Why am I on this subject? I was recently in a service where the speaker said that a woman looks like a w**** if she doesn't wear a dress. Sadly, a young woman present was the only one wearing pants, besides the men - ouch!
I then decided, since I knew the girl that was present and I knew she wasn't a whore - what exactly would I teach on this issue knowing I must answer to God for that woman's soul - if it were my responsibility? Or better yet, would I stand emphatically on what I have been taught concerning
Deut 22:5 and say it is speaking of pants? Very interesting what I found.
I've listed all definitions, below for the word "wear" used in the OT with pertaining scriptures referenced above each Strong's definition.
The definition for the word
"wear", hâyâh - 1961, in Deut 22:5 is used
one time and only in this passage. It
does not mean to simply put on clothing. In the broad sense
it means" to exist or become".
It also comes from another primary root - hava havah - 1933 - "to breathe, in the sense of existence".
Therefore, I believe the passage in
Deut 22:5 is speaking of homosexuality and
not simply "putting on some clothing". It implies a deeper meaning.
The normal use of the word "wear", lâbash lâbêsh- 3847, "to put on a garment" is only referred to in
Deut 22:11,
Esther 6:8,
Isaiah 4:1, and
Zechariah 14:4. See definition below.
None of this study leads me away from the issue of modesty. Tight jeans are immodest. What I do want to do is avoid using a scripture, erroneously, to support a doctrine I want to stand for.
In other words, I cannot and will not look at someone in the face and say they are going to hell for wearing pants or that they are a w****, but I will tell them they will struggle spiritually if they do not follow the tenets of the NT teachings concerning modesty.
Deut 22:5
H1961
היה
hâyâh
haw-yaw'
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use.
H1933
הוה הוא
hâvâ' hâvâh
haw-vaw', haw-vaw'
A primitive root (compare H183, H1961) supposed to mean properly to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence): - be, X have.
Deut 22:11
Esther 6:8
Isaiah 4:1
Zechariah 14:4
H3847
לבשׁ לבשׁ
lâbash lâbêsh
law-bash', law-bashe'
A primitive root; properly wrap around, that is, (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively: - (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.
Exodus 18:18
H5034
נבל
nâbêl
naw-bale'
A primitive root; to wilt; generally to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively to despise, disgrace: - disgrace, dishonour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, X surely, make vile, wither.
I Sam 2:28
I Sam 22:18
H5375
נסה נשׂא
nâśâ' nâsâh
naw-saw', naw-saw'
A primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, absolutely and relatively: - accept, advance, arise, (able to, [armour], suffer to) bear (-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honourable (+ man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.
Job 14:19
H7833
שׁחק
shâchaq
shaw-khak'
A primitive root; to comminute (by trituration or attrition): - beat, wear.