1 Corinthians 11:7 Meaning and Explanation
“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Man is called the image and glory of God, and woman the glory of man.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:7 Mean?
Paul reaches back to the creation account to ground his counsel. Man, made in God's image, is His glory and so prays uncovered; woman, drawn from man, is described as his glory. The language echoes Genesis, where humanity is formed to reflect its Maker.
To be someone's glory is to be their honor and crown, that in which they delight and are made radiant. This is a word of dignity, not of lessening; glory is a high thing to be. Both man and woman bear the image of God and shine with His likeness. Paul is showing how each, in worship, can reflect honor rather than shame onto the other and onto the God whose image they carry.
1 Corinthians 11:7 in the Original Language
doxa (δόξα), 'glory' -- radiance, honor, and the visible weight of worth that reflects another.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:7
What does 1 Corinthians 11:7 mean?
Man is called the image and glory of God, and woman the glory of man.