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Verse

1 Corinthians 11:11

ESV Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
NIV Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
NASB However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
CSB In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman.
NLT But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.
KJV Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

What does 1 Corinthians 11:11 mean?

These verses have described subtle differences between men and women. That, in part, results in different applications of spiritual principles for both. In this exact context, that means separate approaches to having their heads covered during worship services. It's critical to realize that Paul has not taught that women are inferior to men. Both in this letter, and elsewhere, he extols the value and spiritual equality of women (1 Corinthians 7:4; Galatians 3:28). In fact, many women in Corinth came into the church on their own, without their husbands (1 Corinthians 7:13). Early Christianity drew in many women because of the clear teaching that God welcomed everyone, without regard to gender, who received His grace by faith in Jesus.

Paul emphasizes here, again, that women and men are dependent on each other in the Lord. Neither gender is self-existent. Christianity rejects the independence of both men and women from each other, insisting that both need the other and both need the Lord. Neither gender is inferior, and neither is dispensable. In the following verse, Paul will demonstrate that his instructions on head coverings (1 Corinthians 11:3–10) are not grounded in female inferiority.
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