Click on the highlighted words from the NRSV translation below to see alternate translations suggested by Cynthia L. Thompson.1
I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone is disposed to be contentious— we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
(1 Corinthians 11:2-16)
Alternate Translations
The alternate translations below have been suggested by Cynthia L. Thompson who believes that Paul was advocating that the Corinthian woman wear their long hair fastened up, not that they wear veils.
Roman woman with hair fastened up. Brussels, Royal Museum of Art and History. Credit: Barbara McManus, 1988.
1. Thompson suggests "the head of woman is man" instead of "the husband is the head of his wife," [Return]
2. Thompson suggests "uncovered" instead of "unveiled." [Return]
3. Thompson suggests "cover" instead of "veil." [Return]
4. Thompson suggests "let her be covered" instead of "she should wear a veil." [Return]
5. Thompson suggests "authority over" instead of "a symbol of authority on her head." Jouette M. Bassler concurs with this translation.2 [Return]
6. Thompson suggests "wrapping" instead of "covering."[Return]
When Thompson wrote her article on "Hairstyles, Head-coverings, and St. Paul," published in 1988, she cited the New Revised Standard (RSV) translation in order to show the differences between her version and a standard translation. The quotation from Corinthians that is above is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
1 Cynthia L. Thompson, "Hairstyles, Head-coverings, and St. Paul: Portraits from Roman Corinth," Biblical Archaeologist, June 1988, p. 99.
2 Jouette M. Bassler, "First Corinthians and Community Disagreements," Conflict and Community in the Corinthian Church, ed. J. Shannon Clarkson (New York: Women's Division, 2000), p. 23.
All biblical quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.