Can Christian Girls Wear Pants?
posted on May 25, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Many Christian girls have asked whether they can wear pants, because the Bible reads:
A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.
This verse has been interpreted a number of ways. Some Christians believe this means women shouldn’t wear pants, because pants are considered men’s clothing. Others explain that men’s and women’s garb in this context refer to trade or business. For example, men should go out and do men’s work and women should stay at home and take care of women’s work.
In an article titled “The Truth About Deuteronomy 22:5,” author Jason Young has his own theory. He writes:
The phrase ‘that which pertaineth,’ or simply the word pertaineth in the King James Version of the Bible, is translated from the Hebrew word keliy, which means ‘article, vessel, implement, or utensil.’ 1. Translators commonly render keliy as weapon, armor or instrument in the Old Testament. The word man, in both the first and last part of Deut 22:5, is the Hebrew word geber meaning ‘man, strong man, or warrior (emphasizing strength or ability to fight).’ 2. It is important to note that this is not the only word for man in Hebrew. Verse 13 of this very same chapter uses the Hebrew word ‘iysh, which is also translated man and means just that – ‘man, male (in contrast to woman, female).’ 3. It is apparent that Moses, when writing Deut 22:5, was quite intentionally not talking about a man in general, but a very specific kind of man – namely, a warrior or soldier. Considering this, perhaps a better translation of this verse would be as follows:
‘The woman shall not put on [the weapons/armor of a warrior], neither shall a [warrior] put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God’ (Jason Young, actseighteen.com).
Personally, I don’t think the verse is very clear. I do believe there’s a much larger, underlying message. Maybe it is as described by Young. Whatever the translation, I’m not convinced the verse is referring to specific types of clothing, but rather, a larger teaching. After all, many historians believe that early users of pants were both men and women.
I’m not going to detail what I believe this verse really means, but I am going to suggest that it doesn’t mean women shouldn’t wear pants.
However, since the Bible is clear about women being modest when dressing, I will offer some tips when shopping for pants. I have two.
- Choose pants that were designed for women.
- Select pants that are modest. For example, pants that are too low cut at the waist or so tight that they look like a layer of skin are just inappropriate. Take a look at the two images below. Both are way too tight and sexy.
The two sets of pants below are more appropriate. They are both wide leg pants that tie at the waist and flair out in a very feminine way.
Straight leg pants are also appropriate. Below are two sets of pants that are both cute and modest.
Images credit: Amazon.com
Whether Christian girls can wear pants is really not the issue. Instead, the focus should be on what style of pant is appropriate for a Christian girl who is devoted to modesty.
PI ladies, do you like to wear pants? What do you think of my picks?
Image: istockphoto | Thinkstock
ALL COMMENTS 77
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To be honest, I never even thoughht about if it’s modest to wear pants – I just wear them
in Germany where I live none of the christian girls I know cares about this question… but I dont like too tight pants as well (they just make me feel like my legs are far to big :/ ) and so I do wear skirts and dresses sometimes but not all the time. I think they can be impractical (e.g. when you run) and I just hate leggings and tights so I cant wear them in winter anyway.
My church is against this. But they hate everything, so….
i hardly ever wear skirts or dresses.. i just dont like wearing them so i live in my jeans and pants. i like baggy jeans:)
i wear pants all the time i wear dresses to church on sunday though
i really don’t think skinny jeans are inappropriate
This verse means what it says! I don’t understand why you can be confused about something so simple. It seems simple enough to me. The word pertain means “to do with” so women should be and dress like a woman and a man should be, dress and act like a man. What’s not to get? I don’t mind wearing pants around the house or in privacy but what is with all the confusing translating stuff? Warrior? Really? So a woman can’t put on armor and fight in a war? I don’t mean to be rude but it is so petty. God doesn’t want His word to be confusing and get this: IT ISN’T CONFUSING. God isn’t the master of confusion, Satan is! So many people have watered down the Word of God and just say, “Oh that was old time, it doesn’t matter anymore,” or “oh that word means something else entirely.” Seriously?! 2 Peter 1:10 says “give diligence to make your calling sure; for if you do these things you shall never fail.” Whether you agree or disagree, by taking time to read this you are enlightening yourself. A fool despises instruction but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. (Proverb 15:5) Also all scripture is profitable for doctrine. Let me try to say this if you want to know more:
Genesis 1:27 says God made male and female. So this is a distinction, right? Well we need to dress to our distinction. In other words, wear what reflects our gender. This pleases God. We are different so let us BE different and dress the way we would be distinct from male. Also this is not merely ceremonial, but a moral law! All scripture is profitable for doctrine. Take the scripture how you will, but I believe that is means what it says and isn’t confusing in any way. I say again, God isn’t the master of confusion, Satan is!! Please remember that.
Ya but there actually are underlying meanings. Scripture isn’t always literal. For example, when the bible says to hate your parents, it doesn’t actually mean that. It just means you should love God so much that in comparison, you seem as if you hate your parents, even though you should love them. Therefore, I think that this scripture is not literal. I believe the Hebrew translation is right. Like the whole women’s right thing was just out of jealousy, even though spouses should submit to each other.
i wear guys pants all the time because you can chose the length i really don’t think that’s a problem with god
There are some times you cant wear skirts though, I am playing soccer next year, and that is one of the times a skirt just wouldnt work… I agree that very tight or low jeans arnt a great idea, as they show off to much shape, But im still unsure about this….
If I could, I would wear skirts (knee-length or lower) 99% of the time. However, my Christian parents don’t think it’s necessary and don’t want me to be teased or even more excluded at school. This being said, I try to dress VERY modestly (necklines ideally come to collarbone and I DON’T wear shorts) to my public school and plan to wear skirts more often in college and on.
I like skinny jeans better, is that necessarily bad?
I think that it is always good to wear skirts or dresses they are usually more modest and they are more lady like. I think that God likes us to dress in the form that He made us. He likes us to act and dress like ladies and we should!
If you do wear pants try to go with more baggy pants. Most guys find lots of pants too revealing.
Where did you hear that most guys find pants too revealing? My husband seems to think that they are more modest than a lot of skirts. Also, most rape victims are those that have long hair and skirts on because they are an easier target. I wear equally skirts and pants all the time. I also think that you can be very feminine wearing both variances of the outfits. It just depends on the person. Of course you can make a skirt look “inappropriate,” but the same goes with so many other clothing out there. Let God convict you of what you should wear. I pray every morning for God to help me pick out outfits. It’s not silly at all. And guess what, more often than not I’m wearing a comfortable pair of jeans and a cute flowing top. God is in the business of the heart.
I totally agree with you in this! I enjoy wearing skirts/dresses and dressing up (being ‘girly’), but I can also be a bit of a tomboy sometimes, and skirts are pretty impractical when you’re running around in the woods, climbing trees, jumping on a trampoline, etc. Besides, nobody wants to see me in skinny jeans or booty shorts!
Thanks for the insight!
I think – and this is just my personal opinion – maybe this pertains more towards cross-dressing type stuff? Like guys putting on girls clothes and acting like girls, and vice versa. I agree that it’s okay for girls to wear pants because, pants aren’t just guy clothes! Sure they used to be, but you don’t exactly see men walking around in women’s jeans unless they’re gay or just really confused…lol! They wear pants specifically designed for men. And women wear pants specifically designed for women.
Total eye opener… Thanks a lot!!!