Deuteronomy 22:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 22:5
5 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.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 22 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of worship, judgment, salvation. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-30: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it establishes important theological principles that resonate throughout Scripture. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 22:5
5 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.
Analysis
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. God establishes distinction between male and female in dress and appearance. This maintains the creation order where God made humanity male and female with distinct identities.
The word abomination (to'evah) indicates ritual repugnance and covenant violation. Cross-dressing was associated with pagan fertility rites and represented rejection of God's created order. Israel must maintain distinctions God established in creation.
This law affirms that biological sex matters to God and should be visibly honored in daily life. Gender is not mere social construct but divine creation that humans must respect, not blur or deny.
Reformed theology affirms God's creation of humanity as male and female, with these distinctions being good, purposeful, and enduring. Contemporary rejection of sexual differentiation contradicts creation order and dishonors the Creator.
Historical Context
Ancient pagan religions included cross-dressing in cultic practices, often associated with worship of deities representing gender fluidity or as part of fertility rituals. God's law separated Israel from such practices.
Maintaining visible sexual distinction reinforced the complementary nature of male and female in marriage and society.
Reflection
- What does this law teach about God's creation of distinct male and female identities?
- How does cross-dressing relate to rejection of created order?
- Why is visible honoring of biological sex important in daily life?
- What does calling this practice 'abomination' reveal about its seriousness?
- How should biblical affirmation of sexual distinction inform Christian response to contemporary gender ideology?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H430 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- References God: Deuteronomy 18:12