Messianic Congregation Shema Yisrael Article Should Men Wear a Head Covering in Prayer?

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Should Men Wear a Head Covering in Prayer?

by James Pyles

There have been a number of issues I've wanted to write about, but the topics aren't usually such that they'll be longer than a few paragraphs. Most of the time, I put those topics on the back burner in favor of subjects that involve more discussion on my part. I've prayed and re-evaluated my position and have determined to write a series of "mini-articles" addressing points that are nonetheless important to our community and to the Body of Believers in Yeshua the Messiah.

"Every man who prays or prophesies wearing something down over his head, brings shame to his head..."
--1 Corinthians 11:4

This small verse is usually used to criticize Messianic Jewish and Gentile men who where a kippah^1. (also known as a yarmulke in Yiddish) on their heads in prayer. According to Dr. David H. Stern^2., the literal translation of the Biblical Greek in this verse states, "Wearing something down over his head", indicating that Paul's intent was to describe men wearing a veil over their heads, not a hat or head covering. The usual translation of this portion of the verse is "with his head covered" which is inaccurate and obscures the true meaning of the verse.

Paul is not explicitly forbidding the wearing of a head covering by men but is describing a circumstance where a man is wearing a scarf or veil, perhaps in the manner of women, (which would explain why Paul directs women to pray with their heads veiled or in a scarf in verse 5). Although Paul doesn't quote this portion of the Torah as an explanation, his teaching probably goes hand in hand with the following.

"Male garb shall not be on a woman, and a man shall not wear a woman's garment, for anyone who does so is an abomination of Hashem".
--Deuteronomy 22:5

Actually, Paul couldn't have been talking about men wearing kippot (plural of kippah) since the wearing of a kippah in prayer did not become mandatory, at least among Orthodox Jews, until the 16th century, although it had become customary some centuries earlier. There is no basis in scripture for wearing a kippah, however the Talmud, in Shabbat 156b, it states, "Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you." The obligation of a man to cover his head at all times is considered a minhag or "custom", according to halakhic^3. experts. From a Talmudic point of view however, the only moment when a Jewish man is required to cover his head is during prayer (Mishneh Torah, Ahavah, Hilkhot Tefilah 5:5).

In the synagogue and in private prayer, some men will pull their tallit (prayer shawl) up over their head while praying, but this is to form additional privacy in prayer, blocking out external distractions and creating a greater sense of intimacy between the person praying and God. It is not seen as an attempt to imitate female garb in prayer which, it seems likely, is what Paul is discussing.

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