CLOTHING

For Men and Women

by Voy Wilks

There seems to be only four Scriptures which instruct men and women about proper clothing (excluding those which deal with the priestly robes).

1. To please Yahweh, both men and women should wear clothing (Gen. 3:21).

2. Clothing does not make the person (James 2:1 - 7).

3. A woman must not wear what pertains to a man, and a man must not wear what pertains to a woman (Deut. 22:5). This is evidently a warning against homosexuality.

4. A woman must wear modest clothing (1 Tim. 2:9). The word modest has at least two meanings:

                           (a) Inexpensive

                           (b) There should be enough in the garment to cover the body. 

1 Timothy 2:9 could refer to either of these meanings, or perhaps to both, for men as well as women.

Apparently, Scriptures  nowhere define what constitutes men's clothing, or what constitutes women's clothing. Custom must surely account for the major part in this, because in ancient times, men wore skirts as well as women. Examples:  

    Boaz (Ruth 3:9)

    King Saul (1 Sam. 24:4, 5, 11)

    David's ambassadors (only implied, 2 Sam. 10:4; 1 Chr. 19:4)

    Ezekiel (Ezek. 5:3)

    Yahweh, in a parable (Ezek. 16:8)  

    The Levitical priests (Hag 2:11, 12)

    The Jews (Zech. 8:23 KJV).

Women also wore skirts, as is indicated in the law (Deut. 22:30; 27:20), and Jerusalem was personified as a woman wearing a skirt (Jer. 13:22, 26; Lam. 1:9; Nahum 3:5).

Actually, pants are more modest (in covering the skin) than are dresses. This is especially noticeable when a woman steps out of an auto, for example. If she is wearing pants, there is no problem. If not, she is often unduly exposed. On windy days, the same. For these and similar reason, I have come (180 degrees) to appreciate the fact that most women today wear pants, thus minimizing the chances of accidental exposure.

Both men and women should wear what pleases them (and their mates), so long as it complies with Deut. 22:5 and 1 Tim. 2:9, named above.