Headcovering

A Personal Thought Worth Sharing

A couple summers ago, I was faced with this topic and was really trying to see YHWH’s heart on it. I was reading Scripture and asking lots of questions in my mind, especially since there are different translations all saying different things.

Later that day, I was taking a walk with my mind still occupied on the subject of headcovering. I then received a thought:

When you cover your head to pray, it is an act of great respect [reverence] towards Me [Him].

This was a “wow” moment where I feel it clicked for me the most. I also don’t believe that thought came from me. I think it was YHWH, my Father, graciously sharing His heart with me.

This also caused me to try and compare that thought with something to help understand this better: It’s kind of like a person with compassion & sincere manners vs. a person that does not (not saying someone is impolite if they don’t cover their head- just an example to help explain my thought process).

When a person is polite, they are pleasing and usually humble as well. I believe YHWH really admires this type of approach before we begin speaking with Him. Though we are to boldly approach Him (Hebrews 4), we should have humility in our hearts and minds, as well as, trust. Personally speaking, being bold doesn’t mean being prideful; to me, it simply means, the state of rejecting things (like worry or fear) that can hold us back from obtaining full faith in Him.

The act of headcovering is also an act of submission. Whenever I remember to cover my head, I am gently reminded that I have heads of authority over myself (that being my husband, then Yahusha/Jesus, and YHWH/The Father- see 1 Corinthians below), and I am humbled by that each time.

In my own personal experience with this so far, I feel an utmost sense of comfort when I throw my scarf over me before praying. It’s almost like I am being hugged and it is simply the best. I believe He wants us to know that He desires to wrap us in His love.

(With that being said, I also feel like my thoughts are protected somehow. Maybe because it’s a spiritual thing or because it’s a physical reminder to watch my thoughts? I definitely feel focused and more Kingdom-minded, if ya will, when I carefully choose to wear one.)

Scripture

11 ¹ Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Instructions about Head Coverings

² Now I praise you^[a] because you always remember me and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman,^[b] and God is the head of Christ. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved. ⁶ So if a woman’s head^[c] is not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.

⁷ A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God’s image and glory, but woman is man’s glory. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. ⁹ And man was not created for woman, but woman for man. ¹⁰ This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels [messengers]. ¹¹ In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. ¹² For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.

¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, ¹⁵ but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her^[d] as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other^[e] custom, nor do the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11

***Some translations say for verse 15, “For her hair is given to her for a covering.”

So, some can assume that a woman’s hair is counted as a headcovering or that a physical one is needed as a headcovering. (I lean more towards a physical headcovering that is not my hair, but I encourage you to bring it to YHWH in prayer. 🙂 )

One revelation I received from this passage of Scripture, is simply this:

If interested in headcovering or feel led, you can simply use a scarf, any favorite hat, or anything with a hood. If I just want to wear one for a prayer, I’ll use a scarf since its easy to just throw on and off or I’ll put my hooded robe on. If I am going out where I know I’ll be praying/worshipping, I will wear something smaller or less “peculiar” (I should say?), like a ball cap or a thinner headband.

Personally, I cover my head whenever I plan to pray and/or worship in private, but if I know I want to worship or pray in a long car ride by myself -but out in society- I will wear something that doesn’t attract attention or is just considered more “normal“. If I attend any type of worship event or gathering of believers (ex. a Feast Day or weekly Sabbath), I will try to remember to come with my head covered as well, since we will most likely be praying and worshipping YHWH together.

I have not felt convicted to wear a covering all-day-every-day, though some ladies do wear them this much. Maybe I am not ready for that yet or maybe it’s just not necessary (although I understand covering your hair can also be an act of modesty); only Yah knows!

The command is to simply have your head covered while praying or prophesying (ladies).

• Some women wear them all the time simply because of convenience.
  • (I do find it difficult to go get something to cover my head before I pray sometimes, versus already having something on.)
• Others wear them all the time because of the Scripture saying we are to “pray without ceasing” {1 Thes. 5:17}.
  • VERY GOOD POINT!

On another note… here are some nice, lightweight scarves that I have for prayer time, if you would like to buy some of your own:

Shop Headbands & Headcoverings

There is a beautiful website that sells handmade hair/head accessories called Garlands of Grace. I purchased a couple headbands a couple years ago and I really like them. They are very good quality and have varieties of colors and shapes and styles available! My favorite ones are the ones you can tie- I usually have trouble keeping headbands on haha, so the ones with ties allows me to adjust it how I want. 🙂 Check out the website below, if needed!

Want to Learn More about Headcovering?

The headcovering message starts at 1 hr and 9 mins into the video. 🙂