What was the custom for women's head coverings in worship?
In the culture of that day, a woman was expected to enter any worship situation with her head covered; praying or prophesying uncovered dishonored her head, as if shaven. Men, by contrast, removed their hats for prayer or worship. The passage ties this to custom, not a universal requirement for women today.
Les explains that for the woman it is the other way around: you would not expect a woman to go into any kind of worship situation without her head covered. If she prayed or prophesied with her head uncovered, she dishonored her head, and Paul says that was all one as if she were shaven. Les asks whether that means women today must wear a veil or a hat in church, and he answers no, saying he does not think that is what it is saying. Instead, he ties the instruction to the culture of that day. He also notes the contrasting custom for men, that a man does not come into prayer or worship with his hat on but removes it.
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
More Questions
Do women today have to wear a veil or a hat in church?
Les says no, women today do not have to wear a veil or a hat or something on their head when they go to church; he does not think that is what the passage is saying.