From Scripture. This answer is plainly backed by the text of Scripture.
No. Right after Paul gives his instructions about women covering their heads, he says that none of the other congregations have that custom (1 Corinthians 11:16).
Some congregations ask women to cover their heads when they pray or before they come in for service. This is not common in Christian churches, but many Hebrew-centered groups do it. Muslims are also known for women covering their heads. And the idea of women praying with covered heads does come from the Word.
But look at 1 Corinthians 11:4. Paul says a man dishonors his head if he prays with his head covered. That should be our first clue that this was not a Hebrew custom. King David had his head covered while he was praying, and everyone with him covered their heads too (2 Samuel 15:30-32). Nothing in Scripture says David did anything dishonorable.
Paul’s instruction about head coverings did not come from the Scriptures. When Paul gives an instruction based on the Scriptures, he usually points to them to prove it. For example, when he wrote that women should not teach over men, he gave this reason: “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13-14). In 1 Corinthians 14, when he wrote that women should keep silent and learn in obedience, he added, “as also saith the law” (1 Corinthians 14:34). But in 1 Corinthians 11, he does not point to the Law of Moses or to anyone in Scripture. He points to nature instead (1 Corinthians 11:14). Then he ends by making it clear that neither he nor any of the congregations have that custom (1 Corinthians 11:16). So it is not a sin.
Now, about women wearing pants. Scripture does not mention pants, so this part is reasoning from the Law. Some people think pants are only for men because pants were first made for men. Our Law teaches, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man” (Deuteronomy 22:5). But if we use that thinking for pants, we would have to use it for dresses too. The men in Scripture wore clothing that was open at the bottom, like dresses. That is why Yah did not allow steps up to the altar (Exodus 20:26). Today we would not wear that kind of clothing, because those styles are made almost only for women. In the same way, some pants are made for women and some are made for men. If you would not want your son to wear women’s jeans, then you agree that some jeans are made for women. Those jeans do not belong to a man.
Answered by Taught of Yah
