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What Does the Bible Say About..Clothing Pertaining to the Other Gender?

What is meant in the bible regarding not wearing things pertaining to men?

Answer

The more accurate translation of Deuteronomy 22:5 would be, “The woman shall not wear man’s clothes, nor a man be dressed in women’s clothes; to do so is an abomination to the Lord your God.”

There is nothing in the context to explain this particular part of the Law of Moses. Basically, then, the Jews were told not to practice deception, a man pretending to be a woman or a woman pretending to be a man.

I have heard this passage used to say that women should wear dresses and not wear pants. That is not what it says. There are men’s pants, and there are women’s pants, so a woman should be allowed to wear women’s pants. The apparent meaning of the verse relates to consistently wearing something to try to appear what you are not. It has nothing to do with fashion.