only.
1 Cor. 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Consider the subject in your own common sense, and then say whether it be decent for a woman to pray in public without a veil on her head? The heathen priestesses prayed or delivered their oracles bare-headed: to be conformed to them would be very disgraceful to Christian women. And in reference to such things as these, the apostle appeals to their sense of honor and decency.
1 Cor. 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
It refers to a deep internal sense of what is proper and right--a sense which is expressed extensively in all nations, showing what that sense is. No reason can be given, in the nature of things, why the woman should wear long hair and the man not. But the general habit among men has been different.
Among the Hebrews, it was regarded as disgraceful to a man to wear his hair long, except he had a vow as a Nazarite, Numbers 6:1-6; Judges 13:6; Judges 16:17; 1 Samuel 1:11. Occasionally, for habit or singularity, the hair was suffered to grow, as was the case with Absalom, (2 Samuel 14:26) but the traditional law of the Jews on the subject was strict.
It is a shame unto him - It is improper and disgraceful, dressed, frizzled and curled hair, which shallow and effeminate men might have affected in that time, as they do in this. Perhaps there is not a sight more ridiculous in the eye of common sense than a high-dressed, curled, cued, and powdered head, with which the operator must have taken considerable pains, and the silly patient lost much time and comfort in submitting to what all but senseless custom must call an indignity and degradation. It is doing that which almost universal custom has said appropriately belongs to the female sex.
1 Cor. 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
IF – notice it is not mandatory for her, but if she chooses to have long hair it is a glory for her.
It is a glory to her - It is an ornament and adorning.
For a covering - Veil. It is given to her as a sort of natural veil, and to indicate the modesty of her wearing a veil. It answered the purposes of a veil when it was suffered to grow long, and to spread over the shoulders and over parts of the face, before the arts of dress were invented or needed.
The value which eastern females put on their long hair may be learned from the fact that when Ptolemy Euergetes, king of Egypt, was about to march against Seleucus Callinicus, his queen Berenice vowed, as the most precious sacrifice which she could make, to cut off and consecrate her hair if he returned in safety.
The women nourish their hair with great fondness, which they lengthen by tresses and tufts of silk, down to the heels. The young men who wear their hair in the East are looked upon as effeminate and infamous.
The veil of the Hindoo women is nothing more than the garment brought over the face, which is always very carefully done by the higher classes of women when they appear in the streets.
1 Cor. 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
But if any man seem to be contentious – Paul states: “If any man, any teacher, or others, is disposed to be strenuous about this, or to make it a matter of difficulty; if he is disposed to call in question my reasoning, and to dispute my premises and the considerations which I have advanced, and to maintain still that it is proper for women to appear unveiled in public, I would add, that in Judea we have no such custom, neither does it prevail among any of the churches. This, therefore, would be a sufficient reasons why it should not be done in Corinth, even if the abstract reasoning should not convince them of the impropriety. It would be singular; would be contrary to the usual custom; would offend the prejudices of many; and should, therefore, be avoided."
The fear of giving offence, should lead you to discountenance and disapprove the custom of your females appearing in public without their veil (with hair on their heads vs no hair at all,) the female should be modest and reserved.
As a woman who dresses loosely or fantastically, even in the present day, is considered a disgrace to her husband, because suspected to be not very sound in her morals; so in those ancient times, a woman appearing without a veil would be considered in the same light.
I hope this enlightens the meaning and teaching. If you have chosen to wear long hair to glorify your Savior, I am sure He has taken notice of it and accounted it to your glory. But if you choose to shorten your hair (not liken to a man) it is not to your dishonor, it just isn’t to your glory. Bottom line it is your choose judge in yourselves for YOU are the only one held accountable in all your chooses.