How Women are to Adorn Themselves, What They are to Wear: What the Bible Says

I did this study because I want to know for myself that I am following the Lord’s direction in how I dress and what I put on, as vanity has been something the Lord has helped me to overcome more and more. Yet, we are all being changed into His image.

 

(1 Timothy 2:9-10) “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacednessand sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; {10} But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

 

I know the King James Bible is the perfect Bible so I don’t need to find out what the ‘original’ says because this IS what it says. So I just look up the definitions of words; in this study, I used the online Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:1828.mshaffer.com

Modest: 1. Properly, restrained by a sense of propriety; hence, not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful; as a modest youth; a modest man.

2. Not bold or forward; as a modest maid.

3. Not loose; not lewd.

4. Moderate; not excessive or extreme; not extravagant; as a modest request; modest joy; a modest computation.

Shamefacedness:  n. Bashfulness; excess of modesty.

Sobriety: {besides not being intoxicated, the following definitions pertain to this verse.}

3. Habitual freedom from enthusiasm, inordinate passion or overheated imagination; calmness; coolness; as the sobriety of riper years; the sobriety of age.

4. Seriousness; gravity without sadness or melancholy. Mirth makes them not mad, nor sobriety sad.

Broided: In context, broided, or braided- Seems to mean not wearing your hair in a way that is ungodly also with costly array- which brings attention to yourself, is sensual, etc. like the heathen/ungodly women do.

Notice the verses end with: But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”1 Tim. 2:10

(1 Peter 3:1-6) “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; {2} While they behold your 

chaste conversation coupled with fear. {3} Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; {4} But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. {5} For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: {6} Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

Adorn: 1. To deck or decorate; to make beautiful; to add to beauty by dress; to deck with external ornaments.

A bride adorneth, herself with jewels. Isa. 6.

To set off to advantage; to add ornaments to; to embellish by any thing external or adventitious; as, to adorn a speech by appropriate action, sentiments with elegance of language, or a gallery with pictures.

3. To make pleasing, or more pleasing; as, great abilities adorned by virtue or affability.

4. To display the beauty or excellence of; as, to adorn the doctrine of God. Titus 2.

Plaiting: Folding; doubling; braiding. {as mentioned earlier, just like we are not being told not to wear clothes, but what type, here, in context, it is talking about doing our hair in a way that is not modest, and draws attention to the person, as most ungodly women do with their elaborate hairstyles. Another interesting study is on the history of plaiting the hair in Wikipedia.}

Ornament: Embellishment; decoration; additional beauty. {1 Peter 3:4}

Meek: 1. Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all men. Num.12.

2. Appropriately,humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls.” Matt.11.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt.5.

Quiet: Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented.

The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 1Peter 3.

Spirit: Temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary; as a man of a generous spirit, or of a revengeful spirit; the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Let us go to the house of God in the spirit of prayer. 

(Deuteronomy 22:5) ” 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.”

“…that which pertaineth unto a man…” This is the only verse in the Bible with this phrase. There are many different interpretations of this verse, but often without other scripture to back it up. When these verses were originally written, both men and women wore long robe-type clothing, yet the woman’s was feminine and the man’s was masculine.  I respect Christian women who have convictions that they should wear dresses/skirts all the time, grow their hair long, and not wear make up. But scripture never makes this a requirement for being born again and being holy. This study is a guideline using scripture. I am not trying to tell anyone what I think they should do; nor should others impose their convictions about how to dress on one another. Let’s see what the Bible says. 

 

Vain, Vanity…Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 

 

Beauty: An assemblage of graces, or an assemblage of properties in the form of the person or any other object, which pleases the eye.

Vain: Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 

 

Verses with ‘vain’ which refer to outward appearance

-following ways of the ungodly {Judges 9:4, 11:3, 2 Chron. 13:7}

-Uncovering one’s self {2 Sam. 6:20}

(2 Kings 17:14-15) “Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. {15} And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.”

(Psalms 26:3-5) “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. {4} I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. {5} I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”

– Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. {Wearing clothing, jewelry, body art that is worn by those who practice witchcraft, false religions, etc. is what I think of when I read this.}

Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

 

Synopsis: If you love the Lord with all your heart, you will dress to please Him; which is modest and holy; and nowhere in scripture do I see that means women can’t wear pants; just my thoughts. I do wear skirts much more often, I like dressing modest, I grow my hair long, I wear light make up sometimes, and I dress to please my husband, and I like to feel feminine; happy to be who God created me to be!  As long as we dress in a way that glorifies God, that is all that matters. I love you!

 

 

(1 Corinthians 10:31-33) “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  {32} Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  {33} Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”