1 COR 11:10 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

11:10 Again, a rather literal translation because honestly, no one is really certain about what Paul was meaning here. See also https://GitHub.com/openenglishbible/Open-English-Bible/issues/356 and https://UASVBible.org/2024/02/03/unveiling-the-meaning-of-authority-in-1-corinthians-1110-a-textual-and-exegetical-clarification.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Because of this the woman ought to have authority on the head, because of the angels.

UST Because wives honor their husbands, women should control what they wear on their heads. They should do this also because of the powerful spiritual beings.

BLB Because of this, the woman ought to have authority on the head, on account of the angels.

AICNT Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[fn]

11:10, angels: This context likely refers to human messengers. The Greek word can mean (1) a human messenger serving as an envoy, an envoy, one who is sent or (2) a transcendent power who carries out various missions or tasks, messenger, angel (BDAG, ἄγγελος).

OEB And, therefore, a woman ought to wear on her head a symbol of her subjection, because of the presence of the angels.

WEBBE For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

LSV because of this the woman ought to have [a token of] authority on the head, because of the messengers;

FBV That's why the woman should have this sign of authority on her head out of respect for the watching angels.[fn]

11:10 As many commentators note, this is one of the most difficult verses in the New Testament to understand and translate. Some understand the “authority” as the head covering demonstrating the woman is respectable and has a position in relationship to man. Others see this as an “authority” to speak and prophesy, since this would not normally be a woman's role in this society. There are many other interpretations of this, as well as of the phrase literally translated “because of the angels.”

TCNT That is why a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

T4T For that reason, women should wear something to cover their heads as a symbol of their being under their husbands’ [MTY] authority. They should also cover their heads so that the angels will see that and rejoice.

LEB Because of this, the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, on account of the angels.

BBE For this reason it is right for the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

Moff Therefore, in view of the angels, woman must wear a symbol of subjection on her head.

Wymth That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels.

ASV for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

DRA Therefore ought the woman to have a power over her head, because of the angels.

YLT because of this the woman ought to have [a token of] authority upon the head, because of the messengers;

Drby Therefore ought the woman to have authority on her head, on account of the angels.

RV for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

SLT Therefore the woman ought to have power upon the head for the angels.

Wbstr For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels.

KJB-1769 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

KJB-1611 For this cause ought the woman to haue power [fn]on her head, because of the Angels.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

11:10 That is, a couering, in signe that she is vnder the power of her husband

Bshps For this cause ought the woman to haue power on her head, for the Angels sakes.
(For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, for the Angels sakes.)

Gnva Therefore ought the woman to haue power on her head, because of the Angels.
(Therefore ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the Angels. )

Cvdl Therfore ought the woman to haue a power vpon hir heade, for the angels sakes.
(Therefore ought the woman to have a power upon her head, for the angels sakes.)

TNT For this cause ought the woman to have power on her heed for the angels sakes.

Wycl Therfor the womman schal haue an hilyng on hir heed, also for aungelis.
(Therefore the woman shall have an healing on her heed, also for angelis.)

Luth Darum soll das Weib eine Macht auf dem Haupt haben um der Engel willen.
(Therefore should the woman a/one power(n) on/in/to to_him head have around/by/for the/of_the angel will.)

ClVg Ideo debet mulier potestatem habere supra caput propter angelos.
(Therefore/For_that_reason must woman power to_have above the_head because messenger/angels. )

UGNT διὰ τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνὴ ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς, διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους.
(dia touto ofeilei haʸ gunaʸ exousian eⱪein epi taʸs kefalaʸs, dia tous angelous.)

SBL-GNT διὰ τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνὴ ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους.
(dia touto ofeilei haʸ gunaʸ exousian eⱪein epi taʸs kefalaʸs dia tous angelous.)

RP-GNT διὰ τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνὴ ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους.
(dia touto ofeilei haʸ gunaʸ exousian eⱪein epi taʸs kefalaʸs dia tous angelous.)

TC-GNT διὰ τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνὴ ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους.
(dia touto ofeilei haʸ gunaʸ exousian eⱪein epi taʸs kefalaʸs dia tous angelous. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:2–16: Men and women should dress appropriately to worship God

In this section Paul wrote about how men and women should dress during public worship. He wanted the women to cover their heads and the men to remain bare-headed. This was appropriate and proper and the custom of the other churches.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Wear appropriate clothing in public worship

Covering the head in worship

Paragraph 11:7–12

Paul taught that men are the glory of God, and women are the glory of men. But men and women are dependent on each other.

11:10a

For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head,

For this reason, a woman should wear a sign/symbol of authority on her head,
Because women display the greatness of men, women should wear a head covering as a sign that they have the authority to pray,

For this reason: The phrase For this reason looks back to 11:7c and means “because the woman is the glory of man.”

a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head: The Greek word that the BSB translates as a sign of authority is literally authority. The BSB has added the phrase a sign. Most English versions understand this to be the head covering, which is a sign or symbol of authority. The NLT makes this explicit:

So a woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign of authority. (NLT)

There are two ways to interpret whose authority this is:

It is a sign of the woman’s own authority.See Ellingworth and Hatton, p. 248; Barrett, p. 255; Robertson and Plummer, p. 232; Fee, p 520; Thiselton, p. 839. The head covering was a sign that the woman had authority to pray and prophesy in church. For example:
as a sign of her authority (CEV) (CEV, REB)
It is a sign of the authority of someone else over the woman.Charles Hodge, p. 211 (first pub 1857); Lenski. The head covering was a sign that the woman was submissive and subordinate to the authority of another. For example:
to show she is under someone’s authority (GW) (GW, GNT, NJB)The following versions do not say whose authority Paul referred to: BSB, NIV, ESV, NCV, NLT, NET, KJV, NASB, and RSV. The RSV appears to understand the word “authority” as a figure of speech referring to a veil. It is also possible that the RSV is following a few Greek texts that say “veil.” However, the reading “authority” has an A rating in the 4th edition of the UBS Greek New Testament, indicating that the text is considered certain.

The idea that woman has her own authority connects well with 11:11a. The idea that man has authority over her connects well with 11:8–9.

It is recommended that, if possible, you translate this literally and leave the interpretation open. If you must be specific, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Recent commentators favor this interpretation because in other Greek literature the phrase “have authority” refers to exercising authority. It is never said that a person “has authority” when someone else has authority over him or her.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the woman ought to have a covering on her head, to show that she has the authority to pray and prophecy

11:10b

because of the angels.

out of regard for the angels.
because the angels are watching.

because of the angels: Commentators are not sure why Paul mentioned the angels. Apparently, he believed that angels were present during church worship services. He believed that the angels were concerned about good order and behavior among people who worship God. Because of this, Christian women should dress and act appropriately during times of worship.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

out of regard for the angels

because the angels are watching

because of the angels who see

General Comment on 11:10a-b

In the Greek text the phrase “because of the angels” occurs at the end of 11:10, as in the BSB. However, it may be more natural in your language to mention first both reasons why a woman should have a sign of authority on her head. For example:

For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. (NIV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

διὰ τοῦτο & ἡ γυνὴ & διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνή ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς διά τούς ἀγγέλους)

Here, For this reason could refer to: (1) both what Paul said in [11:7](../11/07.md) about how “the woman is the glory of man” and what he will say at the end of this verse about the angels. Alternate translation: [Because of how the woman is the glory of the man and because of the angels, the woman] (2) just what Paul has said in [11:7](../11/07.md) about how “the woman is the glory of man.” Alternate translation: [Because of what I have said, the woman … because of the angels] (3) just what Paul will say at the end of the verse about the angels. Alternate translation: [For this reason, that is, because of the angels, the woman]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἡ γυνὴ

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνή ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς διά τούς ἀγγέλους)

Here, the woman could refer to: (1) a female person. Alternate translation: [the female person] (2) a wife. Alternate translation: [the wife]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

ἡ γυνὴ

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνή ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς διά τούς ἀγγέλους)

Paul is speaking of “women” in general, not of one particular woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a form that refers to people in general. Alternate translation: [every woman]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς

authority ˓to_be˒_having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνή ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς διά τούς ἀγγέλους)

The phrase have authority on the head could refer to: (1) the authority that the “man” has over the woman. In this view, authority implies the head covering or long hair, which the woman wears as a sign of the man’s authority over her. Alternate translation: [to have a sign of the man’s authority on her head] (2) how the woman has authority over her own head. In other words, she has authority to decide what to wear or not wear on her head, or authority could imply the head covering or long hair, which the woman wears as a sign of her authority over herself. Alternate translation: [to have authority over her own head] or [to have a sign of her authority on her head]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind authority, you can express the idea in a different way. Make sure you use a word or phrase that fits with the interpretation you chose in the last note. Alternate translation: [to rule over] or [to have someone rule over]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς κεφαλῆς

her head

Here, the with head implies that the head belongs to the woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this implication with a word that directly states possession. Alternate translation: [her head]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνή ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπί τῆς κεφαλῆς διά τούς ἀγγέλους)

Here, because of the angels clearly means that Paul considers the angels to be a reason for why the woman ought to have authority on the head, whichever meaning of that clause you decide on. However, what Paul means by the phrase because of the angels is not clear. Therefore, you also should leave your translation open so that your readers could draw any of the following conclusions. The phrase because of the angels could refer to: (1) how the angels oversee the order of the world and especially worship. The woman having authority on the head would satisfy what the angels require for worship practices. Alternate translation: [because of what the angels require] (2) how the angels can be sexually attracted to earthly women, so the woman ought to have authority on the head to keep the angels from acting or being tempted to act sexually with women. Alternate translation: [because otherwise the angels would be tempted] (3) how the angels are present in the worship of the community, and the woman must have authority on the head as a sign of respect to them. Alternate translation: [because angels are present when you worship]

Parallel 1 COR 11:10

Section 11:2–16: Men and women should dress appropriately to worship God

Paragraph 11:7–12

11:10a

11:10b

General Comment on 11:10a-b

Parallel 1 COR 11:10