From: Edward L Nydle [mailto:RABBIED@prodigy.net]
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: head coverings

Headcoverings for Messianic Men: Tradition or Torah?

By

Rabbi Edward Levi Nydle B'nai Avraham Messianic Congregation

There has been in recent months much controversy over "head-coverings" for
men in Messianic Congregations.Some claim it is only tradition dictated by
the Talmud or Jewish tradition, and others, like I, believe that it is
permitted-if not commanded by Yahweh for men to be covered in prayer and
worship. This is a Scriptural word study from the Hebrew and Greek in the
Torah and Brit Chadasha to make the "case" for the head covering. Let me
make it very clear: IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A KIPPAH AS SUCH BUT SOME TYPE OF
CAP OR HAT FOR A MAN WOULD FIT THE REQUIREMENT.

In The Beginning

Let us go back to the Beginning (Beresheet) 1:26 when Yahweh created man in
His likeness and image. Originally man was covered with Yahweh's garment of
light or kavod (glory) for excellency and splendour as proclaimed in
Tehillim 104:1-2. "You [Yahweh] have put on excellency and splendour,
covering Yourself with light as a garment.." We know this because there are
two Hebrew words used for "naked" in Beresheet.Before the fall of man the
word 'arom is used in Gen.2: 25 meaning a partially naked state. AFTER the
fall in Gen.3: 7 the word 'erom is used in the Hebrew meaning nudity or
complete nakedness. Something happened to man after he fell. He lost the
"covering" he had from Yahweh in creation. Yahweh clothed them in a
substitute covering in Gen.3: 21 that He provided.

Right now we are in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom.8: 3) and not Yahweh.
We are no longer perfect as Yahweh commanded us to be (Matt.5: 48) because
of the fall. ONLY YAHSHUA IS NOW IN THE TRUE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF 
YAHWEH (1 Cor.11: 7; 1 Cor.15: 49; Rom.8: 29). At the resurrection we shall be born
again into His image and likeness as a son of Elohim-the ONLY TRUE RIGHTEOUS
ONE, after putting off this sinful, corruptible flesh and putting on the
incorruptible body like Yahshua's. 

Moshe Our Example

Moshe Rabainu is one of our examples in the Torah.In Shemot 3:4-5, Yahweh
commanded him to remove his shoes as he was on set-apart ground. Moshe being
a shepherd in the desert of Midian surely wore some type of covering over
his head to protect him from the blistering sun and heat, yet Yahweh NEVER
commanded him to remove any head covering in His presence.

After the Exodus from Egypt Yahweh told Moshe to set-apart the first-born as
Kohenim (priests) to Him (Ex.13: 1-2,19:3-24,24:4-8). This changed after the
"golden calf" incident and Yahweh chose the sons of Lewi to be the Kohenim
as the "First-born" had sinned against him. They disqualified themselves
from the office of Kohen by idol worship. Yahweh commanded them to REMOVE
the "ornaments" from them by Mt.Horev. This word is 'adiy or finery,
trappings, headstall or headpiece. By stripping them of their "headpieces"
Yahweh removed them from their office as Kohenim. The "glory, honor, and
splendour"was removed from them and given to the tribe of Lewi.The Aaronic
or Levitcal priesthood was commissioned to minister directly to Yahweh in
the Mishkan (Tabernacle) Shemot 28:1;Bemidbar 8:16.

Priesthood Garments

The priestly garments were given to the priests and Lewites for "esteem
(glory) and for comeliness (beauty)" Shemot 28:2. We also read in Yeshayahu
61:3-7, ".. the garment of praise...and YOU [Yisrael-all of Yisrael not just
the Lewites] shall be called PRIESTS OF YAHWEH, SERVANTS OF OUR ELOHIM shall
be said to you..instead of your shame and reproach [or nakedness-Rabbi Ed]
they rejoice a second time in their portion..." In the Kingdom of Yahweh all
Yisrael shall be priests to Yahweh as He said in Shemot 19:6. I believe
these are the Sons of Tzadok (righteousness) in Yechezqel 44:15and
Revelation 20: 6. According to the Brit Chadasha we are all priests NOW (1
Kepha 2:5;Rev.1: 6). Yahweh has provided for us, as Kohenim, garments to
cover our nakedness or shame in order to reflect His esteem (glory),
splendour, and comeliness (beauty)- the tallit and head covering. 

Turbans or Bonnets

Shemot 29:9 and 39:28 uses the word turban or bonnet as a part of the
commanded garments of the Kohen.

* TURBAN-#4021; migba'ah: from #1389 a CAP (as a hemispherical)
bonnet. The HEMI-means half, SPHERE means globe, ball, round. Hence the
migba'ah was shaped as a half a ball. It comes from #1389 -gib'ah meaning a
hillock, hill, little hill. Continued next page... 

Now #1389 comes from #1387 -Geba' which comes from #1375-GeBiYa' an unused
root meaning to be convexed, a goblet, the calyx of a flower, cup, pot. The
Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible Vol.1 page 532, tells us that, "the
cap of the priest was a conical-shaped object of finely woven linen tied on
the head of the priest as a SIGN of his investiture. The CAP was a
distinctive item of the priestly vestments." Webster's New World Dictionary
says that convex means "a vaulted arch, curving outward like the surface of
a sphere." Now, if we take two convexo-convex pieces of linen material and
sew them together, you would have the exact, small hilled, convex cap every
priest wore when they served Yahweh. You can see that this design would be
very similar as the modern "kippah" now worn.

The mitre (or official turban) of the Kohen HaGadol is called a mitsnephet
in Hebrew. According to Philo and Josephus it consisted of an ordinary
priest's cap with a turban of dark blue color over it. Josephus
(Antiq.111.vii.3, 6) says that the headgear of the priests was seemed at the
folds and so became a cap. Clarke's Commentary, Vol. 1, page 445 tells us
that; " the mitsnephet comes from the root -to roll (tsanaph) or wrap
around, it evidently means that covering of the head so UNIVERSAL in the
Eastern countries which we call a turban which encompasses and binds the
head.." . Note: only the High Priest wore the Turban or mitre, while the
regular priests wore the cap!

The Brit Chadasha tells us we are a set-apart priesthood offering up
spiritual sacrifices to Yahweh (1 Kepha 2:5). Should we not have on some
type of head covering as we minister as a priest before Yahweh?

Remember, this is a part of Torah not a tradition or Talmud.

It is interesting that, according to the Torah, the Kohen HaGadol could
NEVER UNCOVER HIS HEAD EVEN IN MOURNING FOR THE DEAD (Lev.21: 10-11).
Yahshua is now our High priest after the order of Malkitzedek (Ivrim
6-8;Tehillim 110:4-6). Surely He wears some type of head covering as our
High Priest as he ministers in the heavenly Mishkan.

The Bridegroom 

Yeshayahu 61:10 in the KJV says, ".. As a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments..". Here the word ornaments is pe 'er #6287 from #6286 and means
an embellishment, i.e. a fancy headdress, BEAUTY, goodly ornaments, tire,
and bonnet. Note that this verse says that a bridegroom wears a head
covering on His wedding day! Yahshua is coming back as a BRIDEGROOM to marry
Yisrael after the tribulation for the marriage supper of the Lamb. He will
be wearing some type of fancy headcovering as the bridegroom! 

King Dawid

Dawid the Melek Yisrael, a man after Yahweh's heart, worshipped with a head
covering and his prayers were answered! In 2 Shemu'el 15:30-37 Dawid went up
to the Mount of Olives (just as Yahshua did) weeping, barefoot, and having
his head covered. And ALL the people covered their heads and went up
weeping...and Dawid said, "O Yahweh, I PRAY YOU..". Dawid was seeking
Yahweh's face and supplicating Him for help in a time of trouble. Yahweh
answered Dawid's prayer. Therefore we know Yahweh hears us when we pray with
our heads covered! That has never changed!

The Book of Dani'el

Chananyah, Misha'el, and Azraryah were three Yahudites taken captive in
Babylon between 598-582 BCE. All the people of rank, laws, judgments, and
proper dress codes were also taken to Babylon according to 2 Melakim 24:14.
Dani'el and these three Hebrews served in the court of Nebukadnetsar.They
REFUSED to defile themselves with Babylonian ways! In Dani'el 3:21, were
told these three that REFUSED TO BOW TO THE BABYLONIAN GODS AND WAYS were
thrown with their "TURBANS" on into the fire! We know the Babylonians also
wore a headcovering in their daily life, AS DID THE YAHUDITES. The fact that
they did, DOES NOT NEGATE THE USE OF HEAD COVERINGS FOR YISRAEL. We know in
most Middle Eastern countries men do wear turbans or caps. The Yahudites
carried this into the Babylonian exile. They did not pick it up there! 

Yechezqel, who prophesied just before and after the captivity, was COMMANDED
BY YAHWEH TO PUT A TURBAN ON HIS HEAD in Ezek.24: 15-17 and then he
commanded all of them to do the same in verses 20-23! 

Ephrayim Rejected! 

Hoshea 4: 6 tells us that Yahweh rejected Yisrael as being a priest before
Him because they forgot His Torah and HIS GLORY (ESTEEM) THEY CHANGED TO
SHAME! Then He says -as for the priest it is for the people! 

It is only when we as Messianic Yisrael embrace Yahshua as the Moshiach
through belief, that we can requalify for the priesthood because of His
righteousness. We wrap ourselves in His righteousness and His garment of
Salvation .All Yisrael can be that nation of priests! We put that helmet of
Salvation upon our head (Eph.6: 17). We are once again clothed in His esteem
and splendour. The head covering and tallit are physical symbols and
reminders of that righteousness. We can as a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD work
righteousness (Ivrim 10:21-27). In effect we are TRAINING FOR REIGNING AS
KOHENIM IN YAHWEH'S KINGDOM TO COME!

Yahshua has qualified for the High Priesthood that had been removed from
Yisrael by sin (Ezek.21: 21-27) and ALL YISRAEL, not just Lewi, can be
priests after the order of Malkitzedek and sons of righteousness (Ivrim
7:24-28;Ezek.44). It is a superior priesthood (Ezek.44: 10-14) than the
Levitical.In effect, they have been "demoted", but still are and will be
priests. 

What about 1 Corinthians 11:4?

Let's look at that verse in the Greek and see what it really means. FIRST
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MISTRANSLATION OF THIS VERSE! 
It is only ONE MISTRANSLATED WITNESS that people try to quote to "prove" head
coverings for men are wrong in the eyes of Yahweh.

	
* 1 Corinthians 11:4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his
head covered, brings shame to his Head." The Scriptures 

* Complete Jewish Bible by David Stern, "Every man who prays or
prophesies wearing something down over his head.." 

* COVERED -#2596 KATA- down, about, AGAINST, in OPPOSITION TO, down
from (like a VEIL hanging from his head) -Thayer's page 327. This word then
can mean 1. To hang down from the head (over the face) like a woman's veil
[which in context makes sense as Rav Shaul is contrasting the worship of men
and women, and that men are not to look like women-Rabbi Ed] 2. In
opposition to or opposed to. 

* HEAD # 2776 KEPHALE; KAPTO the HEAD (literally or figuratively)
supreme, chief, prominent, MASTER page 345 Thayer's. This is the same word
used twice in this verse. Why was one capitalized and the other isn't? There
are no capitals in Greek. 

This verse is NOT against head coverings for men. It is against the wearing
of a veil by a man over his face, as was the custom of the women of that
period! Why does Rav Shaul speak of men wearing long hair or actually
adoring the long locks of hair with ornamental jewels as women (the word is
#2863 in Greek KOMAO- wear long tresses of hair, locks, as ornamental
(length is secondary) from #2864-KOME). Shaul did not want the men of
Corinth (center for male temple prostitutes of Apollo, Poseidon, and other
gods) to be mistaken for women in their dress, and hairstyle-other wise NO
CROSS-DRESSING. The men were pulling their long locks of hair over their
faces as a veil as was the manner of women and imitating their hairstyles
and manner in prayer. THIS IS NOT TALKING OF A MAN WEARING A HEAD 
COVERING IN PRAYER OR WORSHIP BUT A VEIL!

Let me present another interpretation also in light of the real meaning of
the word -KATA and KEPHALE.

* In verse 3 Rav Shaul says, the HEAD of every man is Messiah, the
HEAD of every woman is man, and the HEAD of Messiah is Elohim. There three
HEADS here. The HEAD here is speaking of RULERSHIP or AUTHORITY! Yahshua is
HEAD of the Congregation (Eph.1: 22). 

* Verse 4 therefore CAN MEAN this, " Every MAN praying or prophesying,
that is teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes, and comforts having
OPPOSITION TO HEADSHIP (AUTHORITY) brings shame upon (dishonors) the
Messiah, the HEAD of him." 

* If in verse 5 a woman brings shame or dishonor to her HEAD -MAN by
being unveiled or akatakaluptos or literally without veil down, then a man
shames his HEAD-MESSIAH YAHSHUA by having his VEIL DOWN Over HIS FACE! 

*  Verse seven is speaking of Yahshua the HEAD being in the image and
esteem of Yahweh as we have shown previously. It should read, " Now a man
truly ought not to cover his HEAD (Yahshua) by hiding and opposing Him, for
He (Yahshua) is the image and glory of Yahweh; but the woman is (the
expression of) man's glory (majesty, pre-eminence). The word cover is
katakalupto -to cover wholly-hide, VEIL. Continued next page... 

Verse seven could also read, "For a man indeed should not veil his face,
since He (Yahshua) is the likeness and esteem of Elohim, but woman is the
esteem of man." 

These verses are all about delegated authority from the HEAD down. Anyone
with delegated authority should have a head covering on his or her head.
Yahweh is the SUPREME HEAD-then Moshiach-then man-then woman. Only Yahshua
is in the image and likeness of Yahweh at this time. Messiah is man's head
and this fact is not to be opposed by man. A man is the head of woman-and
she is to acknowledge this fact by wearing a veil upon the hair of her head.
Man is under the authority of Messiah the very same way woman is under the
authority of her husband. Man also is to show he is under authority in the
same manner a woman shows she is under authority- man covers his own head
with the ordained head covering of the priesthood. 

Closing Thoughts

Some people argue that we should not wear a kippah because the pope and
cardinals wear a facsimile of the kippah because they claim to have
inherited the Aaronic priesthood. The Roman church strictly FORBIDS the
laity to wear this covering because they will tell you that you ARE SUBJECT
TO THE Catholic Church! Who will you obey-Yahweh or the pope?

Still others claim these set-apart garments came from Babylon.It is true
that the laws concerning these garments were taken into Babylon by Yahudah
in the exile..but these garments DID NOT ORIGINATE IN BABYLON! They were
ordained by Yahweh in the Torah, and came out of Babylon as given by Yahweh
with the Yahudim when they rebuilt the Temple of Yahweh. 

According to The Concise Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman Mythology by Savine
Ostwalt page 261, " A sacrifice was made to Saturnus (S.A.Tan /Hellel) in
his temple WITH UNCOVERED HEAD ACCORDING TO THE GREEK OBSERVANCE.."

Alfred Edersheim in his book "[Yahshua] the Messiah" on pages 426-431
describes the dress of the time period of the Second Temple. He says, "In
regard to the covering of the head, it was deemed a mark of disrespect to
walk abroad, or to pass a person, with a bared head. Slaves covered their
heads in the presence of their masters..The ordinary covering of the head
was the Sudar, a kerchief twisted into a turban..A kind of light hat was
also in use, either of a light material or of felt. The Sudar was twisted by
rabbis in a peculiar manner to distinguish them from others...We read
besides of a sort of a cap or hood attached to some kinds of outer or inner
garments...of the outward appearance of [Yahshua]..His headgear would
probably be the SUDAR wound in a kind of turban or perhaps the Maaphoreth,
which seems to have served as a covering for the head, and to have descended
over the back of the kneck and shoulders.." so, here from historical
references we can see that Yahshua probably wore some sort of head covering.

This is by no means an exhaustive study on the head covering for men. It is
just a good solid starting point for the student of the Scriptures to begin
his own study. May Yahweh bless your understanding.

Rabbi Edward Levi Nydl 

Shalom B'Shem Rebbe Melek Yahshua HaMoshiach
Rabbi Edward L. Nydle
B'nai Avraham

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