The History of Head-covering in Christianity
In Ancient Middle East covering with a veil was a traditional custom, one signifying modesty, humility, and respect for self and others. We see this mentioned in scripture in Genesis 24:65 'Rebekah sees Isaac approaching them in a field and asks Abraham's servant to identify him. Upon learning he is her future husband, she takes her veil and covers her face.'
In the time of Jesus and still nowadays for Jewish women, the covering of the head acted as a wedding ring. Then it was signaling to society that the woman was married and unavailable to other men. Had a woman not covered her hair, she was seen as a lower-class woman and potentially suspected of unfaithfulness.
The most famous verse of the bible relating to head-covering is 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 '5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.'
Some theologians and churches believe that either Paul was simply applying spiritual truths, such as mutual respect and God-designed order, to the local and ancient culture. Mean-while others still believe nowadays that it is a permanent order to which we are to follow in church as a sign of submission.
As a Daughter of the Most High,
As a Follower of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we have the privilege of worshiping God in all that we do. We are told specifically in 1 Corinthians 10:31 'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God'. In *Romans 14 it teaches us to be faithful to our personal convictions and to not judge the convictions of others (our brothers and sisters in Christ) for we will all stand before the Lords Judgement seat.
At present there are many Christian women who head-cover such as the Catholics and Catholic Nuns, Mennonites, Amish, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox nuns, and non-denominational. It is such a beautiful thing that because of Jesus Christ; Our Lord, we have the freedom to worship him through the act of head-covering. Not forced on us by the others nor the religion itself, instead coming from a place of faith, relationship with God, obedience to personal conviction, and ultimately an act of worship to glorify the Lord.
*Romans 14:5-9 reads 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.