Husband/Father “Covering” His Wife/Daughter?

Please tell me what you mean by a father or husband "covering" (for) his wife. While I certainly understand that in a Biblical home the man of the house offers a form of protection for all the inhabitants, including women, I only recently heard the term "covering". What is the extent of this covering? Please send scriptures to document your belief.

This would be a great question to discuss with your husband (or father). I'm sure that he could offer some wonderful insight for you. As for our family, this is what we believe on the subject.

"Covering" is a kind of metaphor for husbands being the head - the wife coming under her husband's wing and daughters being placed there until their covering transfers to her husband. (1 Cor. 11:3-15, Eph. 5:22-24)

An ancient Hebraic wedding custom included a robe or shawl that a groom placed around the shoulders of his bride signifying she has come under his covenant covering of protection, and spiritual, physical, emotional, and material care.

In Ruth, Naomi commands her to go unto Boaz, at the threshing floor, where Ruth was to ask Boaz to spread his skirt over her. This was a symbol of coming under his care and protection as near kinsman.

And a daughter is born under her father's covering until such a time when she is "given" in a very real sense and released to the covering of her husband. Never is she without a covering. A woman was never intended to be uncovered. Numbers 30 gives another aspect of covering.

A quote from Nancy Wilson's "The Fruit of her Hands" book says this:

"A head is given to a woman for protection, safety, and shelter. We must not run from the safety of our own head....The woman must cultivate a very high view of her head, both the position God has given him over her, as well as the authority God has given him. When woman adopt this high view, submission is seen in an entirely different light. Submitting to someone whom God has placed over you with loving authority is a relief, not a burden."

The covering is given as a gift and a blessing.

The Scriptures that we have given indicate the "principle" of covering. There are many other examples throughout the Scriptures of this principle.

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