Someone inquires if it is appropriate for women to wear pants—slacks or trousers. This section of Gospel Gazette Online is dedicated to providing biblical answers to religious questions. However, the Bible does not specifically speak to this question. To answer this inquiry, we will need to appeal to biblical principles, culture and modesty.
Following the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God determined that men and women must wear clothes. God replaced the unsatisfactory fig leaf aprons that Adam and Eve fashioned for themselves instead with animal skins, which covered them more fully (Genesis 3:7, 21). Moving forward from Patriarchy under which Adam and Eve lived, under Judaism, men and women were prohibited from wearing clothing of the opposite sex (Deuteronomy 22:5). This verse is likely the basis of the question posed herein. Despite the teaching of this passage, both the garments and the adornments worn by biblical era people often resembled that of the opposite sex. Sometimes, the differences were subtle, as is still the case around the world where men and women persist in wearing clothing comparable to biblical era clothes. For instance, in one Asian nation, both men and women wear a garment comparable to a skirt; whereas men tuck and secure their garment in the front, women tuck their skirt on one hip or the other. There may be a difference, also, in the print of the skirts respectively for men and for women. Nevertheless, there is a distinction between the appearance of men and women, part of which has to do with the difference of the length and styling of the hair between men and women.
The New Testament, to which everyone now living is amendable (Romans 7:6-7; 2 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:6-13), does not specifically reinstitute Deuteronomy 22:5. Yet, the New Testament does maintain the respective and differing roles between men and women (2 Timothy 2:8-15; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:3-15; 14:34), which were implemented by God under Patriarchy and maintained as well under Judaism.
Men and women are supposed to be discernible from each other, irrespective of possibly wearing similar clothing and jewelry. One of the ways men and women can be discerned from each other has to do with the differing length and style of their hair, though the Bible does not state how long is long and how short is short hair. In addition, both sexes and especially women, need to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:1-6).
