Biblical references Biblical references include: • Hebrew:
mitpachat (Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or "apron;" R.V., "mantle"). In Isaiah 3:22, this word is plural, rendered "wimples;" R.V., "shawls", i. e., wraps. •
Massekah (Isaiah 25:7; in Isaiah 28:20 rendered "covering"). The word denotes something spread out and covering or concealing something else (compare with 2 Corinthians 3:13–15). •
Masveh (Exodus 34:33, 35), the veil on the face of
Moses. This verse should be read, "And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face", as in the
Revised Version. When Moses spoke to them, he was without the veil; only when he ceased speaking, he put on the veil (compare with 2 Corinthians 3:13), the veil of the
tabernacle and the
temple, which hung between the holy place and the most holy (2 Chronicles 3:14). In the temple, a partition wall separated these two places. In it were two folding doors, which are supposed to have been always open, the entrance being concealed by the veil which the
high priest lifted when he entered into the sanctuary on the
Day of Atonement. This veil was rent when
Christ died on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). • ''Tza'iph'' (Genesis 24:65).
Rebecca "took a veil and covered herself". (See also Genesis 38:14,19)
Hebrew women generally appeared in public with the face visible (Genesis 12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Samuel 1:12). •
Radhidh (Song of Solomon 5:7, R.V. "mantle;" Isaiah 3:23). The word probably denotes some kind of cloak or wrapper. •
Masak, the veil which hung before the entrance to the holy place (Exodus 26:36–37). Note: , which the
King James Version renders as: "And unto
Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: Behold, he is to thee a
covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: Thus, she was reproved" has been interpreted in one source as implied advice to Sarah to conform to a supposed custom of married women, and wear a complete veil, covering the eyes as well as the rest of the face, but the phrase is generally taken to refer not to Sarah's eyes, but to the eyes of others, and to be merely a metaphorical expression concerning vindication of Sarah (
NASB,
RSV), silencing criticism (
GWT), allaying suspicions (
NJB), righting a wrong (
BBE,
NLT), covering or recompensing the problem caused her (
NIV, New Life Version,
NIRV,
TNIV,
JB), a sign of her innocence (
ESV,
CEV,
HCSB). The final phrase in the verse, which KJV takes to mean, "she was reproved", is taken by almost all other versions to mean instead, "she was vindicated", and the word "הוא", which KJV interprets as "he" (Abraham), is interpreted as "it" (the money). Thus, the general view is that this passage has nothing to do with material veils.
Judaism After the
destruction of the Temple in
Jerusalem, the
synagogues that were established took the design of the
Tabernacle as their plan. The
Ark of the Law, which contains the
scrolls of the
Torah, is covered with an embroidered curtain or veil called a
parokhet. (See also
below regarding the traditional Jewish custom of veiling – and unveiling – the bride.)
Christianity Veiling of women , which is worn throughout the day women veiling during Mass at
Alsike Church, Sweden (2023) of
Doornspijk wearing Christian headcoverings Traditionally, in Christianity, women were enjoined to cover their heads, and men were instructed to remove their hat when praying or prophesying. This practice is based on in the
Christian Bible, where
St. Paul writes: The
early Church Fathers, including
Tertullian of Carthage,
Clement of Alexandria,
Hippolytus of Rome,
John Chrysostom and
Augustine of Hippo attested in their writings that men should pray uncovered, and that women should wear a
headcovering.
John Chrysostom (407) delineated Saint Paul's teaching on the wearing of headcoverings by Christian women, continually: In
Western Europe and
North America, from the arrival of Christianity to those lands to the mid-20th century, women in most mainstream
Christian denominations wore head coverings (often in the form of a scarf, cap, veil or hat).
Baptist,
Catholic,
Lutheran,
Methodist,
Moravian, and
Reformed (including
Continental Reformed,
Congregationalist and
Presbyterian traditions) Churches. In these denominations, the practice now continues in certain congregations and by individuals who have sought to follow the precedent set in Scripture and church history. Christian veiling throughout the day is still practiced by those who wear
plain dress, such as traditional
Anabaptists including
Mennonites (
Old Order Mennonites and
Conservative Mennonites),
Hutterites,
Schwarzenau Brethren (
Old Order Schwarzenau Brethren and
Dunkard Brethren Church),
River Brethren (
Old Order River Brethren and
Calvary Holiness Church),
Apostolic Christians,
Amish (Old Order Amish,
New Order Amish,
Para-Amish and
Beachy Amish), and
Charity Christians, as well as
Conservative Quakers. Many
Holiness Christians who practice the doctrine of
outward holiness, also practice headcovering (such as the
Calvary Holiness Church). The
Plymouth Brethren and conservative
Reformed and
Presbyterian churches, along with
Traditionalist Catholics and
Traditionalist Evangelical-Lutherans, practice headcovering when praying at home and while attending public liturgies. In many
Oriental Orthodox Churches and certain
Eastern Orthodox congregations, the custom of women's covering their heads continues in church (and when praying privately at home).
Veiling of nuns and consecrated virgins A veil forms part of the headdress of some
orders of
nuns or
religious sisters in Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism; this is why a woman who becomes a nun is said "to take the veil". In medieval times married women normally covered their hair outside the house, and a nun's veil is based on secular medieval styles, often reflecting the fashion of widows in their attire. In many institutes, a white veil is used for the canonical
novitiate, in some orders also for the time during the temporary vows. A black veil is the traditional sign of a professed nun. Some monasteries or communities bestow the black veil at the first profession of vows, but usually it is bestowed with the profession of
solemn vows. When the vows have been professed the white veil of a novice will be swapped for the black veil of the professed, and she is usually crowned with a wreath of flowers. A veil of consecration, longer and fuller, is used by some orders whose nuns receive the
consecration of virgins who are already in
solemn vows or who are being consecrated as a virgin in the same ceremony. References to "consecrated nuns" in medieval literature refers to solemnly professed nuns who received the consecration of virgins from their bishops, usually some years after their final profession of vows. The reintroduced rite of the consecration of virgins for women living in the world provides, as the
Roman Ritual. Since the reintroduction of the rite of consecration of virgins for women living in the world in 1970, the newly consecrated virgin receives a veil as a sign of her consecration, as in ancient times. The nuptial symbolism of the rite was displayed particularly in the bestowal of the veil on the virgin by the bishop, as can be found in the writings of
Ambrose of Milan and in the oldest liturgical sources. After the promulgation of Pope Paul VI's decree
Perfectae caritatis on the adaption and renewal of religious life most
monastic orders for
nuns retained the veil. Regarding other institutes of
religious sisters who work as teachers, nurses or in other active apostolates, some wear the veil, while some others have abolished the use of the veil. The fullest versions of the nun's veil cover the top of the head and flow down around and over the shoulders. In western Christianity, it does not wrap around the neck or face. In those orders that retain one, the starched white covering about the face, neck, and shoulders is known as a
wimple and is a separate garment. The Catholic Church has revived the ancient practice of women to be consecrated by their bishop as a
consecrated virgin living in the world. These virgins are set aside as sacred persons who belong only to Christ and the service of the church. The veil is a bridal one, because the
velatio virginum primarily signified the newly consecrated virgin as the
Bride of Christ. In ancient times his veil was called the
flammeum because it was supposed to remind the virgin of the indissoluble nuptial bond she was contracting with Christ. The wearing of the
flammeum for the sacred virgin Bride of Christ arose from the bridal attire of the strictest pagan marriage which did not permit of divorce at the time. The flammeum was a visible reminder that divorce was not possible with Christ, their Divine spouse. In
Eastern Orthodoxy and in the
Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, a veil called an
epanokamelavkion is used by both nuns and monks, in both cases covering completely the
kamilavkion, a cylindrical hat they both wear. In
Slavic practice, when the veil is worn over the hat, the entire
headdress is referred to as a
klobuk. Nuns wear an additional veil under the
klobuk, called an
apostolnik, which is drawn together to cover the neck and shoulders as well as the head, leaving the face itself open. Some female members of
Lutheran and
Anglican religious communities also wear a veil, differing according to the traditions of each community.
Veiling of objects covering a
chalice and
diskos on the
prothesis showing veiling to either side of the altar sitting to the right of the chalice. Among
Christian churches which have a
liturgical tradition, several different types of veils are used. These veils are often symbolically tied to the veils in the
Tabernacle in the wilderness and in
Solomon's Temple. The purpose of these veils was not so much to obscure as to shield the most sacred things from the eyes of sinful men. In
Solomon's Temple the veil or
parochet was placed between the "Inner Sanctuary" and the "
Holy of Holies". According to the
New Testament, this veil in the
Second Temple was torn the moment
Jesus Christ died on the cross. ; Tabernacle veil : Used to cover the
church tabernacle, particularly in the
Roman Catholic tradition but in some others as well, when the
Eucharist is actually stored in it. In the Arabian Peninsula and parts of North Africa (specifically Saudi Arabia), the abaya is worn constructed like a loose robe covering everything but the face itself. In another location, such as Iran, the chador is worn as the semicircles of fabric are draped over the head like a shawl and held in place under the neck by hand. The two terms for veiling that are directly mentioned in the Quran is the jilbab and the khimar. In these references, the veiling is meant to promote modesty by covering the genitals and breasts of women. The
Afghan burqa covers the entire body, obscuring the face completely, except for a grille or netting over the eyes to allow the wearer to see. The
boshiya is a veil that may be worn over a headscarf; it covers the entire face and is made of a sheer fabric so the wearer is able to see through it. It has been suggested that
the practice of wearing a veil – uncommon among the
Arab tribes prior to the rise of
Islam – originated in the
Byzantine Empire, and then spread. The
Bedouin living in Southern Palestine and the Sinai peninsula also use face veils. The traditional veils in Palestine are short and decorated with coins. In northern Sinai, the veil sections are longer, and often contain embroidery, chains, pendants, beads, … The Bedouin-style mask is known as al-maghrun, al-baghrah, or al-niqab. In the UAE, Qatar and Oman, a face mask known as the burghu is used, and in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, the batulah is used. or faranji. The traditional veil in Central Asia worn before modern times was the faranji but it was banned by the Soviet Communists. In Pakistan, upper and middle-class women in towns wear burqas over their normal clothes in public. The burqa is the most visible dress in Pakistan. It is typically a tent-like garment worn over the ordinary clothes and is made of white cotton. Many upper-class women wear a two-piece burqa which is usually black in colour but sometimes navy blue or dark red. It consists of a long cloak and a separate headpiece with a drop-down face veil. Some educated urban women no longer wear the burqa. The burqa is also not worn by rural peasant women who work in the fields. In rural areas only elite women wear burqas. Places where headscarves continue to be a contentious political issue include: •
United Kingdom, where the Home Office Minister
Jeremy Browne called for a national debate about headscarves and their role in public environments in Britain.
Indian religions (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan), it is customary for women of many religions (Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Muslim and Christian) to enter houses of worship and to go out in public wearing a headcovering called a
dupatta. In
Indian subcontinent, from 1st century B.C. societies advocated the use of the veil for married
Hindu women which came to be known as
Ghoonghat. Buddhists attempted to counter this growing practice around 3rd century CE. Rational opposition against veiling and seclusion from spirited ladies resulted in system not becoming popular for several centuries. This was stressed by
Kabir. == Bridal veils ==