In Judaism, Jewish men cover their heads when praying, or attending a synagogue or religious event/festival. Wearing a skull cap is seen as a sign of devoutness. However, there is no such commandment in the Bible for men to cover their heads.
In 1 Corinthians 11:7, Paul says “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.”
A man is to be in the likeness of God, but a woman/wife is the likeness of her husband.
1 Corinthians 11:16 – If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
When it comes to head coverings for men and women, Jewish people have no other custom, and neither did the early Christian churches. Of all people, Paul would know this best. Not only was he a strict Pharisee, but he also started, visited and counselled the first century churches.
Philippians 3:4-6 – though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Acts 22:1-3 – “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
The idea of men covering their heads, comes from traditional sources outside of the Bible such as the Halaka: a collection of Jewish religious laws derived from the written and oral Torah. It also stems from the Talmud; a collection of different Rabbi’s interpretations of the Torah. Rambam, a very influential Jewish scholar who recorded his own interpretation of the Old Testament scriptures, also supported male head covering.
These are some of the sources outside of the Old Testament that created the tradition of Jewish men covering their heads. This tradition comes from various Rabbis and not from any Old Testament prophets or scriptures.
Many Jews feel that by wearing a skullcap, they are proudly announcing to the world that they are Jewish. This is classed as an outward sign of their faith.
Other Jewish sources suggest that the reason for the male head covering was to distinguish Jews from their non-Jewish counterparts, especially while at prayer. But this custom is not as per the Bible or the Jewish ancestors during the time of Jesus and Paul.
Did Jesus Cover His Head?
It has been portrayed in the movies that Jesus often covered his head with a shawl when he prayed. However, this is not an accurate account.
Jewish people have adopted this tradition at a later time, as they did with many things in their religion. But this is not how it was meant to be from the beginning.
Numbers 15:38 – ““Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.
Any item of clothing that Jewish men wore had to have these tassels and blue cord attached to the corners. The tassels are meant to serve as a reminder of God’s law and commandments. There is nothing in this scripture which states that these tassels are for a specific type of garment like a shawl.
Furthermore, there is no scripture that states a man should cover his head with these garments when praying.
Deuteronomy 22:12 – “You must put four tassels on the hem of the cloak with which you cover yourself—on the front, back, and sides.
As the scripture states, whatever cloak they are presently wearing must have these four tassels attached to their hem. This scripture does not say for men to cover their heads with this cloak while praying.
What The Hem Of Jesus Represented
Matthew 9:20 – Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
When the woman wished to touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak, she was expressing her agreement with Jesus’ interpretation and teachings of how to fulfill the ten commandments and God’s law in her life. She was saying that she agrees with Jesus’ interpretation of God’s word and law. Reaching out to touch Jesus’ hem is a statement of faith that she believed in Jesus as the Messiah, Son of God, way, truth and life.
Matthew 14:35-36 – And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Mark 6:56 – And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
By touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak, these people were agreeing with his interpretation of how to fulfill the Ten Commandments and God’s law in their life.
Paul clearly states that it is shameful for a man to cover his head while prophesying or praying, so there is no way that Jesus did this.
1 Corinthians 11:4 & 14 – Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head…14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him…
Incase anyone wanted to be argumentative about what the customs of the early churches of God were regarding this matter, Paul added:
1 Corinthians 11:16 – But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.
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