What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 22: 5?
Introduction. The verse in question reads as follows: "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."
Scholars are not entirely sure as to the exact original application of the prohibition. Some of the uncertainty is due to the very similar way in which the male and female Jew dressed. However, there was still an effort to be made to maintain masculinity and femininity. The intermingling of genders was and is a matter of confusion that God forbids.
One scholar's comments. Commentator Matthew Henry makes some worth while comments on Deuteronomy 22: 5. He wrote thus: "...Some think it refers to the idolatrous custom of the Gentiles: in the worship of Venus, women appeared in armour, and men in women's cloths; this, as other superstitious usages, is here said to be an abomination to the Lord....It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and affairs of the sexes: men must not be effeminate...." (Complete Commentary on the Bible).
The same principle is seen in the New Testament. Paul wrote: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (1 Cor. 11: 14). Clear distinction is made between the domestic roles of men and women (cp. Eph. 5: 22 ff.). Sharp differentiation is also seen between the function of men and women in religious matters. For instance, men are to be the leaders in the public worship of God (I Tim. 2: 8-15). Also, men are to be the elders and preachers among God's people (1 Tim. 3: 1-7; Tit. 1: 5-11, 1 Tim. 2: 12-15). The movement, then, to make a gender free society is in opposition to the plain teaching of God's word.
Scholars are not entirely sure as to the exact original application of the prohibition. Some of the uncertainty is due to the very similar way in which the male and female Jew dressed. However, there was still an effort to be made to maintain masculinity and femininity. The intermingling of genders was and is a matter of confusion that God forbids.
One scholar's comments. Commentator Matthew Henry makes some worth while comments on Deuteronomy 22: 5. He wrote thus: "...Some think it refers to the idolatrous custom of the Gentiles: in the worship of Venus, women appeared in armour, and men in women's cloths; this, as other superstitious usages, is here said to be an abomination to the Lord....It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and affairs of the sexes: men must not be effeminate...." (Complete Commentary on the Bible).
The same principle is seen in the New Testament. Paul wrote: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (1 Cor. 11: 14). Clear distinction is made between the domestic roles of men and women (cp. Eph. 5: 22 ff.). Sharp differentiation is also seen between the function of men and women in religious matters. For instance, men are to be the leaders in the public worship of God (I Tim. 2: 8-15). Also, men are to be the elders and preachers among God's people (1 Tim. 3: 1-7; Tit. 1: 5-11, 1 Tim. 2: 12-15). The movement, then, to make a gender free society is in opposition to the plain teaching of God's word.