Bowing one’s head during prayer is a common practice among many Christians today. However, you may be wondering if this practice is actually commanded in the Bible. The short answer is no – there is no direct command in Scripture instructing believers to bow their heads when they pray.
However, there are some passages that mention bowing one’s head in the context of prayer and worship. Examining these verses can give us insight into the origins and significance of this tradition. Though not strictly commanded, bowing one’s head during prayer can often serve as a physical posture of reverence, humility, and focus before God.
Old Testament References
In the Old Testament, there are a few instances where individuals bowed their heads in the context of prayer or worship:
– When Moses was instructing the Israelites on how to make sacrifices and offerings, he told them, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your burnt offerings, either your cattle or your sheep, and after you have reverently bowed your heads, the Lord will accept you” (Leviticus 9:7). This suggests a posture of humility and reverence during sacrifices.
– As Moses was blessing the Israelites before his death, it states that “Moses said this about the tribe of Joseph: ‘May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. His majesty is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.’ After this, the Israelites bowed down, facing the ground” (Deuteronomy 33:13-17). Bowing down with faces to the ground was a posture of worship during this blessing.
– When Solomon dedicated the temple he had built, it states that “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Again, bowing with faces to the ground was associated with reverent worship.
So in these Old Testament passages, we see bowing one’s head or bowing down used as postures of humility, reverence and worship during times of prayer, praise, and offering sacrifices. However, none of these instances include a specific command to bow one’s head when praying in everyday life.
New Testament References
Similarly, in the New Testament we see examples of individuals bowing their heads or bending their knees during times of prayer and worship:
– When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion, it states that “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed” (Matthew 26:39). Bowing down with his face to the ground was likely a posture of humility, desperation, and submission to the Father as Jesus prayed.
– After Jesus miraculously provided enough food to feed five thousand people, it states that “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten” (John 6:11-13). Jesus gave thanks and likely bowed his head before the miracle of multiplying the bread and fish.
– When the first Christian martyr Stephen was being stoned to death, “Falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60). Bowing his knees was an act of submission to God in his final prayer.
– The apostle Paul writes, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father” (Ephesians 3:14) and “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10). Here, bowing the knee is associated with reverent worship.
So again we see instances of bowing down, bowing the knee, and falling on one’s face in times of prayer and worship, especially prayers of desperation, submission, reverence, or humility. But there is no command to make this a habitual practice in daily prayer.
Practical Purpose of Bowing the Head
Though not explicitly commanded in Scripture, bowing one’s head during prayer can serve some practical purposes:
– It can be a physical posture of humility and reverence before God. Bowing down literally lowers ourselves, expressing humility.
– It can help focus our minds and hearts on God. Closing our eyes and bowing our heads eliminates distractions during prayer.
– It is a tradition long practiced by Jews and early Christians. Jesus Himself would likely have bowed His head during Hebrew prayers. The apostles probably maintained Hebrew customs like this.
– It can be symbolic of “bowing our ears” – inclining ourselves to listen to God more than speaking to Him during prayer.
So while not strictly commanded, bowing our heads is a tradition that can facilitate reverent, focused prayer. The important thing is the attitude and focus of our hearts during prayer, not just the physical posture.
When Should We Bow Our Heads in Prayer?
Given that Scripture does not command Christians to always bow their heads when they pray, believers have some freedom in this matter. Bowing one’s head can be especially appropriate in certain contexts:
– Corporate prayer in church – Bowing together sets a reverent ambiance.
– Group or family prayer – Bowing together symbolizes unity.
– Private, devotional prayer – Bowing helps shut out distractions.
– Prayers requiring special focus, humility or reverence – Bowing fits the tone.
– Moments of desperation or intense need – Bowing conveys humility and dependence.
– Traditional Christian events or ceremonies – Bowing connects us to history.
However, if bowing the head would be awkward or get in the way of prayer, it certainly isn’t required. For example:
– Conversational prayers – Can feel stilted if heads keep bowing repeatedly.
– While walking, eyes open – Impossible to bow. Eyes should stay on where you’re going!
– Eyes toward heaven – Associated with praise, not suited to bowing.
– Praying over food – Bowing head makes it hard to see the food.
So the context matters. Following personal convictions and cultural appropriateness can guide whether Christians choose to bow their heads while praying in specific situations.
Differences Among Christian Traditions
The tradition of bowing the head in prayer is common across many Christian denominations and traditions, but with some differences:
Catholicism
– Bowing the head is very common, especially during more formal or liturgical prayers.
– At a Catholic mass, there are points where the congregation will bow their heads together.
– Bowing or genuflecting before the altar is common.
– More ritualized bowing, kneeling, prostrating, and Sign of the Cross gestures are used.
Eastern Orthodoxy
– Bowing the head is also very common, along with more dramatic bowing of the whole upper body.
– Prostrations to the ground are common in personal prayer disciplines.
– Bowing and prostrating before icons, Scripture, and altar area.
Protestantism
– Bowing the head in prayer is common but more simplified than liturgical traditions.
– Bowing and kneeling do still occur in more formal services.
– Simple head bowing in small groups and personal prayer times.
Pentecostalism
– Depends more on the specific congregation or setting.
– Can be very spontaneous postures during emotional times of prayer.
– Uplifted hands are more characteristic than bowing postures.
So while bowing the head spans across Christianity, the practice manifests differently across traditions and contexts. The posture is rooted more in church tradition than biblical command.
Head Coverings When Bowing in Prayer
What about women wearing head coverings when bowing in prayer? This practice is associated more with Conservative Anabaptist groups like Amish, Mennonite, Brethren and Hutterites. The tradition goes back hundreds of years and is based on 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, where the Apostle Paul writes:
“I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head…For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.”
Conservative groups interpret this to mean that women should wear head coverings during times of prayer. When bowing the head in prayer, the physical head covering reflects the spiritual reality of being under her husband’s or father’s spiritual covering.
However, most Christian groups do not follow this practice today. They interpret the passage in light of the culture of Corinth in Paul’s day, but do not see it as a binding command for all women in all times and places. They emphasize the passage’s main point is the need for order between genders, not binding legalism about head coverings.
So while some traditional groups do connect women’s head coverings with the act of bowing in prayer, this is not a mainstream Christian practice today. Most Christians focus on the attitude of the heart more than physical symbols during prayer.
Bowing the Head vs. Closing the Eyes When Praying
Is it better to bow your head or close your eyes when praying? Here are some pros and cons of each prayer posture:
Reasons to bow the head:
– Signals humility and reverence.
– Less socially awkward than closing eyes in public.
– Harder to get distracted when staring at the ground.
Reasons to close the eyes:
– Eliminates visual distractions.
– Can help focus internally on communicating with God.
– Feels more intimate and personal.
– Easier to visualize the truths of prayer.
So closing the eyes may provide slightly more undistracted focus in prayer, while bowing the head may convey more physical humility. But in reality, both postures can serve to direct our focus and communicate reverence. The techniques are not mutually exclusive – we can employ both at appropriate times! Our physical posture should serve our mental and spiritual focus on communicating with God, not become a legalistic end in itself.
History of Bowing the Head in Prayer
Where did the tradition of Christians bowing their heads in prayer come from historically? There are a few key roots:
– **Judaism** – Ancient Hebrew prayers often incorporated bowing down and lifting hands. Jesus Himself would have prayed this way.
– **Synagogue worship** – Jewish synagogue design oriented worshippers facing Jerusalem, which facilitated bowing postures.
– **Revering sacred spaces** – In the Temple and tabernacle, bowing posture showed reverence in God’s presence. This continued in churches.
– **Monastic influence** – In medieval times, monasteries emphasized posture and ritual with bowing/kneeling.
– **Reacting to distractions** – To focus amidst noise and activity, bowing the head blocked out sights and sounds.
– **Liturgical practices** – Set times of bowing/kneeling during services influenced personal prayer postures.
– **Pietist revivals** – With emphasis on devotion, closing eyes and bowing head communicated focused prayer.
– **Tradition passed down** – As a learned habit through history, head bowing during prayer persists today.
So while the origins of bowing in prayer go back to Old Testament Jewish practices, the tradition developed through history and church culture more than biblical command. For today’s Christian, keeping this background in mind allows appropriate use of bowing posture for focused, reverent prayer – without making it a legalistic requirement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Scripture does not explicitly command Christians to bow their heads when they pray in all situations, examples in both the Old and New Testaments show bowing one’s head or face to the ground as postures of humility, desperation, reverence, and worship during prayers, offerings, and praise. Practically, bowing one’s head can help block out distractions and focus the mind during prayer. Throughout church history, the custom of bowing the head carried over from Hebrew roots and then developed in monastic and liturgical traditions before becoming a widespread Christian practice. Though not mandated, bowing the head during prayer can reflect appropriate reverence and focus in many Christian settings today. But the posture of the heart matters most, and legalistic requirements should be avoided. With freedom and discernment, Christians can consider when bowing the head fits the setting or needs of a prayer, while prioritizing communication from the inner spirit more than just outward ritual.