1 Corinthians 11 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

1Co 11:1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Head Coverings

1Co 11:2Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

1Co 11:3

1Co 11:3But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife[fn] is her husband,[fn] and the head of Christ is God.

1Co 11:4

1Co 11:4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,

1Co 11:5

1Co 11:5but every wife[fn] who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

1Co 11:6

1Co 11:6For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.

1Co 11:7

1Co 11:7For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

1Co 11:8

1Co 11:8For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.

1Co 11:9

1Co 11:9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

1Co 11:10

1Co 11:10That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.[fn]

1Co 11:11

1Co 11:11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;

1Co 11:12

1Co 11:12for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

1Co 11:13

1Co 11:13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

1Co 11:14

1Co 11:14Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,

1Co 11:15

1Co 11:15but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

1Co 11:16

1Co 11:16If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

1Co 11:17

1Co 11:17But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

1Co 11:18

1Co 11:18For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[fn]

1Co 11:19

1Co 11:19for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

1Co 11:20

1Co 11:20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.

1Co 11:21

1Co 11:21For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.

1Co 11:22

1Co 11:22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

(Mat 26:26–29; Mar 14:22–25; Luk 22:14–23 )

1Co 11:23

1Co 11:23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

1Co 11:24

1Co 11:24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[fn] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[fn]

1Co 11:25

1Co 11:25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

1Co 11:26

1Co 11:26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1Co 11:27

1Co 11:27Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

1Co 11:28

1Co 11:28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

1Co 11:29

1Co 11:29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

1Co 11:30

1Co 11:30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[fn]

1Co 11:31

1Co 11:31But if we judged[fn] ourselves truly, we would not be judged.

1Co 11:32

1Co 11:32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[fn] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

1Co 11:33

1Co 11:33So then, my brothers,[fn] when you come together to eat, wait for[fn] one another—

1Co 11:34

1Co 11:34if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(11:3)

Greek guně. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context

(11:3)

Greek aněr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context

(11:5)

In verses 5–13, the Greek word guně is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture

(11:10)

Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report

(11:18)

Or I believe a certain report

(11:24)

Some manuscripts broken for

(11:24)

Or as my memorial; also verse 25

(11:30)

Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)

(11:31)

Or discerned

(11:32)

Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord

(11:33)

Or brothers and sisters

(11:33)

Or share with

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.