The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
A woman should not wear clothing that belongs to a man, and a man should not put on a woman's clothing, because anyone who does this is detestable to the LORD your God.
This verse establishes that God cares about maintaining distinct differences between men and women, including in how they dress.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land around 1400 BC. In the ancient Near East, cross-dressing was often associated with pagan religious rituals, fertility cults, and practices that blurred the God-ordained distinctions between male and female. The Israelites were being called to live differently from the surrounding nations and their religious practices.
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