4 Every man praying or prophesying, having the head covered, doth dishonour his head, 5 and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven, 6 for if a woman is not covered—then let her be shorn, and if 'it is' a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven—let her be covered; 7 for a man, indeed, ought not to cover the head, being the image and glory of God, and a woman is the glory of a man, 8 for a man is not of a woman, but a woman 'is' of a man, 9 for a man also was not created because of the woman, but a woman because of the man; 10 because of this the woman ought to have 'a token of' authority upon the head, because of the messengers; 11 but neither 'is' a man apart from a woman, nor a woman apart from a man, in the Lord, 12 for as the woman 'is' of the man, so also the man 'is' through the woman, and the all things 'are' of God. 13 In your own selves judge ye; is it seemly for a woman uncovered to pray to God? 14 doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man indeed have long hair, a dishonour it is to him? 15 and a woman, if she have long hair, a glory it is to her, because the hair instead of a covering hath been given to her;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:4-15
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
(Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-16)
Here begin particulars respecting the public assemblies, 1 Corinthians 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 subject to man, because made for his help and comfort. And she should do nothing, in Christian assemblies, which looked like a claim of being equal. She ought to have "power," that is, a veil, on her head, because of the angels. Their presence should keep Christians from all that is wrong while in the worship of God. Nevertheless, the man and the woman were made for one another. They were to be mutual comforts and blessings, not one a slave, and the other a tyrant. God has so settled matters, both in the kingdom of providence and that of grace, that the authority and subjection of each party should be for mutual help and benefit. It was the common usage of the churches, for women to appear in public assemblies, and join in public worship, veiled; and it was right that they should do so. The Christian religion sanctions national customs wherever these are not against the great principles of truth and holiness; affected singularities receive no countenance from any thing in the Bible.