Yarmulke
Men's Headcovering
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The
Jews today customarily wear a small beanie-type headcovering in their worship.
Some Jewish or Messianic groups have also adopted this custom, which is
contrary to Paul’s writings. Ignoring 1Corinthians chapter 11, some writers
actually wrench from Scripture the opposite of what Yahweh intended. Their
interpretation sets truth aside to accept or establish a false doctrine. Let us
examine 1Corinthians chapter eleven to learn the heart of the matter. Female
worshipers are told to wear a veil and men in worship are admonished to be
bareheaded.
We know that Jews will not allow anyone to come into
the synagogue unless the visitor wears a skullcap known as a yarmulke or kepah.
A man cannot visit the Wailing Wall at
We will examine an article which attempts to justify a
man’s wearing a covering on his head. By quoting certain verses wrenched from
Scripture, supposed proof is established. Known among Bible students as
"proof-texting," most of the verses thus supplied have no relevance
to the issue at hand. We will examine the remarks of at least one author and
show the error of his conclusions.
High Priests and Mourning
Given
as an example that David wore a yarmulke in worship is 2 Samuel 15:30: "And David sent up by the ascent of
Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went
barefoot; and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and
they went up, weeping as they went up." This allegedly proves that
King David always worshiped Yahweh with his head covered.
Examining the context of the verse, however, we learn
that King David is caught in the midst of an upheaval, with his son Absalom
trying to usurp his father’s throne. Note verse 31, "And one told David, ‘Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom.’ And David said, ‘O Yahweh, I pray You, turn
the counsel of Ahithophel "into foolishness."
Now notice verse 32, "And it came to pass that when David was come to the top of the
mount, where he worshiped Elohim, behold, Hushae the Archite came to meet him
with coat rent, and earth upon his head." This corroborates the
statement that David was in severe consternation and shame because of
Ahithophel’s treachery, and is humbling himself, at the point of mourning.
Jeremiah 14:4 gives another example of shame and
contrition leading to covering, "Because
of the ground which is cracked, since there is no rain upon the land, the
farmers are ashamed, they cover their heads."
Going barefoot is also a sign of mourning. Because
David was grieving and in shame he covered his head and went barefoot - not a
normal worship practice.
The high priest wore a mitre, and his assistants were
also to wear a headdress while doing Yahweh’s service, Exodus 28:39-41. These
verses instruct the making of the coat of fine linen, the mitre of fine linen,
and the girdle of needlework. Aaron’s sons were also to have coats and girdles
and bonnets for glory and beauty.
Some scholars say that the anointing of Aaron’s sons was
not necessarily to have them officiate at that time but to prepare them to take
over whenever Aaron was unable to continue his office as the high priest. We,
however, are not high priests - Yahshua is the high priest. Were He a Levite,
He might wear the mitre in heaven. His is of the Melchisedek order as we are,
not of the Levitical, Hebrews 5:6.
Proponents of men’s headcoverings erroneously maintain
that men were not to remove their covering even for the dead. They cite
Leviticus 10:6, where Moses commanded Aaron and the priests not to uncover
their heads after Yahweh had destroyed Aaron’s two sons for burning
unauthorized fire on the altar. The reason was that these two sons, Nadab and
Abihu, were negligent in their duties as priests.
Verse 6 reads: "And
Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not
your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest you die, and lest wrath come upon
all the people: But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the
burning which Yahweh has kindled."
Interestingly, the NIV reads, "Do not let your hair become unkempt," instead of
"uncover not your heads." (Do not dishevel your hair, Tanakh
marginal reading). Here is an extreme matter of shame and disgrace for the
Aaronic priesthood. Eleazar and Ithamar were not to show sorrow for the blatant
disregard of Yahweh’s commands by Nadab and Abihu. Furthermore, the priestly
headgear is not the same as the yarmulke.
Wisdom Like A Crown
Proponents
have tried to equate the yarmulke with an ornament of grace in Proverbs 1:9.
The pericope must begin at verse 7, "The
fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and
instruction. My son hear the instruction of your
father and forsake not the law of your mother. For they shall
be an ornament of grace unto your head and chains about your neck."
This has nothing to do with the yarmulke being an
ornament of grace. Grace here is unmerited kindness from Yahweh that comes with
following the instructions of the father and advice by the mother. An ornament
of grace adorns the obedient individual who submits to Yahweh. It is not a
command to wear the yarmulke or the headdress, neither is it an admonition to
wear chains around the neck. Proverbs 1:9 is extolling discipline and obedience.
Proverbs 4:7-9 is also quoted to imply that wisdom is
represented by a headdress or yarmulke. "Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting, get
understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you: she shall bring you to honor,
when you do embrace her. She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a
crown of glory shall she deliver to you." The Tanakh reads, "She will adorn your head with "a
graceful wreath, Crown you with a glorious diadem."
Again, the meaning and sense is simply wisdom or a
deeper understanding of Yahweh’s word gives us honor like a beautiful crown of
glory upon our heads. Nothing to do with a kepah.
Verse 10 goes on to say, "My son listen to me and do as I say and you will have a long,
good life." (Living Bible) This has nothing to do with the kepah or
the yarmulke. It simply shows that a crown of
One writer says, "Isaiah likens
Of Women’s Attire
"It
is called a garment of praise in Isaiah 61:3," says a writer. The Hebrew
word here translated garment is maateh and means a headcovering as used in
Isaiah
Actually, the word maateh is Strong’s Concordance No. 4594
and is translated vestment. Brown, Driver, Briggs Gesenius translates maateh as
"wrap, mantle." And in Isaiah 61:3, as a mantle of
praise in the figurative sense. It does not mean headcovering, but
apparel, clothing, raiment.
The writer contends, "It means ‘a headcovering’
as used in Isaiah
There are two words the writer may have reference to. The
word bonnett is No. 6287, "peer"; in Hebrew, a fancy headdress. The
other is headband, No. 7196 (quishur) or girdle.
Just why the author would bring in Isaiah
In vainly seeking any verse promoting headcoverings
for men, the yarmulke proponents have seized on verses pertaining to women’s
attire and compounded their error.
Some yarmulke advocates attempt to gain support from
Ezekiel 44:18, which reads: "They
shall have linen bonnets upon their heads and they shall have linen breeches
upon their loins. They shall not gird themselves with anything that causes
sweat. "
Verse 15 shows that this refers to priests, the sons
of Zadok. As we have noted before, the priests of the Levitical order were to
wear something on their heads when they officiated in worship. How can one
confuse the dress of women in Isaiah 3:20 with the priests in Ezekiel 44:18,
while vainly attempting to build a case for the unbiblical yarmulke for men?
Appeals have also been made to Isaiah 61:10, which
reads, "I will greatly rejoice in
Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; for He has clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decks himself with ornaments and the bride adorns herself with
jewels.”
Notice that the kepah is not mentioned here, but this
pictures Yahshua’s robe of righteousness that we are given as we follow Him and
are obedient to Yahweh’s commandments. No Yarmulke here.
Nothing to Rejoice In
One
author says, "Ezekiel was commanded by Yahweh to wear the tire (Hebrew
peer) upon his head and to command the children of
It is quite obvious here that the man is not to mourn
and not take off his "tire" (Hebrew peer, meaning a turban or fancy headdress). Ezekiel is to wear the
headdress and not go barefoot as did King David when he was mourning. He was to
put shoes upon his feet and he was not to cover his lips nor eat the bread of
men. Again this has to do with mourning and has nothing to do with worship of
Yahweh.
Notice verse 23, which reads, "And your tires (fancy headdress, turban) shall be upon your heads
and your shoes upon your feet: and you shall not mourn nor weep but shall pine
away for your iniquities and mourn one toward another." Yahweh is
telling
They Went Wearing Street Hats
The
writer says, "King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and commanded all
to bow down and worship it. But there were three Jews in his kingdom who would
not worship the image, they worshiped only Yahweh. So the king had them thrown
down into a fiery furnace. They went to this fire trusting in Yahweh with their
caps on their heads, Daniel 3:1, 21. And I believe they were praying all the
way."
Interestingly, the word hat referred to in Daniel
Most of the Scriptures yarmulke proponents’ offers for
proof simply are references to something on the head of priests. Many of them
relate to those in mourning or in abject misery. Some of their references are
to women’s headdresses. Others are casual turbans worn by those walking about
in the street. Some allegorically point to spiritual fruits. Most have nothing
to do with the kepah or the yarmulke. Try as they will, there is no command for
a male other than a Levitical priest to wear a headcovering in the Old
Testament. Attempted "proof-texting" to uphold a yarmulke or kepah
does not hold up.
Covering In The New Testament
One
writer asks, "We are told by Paul to pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians
The writer answers his own question. If we understand
the verse to mean that a man is literally to pray without ceasing, he would not
be working out in the oil fields while praying. Correctly understood, Paul
tells us we should be in an attitude of prayerful reverence and close communion
with Yahweh at all times. It does not mean that men should forever be on their
knees praying with a yarmulke on their heads. Nothing of the
kind.
Next, this writer notes, "In 1 Corinthians 11,
Paul explains the headdress of men and women in praying or prophesying. As this
article concerns men, we will not go into the women part of it. ‘But I would
have you know that the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the
woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is Yahweh.’ 1 Corinthians 11:3.
We have three heads mentioned here; the head of man (Messiah), the head of
woman (man), the head of Messiah (Yahweh)."
"Let us take up the next verse now. ‘Every man
praying or prophesying, having his head (Messiah) covered dishonors his head
(Messiah).’ We pray in the Name of our Head, which is the Messiah. If for any
reason we do not do this, we are covering our head (Messiah) and dishonoring
Him."
Notice how the author makes his own judgments. He
says, "Whenever we do not pray in the Name of the Messiah we are covering
Him." The Scripture does not use this terminology, saying that whenever we
do not pray in the Name of Yahshua we are "covering Him." It simply
is not a scriptural concept. It is a man-made notion to justify a man-made
doctrine.
Let us continue, "In Paul’s day there were people
who would try to hide the fact that they were believers in Yahshua if they were
around Jews who did not believe in Him. Thus, they covered the fact that they
believed in Him, and this dishonored Him, their Head.
"This is not talking about the head on your
shoulders but the head Messiah and we are not to cover that head when we pray.
We are to pray in His Name showing all that He is our head."
Obviously the man is trying to build a case by
inserting his own thoughts and projecting certain concepts into his private
interpretation, making Yahweh’s Word of no effect. He attempts to make us
believe that any time we pray to Yahweh and do not petition in the Name of His
Son Yahshua the Messiah we are covering our Head, meaning the Messiah. He gives
no Scripture to support his assertion that we "cover the Messiah" by
not praying in His Name. Where does the Bible say that when we pray in the
Saviour Yahshua’s name we are then uncovering Him and by not calling on His
name we are covering Him? There are none.
He goes on, "now let us look at the next verse. ‘But
every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head
(man) for that is even all one as if she were shaven,’ 1Corinthians 11:5."
"So, Paul is saying that a man should have a
covering on his physical head, the head on his shoulders (as well as) when the
woman prays or prophesies or he is causing her to dishonor him (her
head)."
Covered By Proxy?
Do
you grasp the twisting of Scripture? He says that if the woman is praying, then
the
The error continues: "If a man does not have a
physical headcovering, it is the same as if his wife had her head shaved."
Obviously then, a man would not have to have on any headcovering
if his wife were not in attendance either at the synagogue or meeting to
worship Yahweh. So long as the man is alone he would not need a covering of any
kind, according to this writer’s reasoning. If the wife is praying (according
to this perverted interpretation) and the HUSBAND DOES NOT COVER HIS HEAD, THEN
IT IS as if SHE had shaved her head!
Paul says differently. He says that if the woman does
not cover her own head (on her shoulders) it is as if she were shaven, which
the NIV correctly says is a sign of a disgraceful act. The man’s headcovering
has nothing to do with the woman’s head being shaved. It is her
own head that is to be covered.
"And only women caught in adultery had their
heads shaved. This has always been a custom among the Jews even today, for
women caught in adultery, to shave their heads. Paul also shows this in verse 6
that the woman is to cover her physical head also. Man and woman both are to
have a headdress on when they worship Yahweh. This shows that neither one is without
each other in Yahweh, I Corinthians
The above conclusion of the writer totally misses the
basic thrust of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Paul is clearly teaching that
if the woman does not have a covering on her head she is less than pious. The
context of I Corinthians 11:11-12 simply means that the man is not without the
woman because all men are born from women. But woman was formed from man’s rib.
Yet, both man and woman are from Yahweh Who is the
Creator of all life.
Let’s Get to the Heart of the Matter
From
his book, What is a Jew, Rabbi
Morris N. Kertzer states in the section, "Do All Jews Wear Hats When They
Pray? There is a tendency by all faiths to exalt customs into firmly
established religious principle."
Leaders in Judaism themselves admit there is nothing
in the Bible that teaches men to wear anything on their heads or even wear a
prayer shawl.
Professor Jacob Z. Lauterbach has pointed out,
"The custom of praying bareheaded or with covered head is not all a
question of law. It is merely a matter of social propriety and decorum."
This is true as far as the Old Testament is concerned, but Paul clearly makes
it plain that in the New Testament, men are to have nothing on their heads, and
women are to have their heads covered.
"Actually, there is no Biblical law or directive
for covering the head. To cover one’s head with a turban or skullcap (yarmulke)
as a sign of humility, respect, or reverence has been a widespread custom among
many people in the Orient, especially among the Hindus, Arabs, and Persians.
Jews having originated as an Eastern people (those who follow religious
tradition) are careful to cover their heads, both when waking and sleeping.
"In ancient Jewish beliefs there is found stern
disapproval of the uncovered head, whether it be of a man or woman. But the
‘sin’ is compounded by uncovering the head in a consecrated place, like the
synagogue or the Bet ha-Midrash (House of Study) or when at prayer or while at
Torah study. The pious man has always been exhorted to be on guard against
carelessness in this matter. When his head is unavoidably bared, he is
forbidden to pronounce the name of Yahweh, to recite the Shema, or to read from
the Torah."—The Book of Jewish
Knowledge, p. 191.
"Jewish custom has for ages required women to
cover the hair as an evidence of their modesty before men, and required men to
cover the head in order to show their humility and reverence before Yahweh.
"Bareheadedness was customary among men in
biblical times, as shown in the story of Samson (Judges
"David Halevi of Ostrog (17th century) was the
first to declare that the prohibition against uncovering the head was based on
religious law, in opposition to the Christian mode of worship. He founded his
decision on the Talmudic interpretation of Lev. 18:3: "‘You shall not walk in their ordinances.’ The same view was taken by the physician
Solomon Levi of
"The custom of praying bareheaded or with covered
head is not all a question of law. It is merely a matter of social propriety
and decorum.
"Like many old traditions, there has been a great
deal of speculation about the origin of this practice. We know, of course, that
the Jewish religion had its origin in the
"Another explanation is that in ancient times
Jews lifted their prayer shawls over their heads during worship to cover their
eyes. This removed all distraction from prayer and made it possible to attain
the greatest concentration. The hat or skull cap is the symbolic descendant of
the prayer shawl covering.
"We know from archeological remains that in
ancient days, the people of
"Among modern Jews, the covering of the head as a
symbol of reverence during worship has remained a religious symbol of
significance. But the origin and development of this religious symbol is
shrouded in uncertainty.
"Though covering one’s head was regarded during
the Talmudic period as a sign of respect, there is scant evidence that Jews in
the
"With the passage of time, the custom of covering
the head during worship increasingly became mandatory. As the persecutions of
the Church increased, the Jewish aversion to everything Christian deepened. The
uncovering of the head became associated with Church etiquette and therefore
became repugnant. To worship or even to go about with an uncovered head was
regarded as imitation of the Christians and an act of irreverence to Yahweh.
Conversely, the covering of one’s head became an act of Jewish piety. For
convenience the skullcap, or yarmulke, was adopted." (Jewish Worship, Abraham Millgram, p. 351-352)
"Covering the head, not being bareheaded, is
referred to in the Talmud and in the codes but neither made it a definite
obligation. However, in the course of time, it became a symbol of the awareness
and consciousness of the presence of (Yahweh) and a way of distinguishing Jews
from non-Jews, and hence it was considered a requirement and obligation."
(A Basic Jewish Encyclopedia, p.
136)
Thus, attempting to defend the Jewish custom of
wearing a head covering has no biblical basis. Jewish authorities agree the
head covering is later tradition and not based upon the Bible.
Paul tells us that women
should wear a head covering, but men should not, 1Corinthains 11:1-15.
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