1 Corinthians 11 · Verse 13

1 Corinthians 11:13

Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:13, King James Version

1 Corinthians 11:13 in other translations

BSBJudge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
WEBJudge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled?
ASVJudge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?
YLTIn your own selves judge ye; is it seemly for a woman uncovered to pray to God?
DARBYJudge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman should pray to God uncovered?
BBEBe judges yourselves of the question: does it seem right for a woman to take part in prayer unveiled?
WebsterJudge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman should pray to God uncovered?

What does 1 Corinthians 11:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Appeal to their own sense of decorum. a woman ... unto God--By rejecting the emblem of subjection (the head-covering), she passes at one leap in praying publicly beyond both the man and angels [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. Judge in yourselves. Or, "Judge among yourselves." I appeal to you. I appeal to your natural sense of what is proper and right. Paul had used various arguments to show them the impropriety of their females speaking unveiled in public. He now appeals to their natural sense of what was decent and right, according to established and acknowledged customs and habits.

Is it comely? etc. Is it decent, or becoming? The Grecian women, except their priestesses, were accustomed to appear in public with a veil.--Doddridge. Paul alludes to that established and proper habit, and asks whether it does not accord with their own views of propriety that women in Christian assemblies should also wear the same symbol of modesty.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Judge in yourselves - 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 or with dishevelled hair, non comptae mansere comae, as in the case of the Cumaean Sibyl, Aen. vi., ver. 48, and otherwise in great disorder: 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Here begin particulars respecting the public assemblies, ch. 1Co 14. In the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on the Corinthians, some abuses had crept in; but as Christ did the will, and sought the honour of God, so the Christian should avow his subjection to Christ, doing his will and seeking his glory. We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid every thing that may dishonour Christ. The woman was made…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 →

1 Corinthians 11:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐνenInG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
αὐτοῖςautoisyourselvesG846
κρίνατε·krinatedo judge:G2919
πρέπονpreponBecomingG4241
ἐστὶνestinis itG1510
γυναῖκαgunaikafor a womanG1135
ἀκατακάλυπτονakatakaluptonrevealedG177
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷtheōto GodG2316
προσεύχεσθαι;proseuchesthaito pray?G4336

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 11:13

  • Luke 12:57

    Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:15

    I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

  • John 7:24

    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
10:15; Lu 12:57; Joh 7:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 11:12

    For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:13

    Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

  • 1 Corinthians 11:14

    Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Juzgad vosotros mismos: ¿es honesto orar la mujer á Dios no cubierta?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jugez-en en vous-mêmes: est-il convenable qu’une femme prie Dieu sans être couverte?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Urteilet bei euch selbst: Ist es anständig, daß ein Weib unbedeckt zu Gott bete?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vos ipsi judicate: decet mulierem non velatam orare Deum?