κατακᾰλύπτω G2619
to cover, veil; to cover one's head, especially in worship contexts
This verb means to cover or veil, appearing three times in 1 Corinthians 11 during Paul's complex discussion of head coverings in worship. Verse 6 argues that if a woman doesn't cover her head, she should cut her hair; but if cutting hair is shameful, she should cover herself. Verse 7 states a man ought not to cover his head since he is God's image and glory. Classical usage includes covering up, especially covering the head in grief or shame, and being veiled. Paul's usage addresses the cultural-theological issue of appropriate head covering in Christian worship, with arguments from creation order, angels, and nature.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The sense is covering the head, specifically in worship settings. Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 11 is notoriously difficult, involving creation order, glory, authority, angels, nature, and custom. What's clear is the action: women covering heads (or hair), men not covering heads. The middle/passive voice construction suggests either 'let her cover herself' or 'let her be covered.' The Spanish glosses distinguish 'cubrirse' (to cover oneself) and 'cúbrase' (let her cover herself), capturing the reflexive quality. Whether the covering is a veil, shawl, or bound hair is debated, but the verb clearly denotes placing covering over the head, creating the distinction Paul argues for between male and female practice in Corinthian worship. 3×
AR["تَتَغَطَّى", "فَلتَتَغَطَّ", "يَتَغَطَّى"]·ben["আবৃত-করতে", "আবৃত-থাকুক।", "আবৃত-থাকে"]·DE["bedecken"]·EN["covers-herself", "let-her-cover-herself", "to-cover"]·FR["couvrir"]·heb["לְ-כַסּוֹת", "מִתְכַסָּה", "תִּתְכַסֶּה"]·HI["ढ़कती-है", "ढ़कना", "ढ़के"]·ID["berkerudung", "biarlah-berkerudung", "menutupi"]·IT["coprire"]·jav["ngagem-kudung", "ngagema-kudung."]·KO["덮기가", "덮을지어다", "덮지"]·PT["cobrir", "cubra-se.", "se-cobre"]·RU["покрывается", "покрывать", "пусть-покрывается."]·ES["cubrirse", "cúbrase", "se-cubre"]·SW["-jifuniki", "ajifunike.", "kufunika"]·TR["örtmeyi", "örtünsün", "örtünüyor"]·urd["چھپائے", "چھپاتی-ہے", "چھپانا"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κατακᾰλύπτω, cover up, κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν (i.e. μηρούς) Refs 8th c.BC+; Ἴδην δὲ κατὰ νεφέεσσι κRefs 8th c.BC+ —middle, κατὰ κρᾶτα καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν having covered his head, Refs 8th c.BC+; so -καλυψάμενος alone, Refs 5th c.BC+; κἂν κατακεκαλυμμένος τις γνοίη even one veiled would perceive, Refs 5th c.BC+