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A look into the heart of a woman...
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Modesty... what happened to it? Why has modesty not become an issue in our society today? For hundreds of years it was a requirment for m3n and women to dress modestly. But why not now, in the 21st century? What was it that caused the modesty issue to fade away? Let's find out.
How should a woman dress? What do the scriptures say about this? 1 Timothy 2:9, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array."
The above verse tells us that a women should dress in modest apparel (clothing), without feeling shameful. Braiding the hair, shiny gold, pearls or costly (expensive) array (clothing) should not make the women. She should be wearing meekness and humbleness!
So, what started all the lustful, improper dress for women? The start of WW1 was the beginning of a major change in the way women would dress. By the time the feminist movement came on the scene most had forgotten what modesty meant. Short sleeves and lower necklines started in the 17th century. Clothes seemed to be get tighter and tighter by the 18th century. By the 19th century clothes were extremely tight. The following is a time-line of women's fashion throughout the years.
If you don't think the way a person dresses is a salvation issue... well maybe you are right. However, before we draw that conclusion let us consider the following.
On more than one occasion, I have witnessed as the third person, how much men enjoy looking at the female anatomy. It does not matter if the man's wife is present or not. The animal instincts kick in, the eyes are fixed and set on the prey. All life around the object(s), at that moment in time, seems to come to an abrupt hault! Yes, the female anatomy is one of the biggest temptation men are faced with!
The Messiah told us that a man could lust after a women in his heart, just by looking at her (Matthew 5:28)! Wow, that is major, because if the man happens to be married, then he has committed adultery (check the 7th Commandment). If the man is NOT married then he too has broken one of the Top Ten Commandments? Can you guess which one he has broken? Number 10, the "Thou shall not covet" one!'
Back to the salvation issue, if a man has broken either number 7 or number 10, then he has broken one of the Ten Commandments. When we break one of these, we are living in sin! The outcome of the unrepentant heart is separation from Elohim. This is major!
If you happen to be one that struggles with this sin (you are not the only one),the adversary (satan), you know the one who likes to tattle on the brethren, knows this as well. That is why we all need to work together! We need to confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, then pray without ceasing. We need to put on the whole armour of Elohim including the mind of Mashiach! Even women can get involved by dressing more modestly. Women should not want to cause a brother to stumble. What if a women could be held accountable for being the cause of a brother to stumble? That would not be good, now would it?
When comparing the time-line to these pictures ("The History of America In Pictures" By Alan C. Collins. Doubleday, 1953) we can see that modesty sure has changed. Notice the women's head coverings, bonnets and shaw veils?
For some odd reason, society just does not care about modesty anymore. If I were wrong on this, then little girls would not be dressing the way they do. Mothers and young ladies would not either. Back before the 1900's, people would have been looked down upon, shunned or even stoned with rocks (in scriptural days) if they dressed the way they dress today. Nowadays people become famous celebrities, or popular, if they are immodest. You are considered weird in the eyes of most society if you dress modestly? Sounds backwards, if you ask me. We need to ask, "What is it that I must do to be modest?" Continue reading to find out!
Watching the news or traveling abroad, the possiblities are great that you will see women with their head covered. Unlike the culture of America... you may not ever see a woman with her head covered. But if you did, what would your reaction be? Your first instinct may be she is a Muslim, Taliban or worst yet she is a Terrorist! Sadly, this has happened to me. My husband and I were shopping at a famous department store not so long ago. As I stood there in the isle about five feet from my husband a loud voice caught my attention. Looking up, to my surprise the two men in the main isle were starring at me. With his finger pointing at me, he said, "Oh, LOOK! she is a Taliban leader!"
As a result, this book is being made to help others not only understand why women cover their heads but you may even be blessed after reading this small book, "Modesty... What Happened to it?".
So, why do women cover their heads? Most women cover their heads for a few reasons:
1. A sign of submission
2. For Modesty
3. Religious beliefs.
Did you know that during the time of the Old Testament, women wore head coverings? If you believe in the Scriptures like we do then three questions we must find answers to are,
"Why don't women wear them anymore?",
"Should a women keep her head covered?", "
"When should she keep it covered?"
Let us proceed in finding the answer in the scriptures. We find the following in the great book of Deut. 22:5, "The woman shall not wear that which pertained unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto YHWH thy Elohim."
Keeping that verse in mind turn with me to, 1 Corintinans 11:3-10:
3. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Messiah is Elohim.
4. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of Elohim: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8. For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10. For this cause ought the woman to have power (symbol) on her head because of the messengers (angels).
To understand what Sha'ul (Paul) is trying to tell us about the women's head covering we must look at each verse individually, and find out what some of the words mean. Men you are involved here also.
Verse 4- "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head."
Strong's Numbers:
~praying #4336- to offer prayers, to pray, worship
~prophesying #4395- to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict. under like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others
~covered #2619- to cover up. to veil or cover one's self
~dishonored #2617- to dishonour, disgrace. to put to shame, make ashamed. to be ashamed.
Let me summarize this verse for you: "Every man praying (offers prayer, worships) or prophesying (teaches, prophesies), having his head covered (covered up, veiled), dishonored (puts shame upon) his head" If a man prays or prophesies with his head veiled (covered with a sort of covering) while he is praying then he has brought shame and dishonor to his head. Who is the man's head? 1 Chorinthians 11:3 "...the head of every man is Messiah..." Messiah is the head of every man. So when a man prays, worships, teaches, comforts, prophesies, etc. with his head covered he has brought shame to the Messiah. Seems many men have overlooked this very important verse.
Do you know what a Kippah (yarmulke) is? It is a small round hat that can be seen on popes, cardinals and rabbis, just to name a few. It is a requirement for one to wear one of these sun-disk hats when visiting the wailing wall! A very long time ago, pagan-priests would actually shave their heads bald in the shape of the sun-disk in honour of the sun-deity or 'Sol Invictus' (the un-conquered sun). This was known as a tonsure. (Leviticus 21:5) As compromise began to spread like wild fire through-out, the Priest of the Universal (Catholic) church, also adopted this pagan ritual. Some men will remove their hats (for instance ball caps) during prayer and worship. Clearly, scriptures tells us that men should do the latter and not the former.
Verse 5- "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."
Strong's Numbers:
~prayeth #4336- to offer prayers, to pray.
~prophesieth #4395- to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict. under like prompting, to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others.
~uncovered #177- not covered, unveiled
~dishonored #2617- to dishonour, disgrace. to put to shame, make ashamed. to be ashamed.
~shaven #3587- to shear, shave. to get one's self shaved.
Let me summarize this verse for you: "But every woman that prayeth (offers prayer, worships) or prophesieth (teaches, prophesies) with her head uncovered (not covered, unveiled) dishonored (puts shame upon) her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven (shorn, to get head shaved)."
A women praying or prophesying with her head uncovered is no different then her shaving her head. If a women prays or prophesies with her head uncovered (unveil) then she has dishonored (brought shame to) her head. Who is the woman's head? 1 Corinthians 11:3 "and the head of the woman is the man" When a women has prayed or prophesied with her head uncovered (unveiled) she has brought shame to her husband (if married) or her father (if unmarried). If her husband or father has been brought to shame, then who else has been brought to shame? The Messiah! She has brought the Messiah to shame if she knows that she is to pray with her head covered.
The apostasy is here and has been with us for a very long time! Time to review that verse again in Deut. 22:5, "The woman shall not wear that which pertained unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto YHWH thy Elohim."
As a child, I was raised a Catholic. I still remember the older women in the church that would always wear a veil on their heads when in prayer! You may remember seeing this in your church as well. There are women within different religious groups that still believe in the women having a veiling on the females head when in prayer and as a sign of modesty. Some of these groups are:
1. Anabaptist
2. Mennonite
3. Amish
4. Messianics
5. Mennonite Messianics
6. Some sects in Judaism
7. Muslims
What I found interesting is that other groups not listed above did at one time believe in the women dressing modesty, for instance the Pilgrims, and wearing a veil during prayer. Most women in today's society have removed the veiling while the man has adopted the garment on their heads.
Verse 6- "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."
Strong's Numbers:
~covered #2619- to cover up. to veil or cover one's self.
~ shorn #2751- of shearing or cutting short the hair of the head.
~ shame #149- shame, dishonourable.
~shaven #3587- to shear, shave. to get one's self shaved
~covered #2619- to cover up. to veil or cover one's self
Let me summarize this verse for you: "For if the woman be not covered (veiled, covered up), let her also be shorn (shaving or cutting hair short): but if it be a shame (dishonorable) for a woman to be shorn (hair cut short) or shaven (head shaved), let her be covered (veiled)."
If a women is uncovered (unveiled, not covered up) let her hair be cut short or shaved off. But it is shameful (dishonorable) for a women to have her hair cut short or shaved off. If she has been shorned or shaved she should be covered (veiled).
Verse 7-"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of Elohim: but the woman is the glory of the man."
Strong's Numbers:
~cover #2619 -to cover up. to veil or cover one's self
Let me summarize this verse for you: "For a man indeed ought not to cover (veil, cover up) his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of Elohim: but the woman is the glory of the man."
Many times through out scriptures we find that some verses carry parallel meaning. We know man was created in the image of Yahuwah (Bereshith, Genesis 1:26). Whereas the women was created for the man and the man has rule over her. Ouch, I know a lot of women does not like to hear that but it is the truth! Eph. 5:22-24, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Master. Because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the assembly, and He is Savior of the body. As the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect."
By the women covering her head, she is showing a sign of submission. Now, let us go a little further. The man is told in the same chapter, Eph. 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it." The husband is to love his wife as the Messiah loved the assembly.
In marriage, when a man loves his wife like Messiah loved the assembly and the women is submissive to her husband the outcome is wonderful, both spiritually and physically. Watch what I mean! Since we know, without a doubt, that the man represents Messiah, can you guess what the women represents? In prophesy (prophetic scriptures) the women represents the assembly, congregation, the Bride (Revelation 12:17; 14:4). So women, let us rejoice that we represent the body (Bride, Congregation, Assembly) of Messiah. That is a huge responsibility, wouldn't you agree? The way a women holds herself speaks volume of who she is. Is she happy or sad? Does she feel confident? Does she carry a deep hurt within herself? Or does she have the fruits of the Ruach within her?
Scriptures tell us how a women should be dressed. 1 Timothy 2:9, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array."
Verse 10- "For this cause (of the women wearing a head covering) ought the woman to have power (symbol) on her head because of the messengers (angels)."
Strong's Numbers:
~power #1849 -the power (symbol) of authority.
The women wears the head covering to show that her husband, her father has authority over her. She is being submissive to him when she has veiled herself. Why would the Messengers (angels) be involved with the women who wears a head covering? This verse is very important! The first messengers stepped out of being submissive to Elohim, causing them to rebel and fall. When a women (both in the physical and spiritual sense) shows that she is indeed being submissive because of the symbol of authority on her head, the messengers see this. Maybe they see that the women has taken her place. And since the women represent the Bride of Mashiach, we the body have also taken are rightful place...we are submissive to Yahushua because He is our HEAD! Genesis, 3:16, "To the women he said, "I greatly increase your sorrow and your conception-bring forth children in pain. And your desire is for your husband, and he does rule over you." What kind of women covered their heads? Scriptures tell us that the set apart or holy women did. 1 Peter 3:5, "For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in Elohim, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"
What have we learned so far? That women should keep their head covered for many reasons and that they should cover their head when they are teaching, prophesy, praying and worshiping.
The answer to that question is yes. Head coverings were worn by women in the Scriptures. Every women of Elohim wore one, as we are commanded to. Women that did not wear head coverings were considered to be prostitutes, and not women of Elohim. Here is Scriptural proof of that they did wear head coverings.
Bereshith (Genesis) 24:65 "For she had said unto the servant, "What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?" And the servant had said, "It is my master": therefore she took a veil, and covered herself".
WHY did she cover herself? There is more than one reason for a women to cover her head.
A.-Prayer, Worship and Prophesying (1 Chorinthians 11:5 and 6) Women are commanded to pray and prophesy with our head covered.
B-For Modesty in front of a man that they do not know. Men that women do not know are considered as strange men to them. So they are supposed to keep their head covered around strange men.
C-For subjection or submission (1 Corinthians 11:3,6,7,10) To show that women are under authority. If a women is married, she is under her husbands authority. If the women is not married and lives with her father, then she is under his authority.
D-For Concealment- The women in the verse below, was in an open place (or a public place) she took her veil (head covering) and covered (veiled) herself.
Bereshith (Genesis) 38:14, "And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife."
It is well known to many who disagree with the wearing of a head covering that because of the above verse ONLY prostitutes wore head coverings. Later in chapter 38 we read, Gen 38:15 "And Yehuḏah saw her, and reckoned her for a whore, for she had covered her face." Tamar, the woman in this story covered her face. The type of covering mentioned in this verse is different than the covering mentioned earlier in this book. It is Strong's #3680, meaning; "by implication to cover (for clothing or secrecy): - clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover". Also face, Strong's #6440 meaning; "favour, fear of, for, forefront, him/herself. While earlier in this article we read that a woman is to cover her head, cover meaning; "veil" and head meaning; "literally the head". The type of covering mentioned here is much different than the covering Sha'ul is talking about in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Tamar covered (concealed) her head here so that Yehudah knew not who she was. She did this so she could continue her deceased husbands seed. Not so as to be a whore.
The usage of veils are even mentioned in Song of Solomon:
"How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Mount Gilead."
Song of Solomon 4:1
Obviously Solomon did not think of the thought of women wearing veils out of nowhere. He should know, after all, he had many wives.
Solomon 5:7, "The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me."
Isaiah 3:16-23 "Moreover YHWH saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:Therefore the Master will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and YHWH will discover their secret parts. In that day the Master will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,The rings, and nose jewels,The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils."
Numbers 5:18,"And the priest shall set the woman before YHWH, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: "
Society today has gotten a man to think that if he has a beard then he is considered a dirty bum. Let's face it, society plays a major role in how people perceive what is and is not attractive. Sadly, way too many men and women of all ages are starving themselves thinking they must be skinny in order to be attractive. So many claim to be Bible Believers yet they judge others on their appearance. Yahushua loves us all. Yohanan (John) 7:24, "Do not judge according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
If you happen to be one of those that believe a man is dirty because he has a beard then do you think men of the scriptures are dirty also? A few of these men happen to be, King David, Jeremiah, Samson, Aaron, Moses and yes even our Saviour, Yahushua the Messiah! So I guess society also thinks that those men are dirty bums? See my point?
Should a man keep his beard long? Or is he permitted to shave it off? Isn't there a reason Yahuah had a beard grow on a man's face and not a woman's? If He didn't want men to have a beard, then He would not have created them to grow one. The only way to find out if men are to have a beard is to look it up in Scripture. The Word of Elohim is all we need to answer our question "Should a man let his beard grow long or is he permitted to shave it off?"
The following verses have been misunderstood many times, so let's find out what they really mean.
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 19:27, "You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard."
Strong's Numbers:
~not #3808- never.
~round #5362- cut down destroy.
~corners #6285- end, quarter, side.
~heads #7218- forefront, highest part, top.
~corners #6285- end, quarter, side.
~beard #2206- the beard.
What does mar mean- "to spoil or detract from something"
What does detract mean- "take something away"
So let me summarize this verse for you. "You shall not (never) round (cut down, destroy) the corners (end, quarter, side) of your heads (forefront, highest part, top), neither shall you mar (take away) the corners (end, quarter, side) of your beard."
Can I ask you a question? If men were not supposed to have a beard, why would Yahuah command men to never take away the sides of their beard? He is obviously saying how they are aloud to have their beards, which is a full beard not something like a goatee.
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 21:5 "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh."
Strong's Numbers:
~not #3808- never.
~baldness #7144- bald.
~corner #6285- end, quarter, side.
~beard #2206- the beard.
~cuttings #8296- cutting.
~flesh #1321- body, self, skin.
What does shave mean- remove hair with razor.
Let me summarize this verse for you:"They shall not (never) make baldness (bald) upon their head, neither shall they shave (remove their hair with a razor) off the corner (side) of their beard (the beard), nor make any cuttings (cutting) in their flesh (body, self, skin)."
So, we are not to shave our heads for no apparent reason, unless Yahuah our Elohim tells us otherwise (Wayyiqra 14:2). Also, like the previous verse, men are not to remove their hair with a razor on the sides (cheeks) of their face. This verse is also telling us not to make type of carving into our flesh. Which includes tattoos, or engravings into our skin. It is a sin against Yahuwah.
Yes, men in the Scriptures did have beards. Here is Scriptural proof that they did.
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 13:29-30 "If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard; Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scurf, even a leprosy upon the head or beard."
Above we read what to do if a man has an infection in his beard. There is a reason why Yahuwah said what to do if a man has an infection in his beard, because men should have a beard.
1 Shemu'el (1 Samuel) 17:35 "And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him."
1 Shemu'el (1 Samuel) 21:13 "And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard."
1 Shemu'el (2 Samuel) 19:24 "And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace."
Psalm 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; Isa 50:6, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."
The above verse is in reference to the Saviour, Yahushua Messiah.
When a man in the scriptures shaves his beard it is:
A sign that he has been cleansed from leprosy-
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 14:2,43, "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:" 43 "But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean."
Was a sign of mourning-
Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 50:6, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting"
Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 48:37, "For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth."
Ezra 9:3, "And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied."
Was a mark of indignity or humiliation-
2 Shemu'el (2 Samuel) 10:4, "Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away."
Jeremiah 6:17,"Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet..."
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