Yahuweh is bringing many sons to Glory. As part of this process, our Abba Father is instructing His children into the proper means of bearing His Glory.

Those who will bear His Glory are those who understand, and abide by, Yahuweh’s requirements for bearing this Glory. It is for this reason that the apostle Paul reveals to us the prophetic understanding of this requirement as given in the Torah. Our purpose is that we might become fully prepared as a Bride, to properly bear His Glory.

Perhaps down through the centuries, a few have understood these things. To the greater Body of Messiah, these truths have been lost; but in these last days, Father is beginning to restore all things concerning His Truth. And so, like the woman who found the lost coin in Luke 15:8-9, the Bride-Company are rejoicing over the many missing Truths being restored by our Heavenly Father today, and being re-discovered in the Scriptures.

Today Father is restoring not only the Glory of the latter House, the one made without hands, but is also revealing the requirements that must be met, by those who will bear His Glory.

In this writing, we will look at several aspects of Yahuweh’s Glory. We will narrow our focus to the Scriptures that reveal a very important Truth — that wherever Yahuweh’s Glory resides, He requires a specific covering for that Glory. It is this Truth that forms the Torah basis of Paul’s instruction for the Believers today regarding the woman’s head covering, as revealed in two basic principles laid out in the Torah.

Because the greater Body of Messiah today has fallen away from the first century principles of obedience to the Torah, she has lost her Way. The apostle Paul spoke to those who ‘know’ the Torah, that is, who know and understand Torah by their experience and practice (Romans 7:1; Psalms 119:100). But because Paul’s writings have been twisted by those who do not practice Torah, the true meaning of the woman’s head covering has been lost. Today the woman’s head covering is seen by many as merely a ‘cultural’ issue, rather than a divinely- inspired Truth!

And so as we seek today to recover this precious Truth, we will first look at the Torah passages, and will see the Torah basis for patterns of this Truth. Then from the patterns we see, we will discuss the two covering principles, as the basis for the inspired commentary in the New Testament writings, as revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostle Paul.

The First Covering Principle – Yahuweh’s Dwelling Place

The first covering principle for Believers to understand today can be seen in Psalms and in Isaiah:

LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour <03519> dwelleth. (Psalms 26:8)

And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory <03519> shall be a defence <02646>. (Isaiah 4:5)

Let us first notice in the above passages, that the one Hebrew word, translated both as ‘glory’ and ‘honour,’ is the Hebrew word kabowd, Strong’s number <03519>, meaning “glory, honour, glorious, honourable,” and comes from the word kabad, Strong’s <03513>, meaning “honour, heavy, weighty.”

We also see that the Hebrew word translated ‘defence’ is the word chuppah, Strong’s number <02646>, meaning “chamber or canopy,” and is from the word chapha, Strong’s <02645>, meaning “to cover or be covered.”

Here we are told, upon all the Glory or Honour shall be a covering. That is, wherever there is a Glory or Honour of Yahuweh’s presence is, there is a required covering for this Glory, as a display of that glory and honour. This is an eternal principle, seen throughout the Scriptures. We will begin with some of the passages found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.

The Covering Requirement for the Ark of the Testimony while stationary

The Ark of the Testimony, also called the Ark of the Covenant, was the place where Yahuweh’s presence was to dwell. The ark was placed behind a veil, within the Tabernacle of Testimony. Now notice the covering requirements for the ark, while stationary:

And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:20)

And he [Aaron] shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: (Leviticus 16:12-13)

In the above passages, we see that there is a double covering over the mercy seat of pure gold — telling us two coverings are required — the wings of the cherubim, and the cloud of incense.

The Covering Requirement for the Tabernacle while stationary

Now notice the covering requirements for the Tabernacle, while stationary:

And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers’ skins. (Exodus 26:14)

And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers’ skins above that. (Exodus 36:19)

In the above passages, again we see the double covering, with two coverings required — the rams’ skins dyed red, and the badgers’ skins.

The Covering Requirement for the Ark of the Testimony, and all its Furniture, when in transit

Now notice the covering requirements for the Ark, when in transit:

5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.

7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar:

13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it.

15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:5-15)

Notice in the above passages, there is the double covering again, where two coverings are required — the cloth of scarlet [or the cloth of blue or purple], along with the badgers’ skins.

The Covering Requirement for the Tabernacle when in transit

Here are the covering requirements for the Tabernacle, when in transit:

And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation… (Numbers 4:25)

In the above passages, we see once again the double covering, with two coverings required — the tabernacle’s covering [likely rams’ skins], and the badgers’ skins.

Notice the highlighted words, each indicating some type of cloth for covering. Notice that the coverings are actually double coverings, consisting of two separate coverings — an inner covering and an outer covering — one on top of the other.

We can see from all the above passages, that Yahuweh required the Ark of the Testimony and the Tabernacle to have this double covering while stationary. Likewise while in transit, the Scripture passages reveal that the Tabernacle, and the Ark of the Covenant [Ark of Testimony], and each item of its furniture, were to be covered.

So the first basic principle is, that wherever the Glory of Yahuweh’s presence remains, there is a required covering, which in every case seen throughout Scripture, consists of [at least] two separate coverings. It is the double covering requirements for the Ark and for the Tabernacle, seen in the above passages, that will serve as our first basic principle.

These Scripture passages will be examples for us, as we discover the reason behind these coverings as related to us today!

Let us now see the second covering principle.

The Second Covering Principle – Yahuweh’s Dwelling Place Today

Let us look again at the passage in Isaiah:

And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence <02646>. (Isaiah 4:5)

The Second basic principle can be seen in the Isaiah passage. We saw above that the Hebrew word translated ‘defense’ is the word chuppah, Strong’s number <02646> is from the word chapha, Strong’s <02645>, meaning “to cover or be covered.”

We also know from (Psalms 132:13-14), that ‘Mount Zion’ is figurative of the dwelling place of Yahuweh, which is within Messiah, who dwells within His people! So the Isaiah 4:5 passage above is telling us that “upon every dwelling place of Yahuweh” will be His Glory, and that “upon all His Glory is to be a covering.”

This is a key understanding — that the Glory of Yahuweh’s presence is upon His dwelling place — and His dwelling place is within His people — and upon all His Glory a covering is required.

With the understanding from the Isaiah 4 passage, we are able to understand a little more about why the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the Ark of the Covenant [Ark of Testimony] and all its furniture, had to be covered. The Tabernacle of the Congregation, and in particular the Ark of the Covenant [Ark of Testimony], was a ‘dwelling place’ of Yahuweh Himself (Exodus 40:34; Lev 1:1), and prefigured Messiah who would live within His people.

Here is where His Glory resided, and this is where the coverings were required.

Let us now look at how Believers today are related to the covering of His Glory.

Messiah In You

The Ark of Testimony is the place where the mercy seat of pure gold was located. This Mercy Seat speaks of the dwelling place of Yahuweh’s presence, as we see in Exodus 25:

And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the Ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:21-22)

This special place, the Ark with the mercy seat above it, is covered by two things — the wings of the cherubim, and the cloud of incense, which together overshadowed the mercy seat. These coverings were required when the Ark was stationary, because the glorious presence of Yahuweh resided there.

It was there at the mercy seat that Yahuweh met and communed with His people. It is this special place, along with these coverings, that reveal to us a vital New Covenant Truth. This is the New Covenant Truth of “Messiah in you, the Hope of Glory,” as the apostle Paul describes (Colossians 1:27).

Notice now what Yahushua tells us:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:21-23)

So we see that the Tabernacle of Yahuweh in the wilderness was a prophetic picture given for us today, of the flesh- and- blood body of the Believer, which is now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, as Yahuweh dwells within us. This truth is abundantly confirmed for us by Yahushua Himself in the above passages (John 2:21, 14:10, 17:23), and by the Apostle Paul (1Corinthians 6:19; 2Corinthians 5:1-4).

We now realise that the Glory of the Ark, and the Furniture, and the entire Tabernacle of the Congregation, speaks of Yahuweh Himself abiding within Man, through Messiah-in-you, the Hope of Glory. As a Believer in Yahushua, your body is now the dwelling place of His Glory. Your body is His dwelling place; and it must be properly covered, in accordance with Yahuweh’s requirements in the Scriptures.

The Glory of the indwelling presence of Yahuweh, as seen in the Ark and its furniture, and all its coverings, is for Mankind. The Tabernacle, as well as the Ark and all its furniture, were the dwelling place of Yahuweh, and all these items foretell of His People as His dwelling place today.

Yahuweh Himself now dwells within His people individually, and within the congregations or assemblies corporately. These are both places where He dwells, and where His Glory and Honour dwells. Therefore they must be appropriately covered.

Covering the Glory

It is evident that the Apostle Paul well understood the Torah passages of the covered Glory of Yahuweh, and also Yahuweh’s requirement in Isaiah that “all the glory” must be covered, as a display of honour. The above passages in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and in Isaiah, form the probable reasoning behind the Corinthians passages on coverings.

Having this understanding of the coverings passages in the Torah and in Isaiah, we will now examine the very important Corinthians passages regarding coverings:

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (1Corinthians 11:3)

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory <1391> of God: but the woman is the glory <1391> of the man. (1Corinthians 11:7)

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory <1391> to her: (1Corinthians 11:15a)

In the Corinthians passages above we see three things:

The above passages give us the keys that unlock the prophetic understanding of Biblical covering principles given to us in Isaiah 4:5.

Using the keys in the Corinthians passages seen above, we may now gain further understanding of the Isaiah 4:5 passage. Notice that the Isaiah passage illustrates the same pattern set out for us in the above passages in Exodus and Numbers, regarding covering of the Tabernacle. Here is what we now see:

Let’s evaluate what these mean for us.

The Man is The Glory of God

The man is the Glory of God, and as such requires the double covering to cover the Glory. Let us see how this is to be accomplished.

First of all, it is obvious that Yahuweh has given both men and women hair to meet the first covering requirement. The Scripture passage that gives testimony to this first covering is 1Corinthians 11:14-15:

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory <1391> [glory; honour] to her: for her hair is given her for a covering <4018> [“a mantle”]. (1Corinthians 11:14-15)

Both men and women have hair over their physical heads. Their hair represents the first covering requirement.

The word covering used in this passage is a description of the woman’s long hair, which we are told is a glory to her. In this passage the Greek word peribolaion is used, Strong’s number <4018>, meaning “something thrown around one, that is, a mantle, something that cloaks like a garment.” We could thus say that her long hair is a mantle of glory.

From the passage of 1Corinthians 11:14-15, it is clear that it is a shame [a ‘dishonour’] for a man’s first covering to be long hair, and it is a shame [a ‘dishonour’] for a woman’s first covering to be short hair. [The subject of the man’s uncovered, short hair requirement is seen prophetically in the Sons of Zadok, in Ezekiel 44 and elsewhere, and is covered in another writing.]

And so in the above passage, Paul is describing the principle seen in the prophetic revelation given to us in Isaiah, that glory or honour must be properly displayed, according to Yahuweh’s requirement, or it is not glory nor honour. Thus to be displayed as the true glory or honour of Yahuweh’s presence, there must be a covering that meets Yahuweh’s requirements.

We now look to see how the second or outer covering requirement is to be met, by the man, and by the woman.

From the 1Corinthians 11:3 passage, we see that the second covering requirement for the man is met by man’s spiritual head, which is Messiah Himself. We understand that the natural body of flesh and blood is governed by the head, and so the head is said to be the authority over the body.

In the same way, the spiritual head speaks of that which holds spiritual authority, and speaks of the spiritual covering afforded by spiritual headship, as viewed by Yahuweh. Paul’s words in 1Corinthians 11:3, “…the head of every man is Messiah… the head of the woman is the man… the head of Christ is Yahuweh,” tell us that Yahuweh is the Head [the authority, or headship covering] over Messiah, and that Messiah is the Head [the authority, or headship covering] over the man, and the man is the head [the authority, or headship covering] over the woman.

From the above passages we see that the man’s short hair, together with Messiah as the man’s headship covering, meet Yahuweh’s requirement for the double covering of the Glory of God, which glory is the man himself. The man’s first covering requirement is his short hair, and the man’s second covering requirement is met by Messiah, Who is the head or authority over man.

Now we will examine more closely the covering of the Glory for the woman, since it appears to be a little more complicated.

The Woman is The Glory of the Man

We are told in 1Corinthians 11:7 that the woman is the Glory or honour of the man. As such, she needs a double covering just as the man, to cover the Glory that she herself is. Her first covering is the obvious presence of her long hair, which we saw above as the covering given to the woman, and described as the peribolaion, a mantle.

Again, from the 1Corinthians passages, we see that the second or outer covering requirement for the woman is met by the woman’s spiritual head or authority, which is the man [her father, husband, or spiritual authority]. The woman’s spiritual headship covering is the man. Thus we see that the woman’s long hair, together with the man as her headship covering, meet Yahuweh’s requirement for the double covering of the Glory and honour, which glory and honour is the woman herself.

We have seen that the woman’s first covering requirement is her long hair, and the woman’s second covering requirement is met by the man, who is the head or authority over the woman — but we must not stop here, for there is more to consider regarding the Glory of the woman!

The Woman’s Long Hair is The Glory of the Woman

The covering for the woman’s glorious long hair is explained in 1Corinthians 11:5-6:

“…every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head. 6 For if the woman be not covered <2619>, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered <2619>.” (1Corinthians 11:5-6)

As we saw previously in the 1Corinthians 11:15 passage, the long hair is given the woman to cover her, as a mantle of Glory. Her long hair is a Glory, and is the peribolaion covering, or mantle. In the above passage, however, notice the word for covering is the Greek word katakalupto, Strong’s number <2619>, meaning “to cover wholly; to veil — to cover, to hide.”

And so it is here, in the above passage, that we see an additional covering that is required to cover, to veil or hide the woman’s glorious long hair. The woman’s long hair itself is the peribolaion, the mantle of glory, and the cloth covering is the katakalupto, a cloth that can be used to cover or hide the glory of the long hair.

Let’s see why two physical coverings are necessary for the woman!

Two Physical Coverings Required

We saw that the woman’s long hair is her first covering. We then saw that the long hair itself is a Glory or honour. And because the hair is a glory or honour, it too requires its own, physical covering.

The woman can not assume that her long hair [peribolaion, or mantle] meets the requirements for both first and second coverings. Her long hair is the obvious first covering, yet this long hair itself is given to her as her Glory. She must then provide an additional covering, in order to cover the Glory which is her long hair! Now notice the following passage:

“… For this cause ought the woman to have power <1849> on her head because of the angels.” (1Corinthians 11:10)

We can see from the above passage that the woman is to provide a token covering to meet the requirement to cover her glorious long hair, because the long hair is the woman’s Glory or honour. Notice that the word translated power in verse 10 is the Greek word exousia, Strong’s Number <1849>, meaning “token or sign of authority.”

This token covering is a ‘sign’ that the woman is in obedience to Yahuweh’s covering requirements — that she is under Yahuweh’s authority through His headship order, as the Strong’s definition of the Greek word indicates. This token covering is a sign that she is in proper headship order, and that she is indeed covering her Glory as Yahuweh requires, wherever His presence dwells.

Just as the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle were covered because they were the dwelling place of Yahuweh, the place where His Glory and honour dwells, in the same way the woman is to cover her glorious long hair with the katakalupto covering, the cloth covering to veil, cover, or hide the glory of the long hair, in obedience to the Isaiah 4:5 passage.

As the apostle Paul reveals, this cloth veil covering also becomes the woman’s token or sign of her agreement and submission to Yahuweh’s proper headship order. It is the cloth veil covering that also serves as a sign necessary “because of the angels,” as a sign to both the good and bad angels.

Moreover, Paul tells us in (1Corinthians 11:5-6) that if the woman does not cover her hair while praying or prophesying, she dishonours her headship covering, which dishonours Messiah, and ultimately dishonours Yahuweh. This is because the woman’s uncovered head displays one of two things. Either she is not Yahuweh’s dwelling place, or she is not under Yahuweh’s order of authority, and so she brings shame [‘dishonour’] to her ultimate Head, Yahuweh Himself.

As we saw above, the Greek word katakalupto, Strong’s number <2619>, is a different word from the peribolaion, Strong’s number <4018>. It is the katakalupto cloth covering that now becomes the outermost covering, which designates to all the heavenly host that the woman is under the headship of the man.

In summary we may say that this second token or ‘sign’ covering over the woman’s long hair is the cloth covering, the veil spoken of in (1Corinthians 11:6). This token cloth covering becomes an additional sign that her Glory is appropriately and adequately covered.

Thus the woman displays honour to her head, her spiritual authority, by displaying her acceptance of the headship order assigned to her, and of the corresponding covering requirements due to the additional Glory and honour given to her. When the woman wears her cloth token or sign covering, to properly cover, veil or hide her glory, she displays honour to her immediate head, and ultimately to Yahuweh.

The wearing of the cloth covering by the woman most appropriately reflects the glorious and set-apart nature of the Bride of Messiah. Just as the various articles of the Tabernacle were to be covered because of their glorious and set-apart nature, so the Bride will correspondingly cover herself.

Conclusion

We have seen that where the Glory and honour of Yahuweh dwells, a double covering is required. We have also seen that the dwelling place of Yahuweh is seen in Scripture as the Ark of Testimony and the Tabernacle, and that these prefigure Yahuweh dwelling within Messiah, who in turn dwells within His people today, by His Spirit.

We have seen that Yahuweh’s dwelling place today, the Ark of Testimony and the Tabernacle, where the presence of His Glory now resides — is now within the Believers’ flesh- and- blood bodies — within those who have been Born-Again, those in whom Messiah has been ‘birthed’ within their spirit, in their inner being.

We have seen from the pattern in Scripture that Yahuweh’s requirements for covering the Glory of His presence always includes at least two coverings, which are now met by the Believers’ appropriate head covering.

We have seen that Yahuweh is the Head [the authority, or headship covering] over Messiah, and that Messiah is the Head [the authority, or headship covering] over the man, and the man is the head [the authority, or headship covering] over the woman.

We have seen that a cloth covering can be used to cover the Glory of the woman’s long hair, just as the coverings were required to cover the Tabernacle and the Ark.

We have seen how the woman’s long hair is both a covering, and a Glory or honour — and because it is a Glory, it too must be covered.

We have seen that the first, physical short hair covering for the man indicates that he honours his Head or authority [Messiah], just as the cloth veil covering for the woman indicates her honour for her head or authority [the man], and ultimately her honour for Yahuweh.

We have seen that the woman’s lack of covering her Glory or honour, displays dishonour to her ultimate Head, Yahuweh Himself.

From the examples in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, and from the testimony of Isaiah, and the Holy Spirit-inspired commentary by the Apostle Paul, we have now come to realise that the cloth covering for the woman’s long hair is not a cultural issue at all. Instead, it is an issue of fulfilling all righteousness, just as the water-baptism issue was for Yahushua in Matthew 3:15.

We may now see that the physical, cloth covering of the woman’s long hair is surely an issue of fulfilling all righteousness, through obedience to Yahuweh’s requirements for His Bride, given in the Scriptures.

It is the Bride-Candidates who have the desire and focus to fulfill all Righteousness, just as did their Bridegroom. To yield ourselves to Yahuweh’s covering requirements is to remember that all the glory belongs to Yahuweh. Thus we glorify and honour our Creator, and His headship order, by following His instructions and examples given in His Word.

The Bride-Candidates discern and recognise this one characteristic: Messiah-in-them is their Glory. Wherever the Glory of Yahuweh resides, there is the appropriate covering found.

Both the man and the woman, as the dwelling place of Yahuweh, have a Glory and Honour that is wonderful and mysterious. As Bride-Candidates, let us seek to honour the covering principles given to us in the Scriptures.

For it is the Bride-Candidates who seek out, and discover the Torah basis for the woman’s head covering — and who display the covering principles for the Bride!

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