Woman's Apparel
These are some questions that are in the bible that everyone must answer before the Lord and be accountable be to God for.
Deu 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertainethH3627 unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment:H8071 for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
H3627
כּלי kelîy kel-ee'
From H3615; something prepared, that is, any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon): - armour ([-bearer]), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
H8071
שׂמלה śimlâh sim-law'
Perhaps by permutation for the feminine of H5566 (through the idea of a cover assuming the shape of the object beneath); a dress, especially a mantle: - apparel, cloth (-es, -ing), garment, raiment. Compare H8008.
So when we consider the way woman dress in our culture we are forced to ask;
Is it feminine?
1Ti 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
G2689
καταστολή
katastolē
Thayer Definition:
1) a lowering, letting down
2) a garment let down, dress, attire
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2687
Citing in TDNT: 7:595, 1074
Those two definitions: 1) a lowering, letting down 2) a garment let down, dress, attire. I can't look at those and say that they aren't a dress. I think that it's pretty cut and clear. God made Dresses for women, God made Pants for men.
Pants have been man's for hundreds of years, not tell about sixty years ago did women start wearing pants. About the same time women started working in the work world.
Could this be related?
Is this why God made a higher standard for woman's clothing then for men?
God said for woman; “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man.”
But for men God says; “neither shall a man put on a woman's garment” So God is saying for woman not to wear anything the is like a mans, and for men not to wear woman's clothing.
God knew the fleshly struggle of a woman, to take the man's possession and clothing, it was they're curse God gave them.
Gen 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Could it be that God was trying to prevent women from having struggles with desiring they're husbands place, by making a distinct difference between men and woman's clothes?
For years men wore the pants, and women wore the dresses. Should we through that off because our culture says now, it's ok? Or is it a sign of our degrading, godless, and our “gender neutral” culture?
Do you think your feminine pants or distinctively feminine? Is it a big enough difference? Or just a few inches of fabric and a few yards of thread?
It is not my intention to offend or to shove my opinions down anyone's throat, and I'm not in anyway offended if a woman wears pants in front of me. This is how I understand all those verses that the Bible has to say, on this subject.
You do not have to believe what I do. But you do have to answer for all these question.
So let me summarize:
1.Do you think your pants or clothing is not in the likeness of a man?
2.Do you believe that if our culture does it; it must be ok?
3.Is the verse in 1 Tim. 2:9, taking about actual dresses
4.Could it be that when women wear pants, it a degraded culture?
5.Is woman's pants, destructively feminine?
If you wish to comment, please feel free. But do not debate it, or post a disagreement or question. I feel like you can't properly discuss a topic on a blog. If you wish to discuss it with me some time I'd be happy to.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you almost %100. I remember one time when my horse escaped, I had to walk up and down the road wearing jeans, muck boots, and a barn coat. I didn't feel like a girl anymore! (not really, but you get the picture) On the other hand, when I went berry picking, I'm really glad I did wear pants. Scrambling over the bushes in a skirt would've been just a bit too much for me. I see wearing skirts/dresses as a general rule, because they are what is most feminine; but I would reserve wearing pants for the exception of activity that would render skirts impractical/immodest. I also have to check myself periodically to make sure I don't wear skirts because they're what I'm most comfortable with; but rather from the motive of wanting to show the world that I am in submission to my Creator and want to represent my gender as He sees it. Sorry for the mouthful. I can yammer on this one all day, but I see I've already got a substantial paragraph, so I'll shut up for a bit.
ReplyDeleteOkay Ridge so you know I have to disagree with you... and it's so hard to be across an ocean because I'd love to talk with you about this. And yes I mean talk not argue :)Because I respect that you have your own opinion and love that you back it up. I really like the way you put the questions though my answer for the first four is no. But I don't understand what your asking in the fifth question? Please explain :)
ReplyDeleteHey Ridge,
ReplyDeleteI'll try not to debate on here. Just tell you a little bit about my personal experience. I went to PCC for two years and wore nothing but skirts. I must tell you, they are impractical. You should try it when it's -10 outside or when the wind is blowing really hard. Anyway, you get the point. I think that dress standards are something between the woman and/or her husband and God. God lays out guidelines in the scriptures but not specifics about dress. It is a personal conviction thing. Anyway, I appreciate your courage to address this issue as I know many people would not.
Joanna
OK thanks for posting girls. But every one of you are backing up what you believe biased on you experience or practicality. we all know that we can't do that. everything that we do or don't do must be back up with the word of God.
ReplyDeleteDo answer you question Alaina;
That was a typo. it was supposed to say;
" Are womens pants distinctively feminine?"
God wants there to be a obvious difference, Satan wants to blur the lines.
I'd like to talk with you about this sometime. You're right about the blogs; things get skewed easily and it's always harder to convey our ideas. In person is the best mode of expressing our opinions.
ReplyDeleteHello Brother! I just wanted to say in answer to your 5th question...yes, I do think that woman's pants (not all of them) are distinctively feminine. And to the first 4 questions, my answer is no. And I agree with Joanna...this is something that is between a woman, her husband and God.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to chat with you about all of this sometime, I love discussing these things with you.
Love you, Sis
For Girls:
ReplyDeleteThe Bible doesn't say that women can't wear pants. It says not to wear "that which pertaineth unto a man". There are modest, feminine pants-but they are very hard to find. It's best to try to wear modest skirts and dresses as much as possible. I don't follow all of my own "rules", but I'm trying to be more sensitive to the Spirit when he tells me something is too immodest, too showy, or masculine. If an activity requires you to wear pants, try to find a long (thigh or knee length) feminine shirt to wear over them. "Tunics" and long shirts are in style right now and are not hard to find at clothing stores.
I found this study guide VERY helpful. It doesn't tell you how to dress, but instead gives scriptures to study it for yourself:
http://daughterhoodbydesign.org/dgdress.html
Here's some good clothing guidelines:
Is the neckline too low?
Is it torn or filthy?
While walking, standing, bending over, etc-does it reveal too much? [Knee length skirts have a tendency to be very immodest when sitting down]
Is it too tight or clingy?
Are there lines or patterns that draw the eyes to inappropriate areas?
Do other's eyes linger on the clothes rather than your face?
Is it too expensive?
Is it uncomfortable?
Does it cause others to covet what you have and tempt them to go out and waste time and money trying to find something like it?
Does it represent Christ properly?
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
(Heb. 4:12 KJV)
Hello Cousin, :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the thought provoking study, But I like reading stuff like that. :) I agree that there can be a difference in what we wear,but that you can wear pants and look feminine. I also believe that, the issue at hand, is in essence between you and God, and you and your husband.
As you know I have worn both pants and dresses. And I feel comfortable in both. :) My Parents believe that you should wear dresses,and my fiancé has asked me not to (or at least wear pants more often). We had argued this point, for a good long time, He would ask, and I said no. Finally he asked a very wise question, "Are you going to do this after we are married? (He meant arguing, over stuff)" That got me to thinking, "Am I doing this because its a strong belief I have, or because I am holding on to 'not changing' " Anyway I guess what I'm trying to say is this: That no matter what the subject is, the key question should always be "Am I following God's Will for MY life? Is this where God wants me?" I know many a person who went through their life's journey, and took it one step at a time, and if you had asked them to do something before they were ready or if God hadn't laid the final "ground work" They would have flat-out refused. So My opinion would be, To Follow God's will for your life, and trust him to provide the means to work your faith and its practicality out. He will provide (even if it means following your husband, in reasons you don't understand.) :)
If you believe women's pants (even pink capris)are somehow masculine, then do you, as a man, feel free to wear them?
ReplyDeleteDo you actually believe God, who created us and loves us, is really worried about what we wear? (After all, we started out NAKED!)
I would think that (using the biblically-approved masculine pronoun) HE is far more concerned with how we treat one another than our wardrobes.
another disagreement here... in the days that the bible verse you quote were written BOTH men and women wore long flowing robes.... almost a uni-sex look...
ReplyDelete