After this, verse 19 begins: “You shall keep my statutes . Linen on the body trunk, wool socks, wool gloves, wool scarf, wool scarf. The laws of God give us our borders, our limits. Verse 11 covers the eighth and ninth commandments, while verse 12 rephrases the third commandment. It would not be surprising if there are health benefits to not mixing these fabrics as well. Question: "What was the significance of the commands against mixing different things in Deuteronomy 22:9–11?" You could take these instructions literally or you could find some figurative or metaphoric meaning in what they have to say. The question was asked, “What does it mean? As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. According to Jewish tradition, for what it is worth, the offering they were to give was for Passover. Shatnez is cloth containing both wool and linen (linsey-woolsey), which Jewish law, derived from the Torah, prohibits wearing. Without them, there would be no sin (Romans 3:20). wool and linen mixed together” (emphasis ours). Even if linen threads were used to sew buttons onto a wool suit, or to reinforce shoulder pads, this is forbidden as shatnez.3 However, the sound answer is the proven research that wool mixed with linen messes with the bodies electromagnetic field. One rabbi went so far as to write that linen is unrighteousness and wool is righteous. One thus might more reasonably ask why linen lost out (eventually) during cotton’s rise. “You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together." Before coming to a conclusion, we need to look at the context in which God gave this statute. Our own website features a short article on the wearing of mixed fibers. Both comments could be legitimate, but the second has a problem. It is possible that pagan priests wore this mix; that one fabric signifies the Old Covenant, and the other, the New; that it was simply a consumer protection law; or that all of the above are true, which is likely. Verses 9-10 handle harvesting procedures and leaving something for the poor. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 22:11). The part that Paul quotes at the end—“I will be their God, and they shall be My people”—is found in at least a half-dozen Old Testament verses (Jeremiah 24:7; 31:33; 32:38; Ezekiel 11:20; 37:23, 27; Zechariah 8:8). The Jamison, Faucett and Brown Bible Commentary asserts that. Christ gave Himself for us, to redeem us from sin, which is grace. For us today, however, the takeaway is to keep ourselves spiritually pure, to concentrate on not mixing with the sin of this world, for we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood a holy nation, His own special people.”. Based on answers to questions sent in to the Worldwide Church of God many years ago, it explains Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11 as a kind of “consumer protection law.” Clothing is made from two basic kinds of natural fibers. Since they differ markedly in strength, washability, absorption, and so forth, they should not be mixed. International Standard Version Indeed, their mother has committed prostitution— the one who has been conceiving them has acted disgracefully— when she said, 'I'm going after my lovers, who provide me food and water, as well as my wool, my flax, my oil, and my wine.' Wool can cause dehydration as the Priests minister in the temple, especially in summer (Ezek 44:17-18). Note that this prohibition does not stand alone because in the same verse, God also forbids mixing cattle and seed. These people were farmers, perhaps these things were common knowledge to them and the writer was using them as an illustration for the point he was making in these chapters. In hot climates, it brings on malignant fevers and exhausts the strength; and when passing off from the body, it meets with the heated air, inflames and excoriates like a blister. —Deuteronomy 22:11. Moreover, Abel’s lamb resembles the paschal lamb, but Cain’s offering recalls Egypt, which is identified by its production and use of linen. God is not capricious that way; there is great good in following His instructions, even if they are no longer binding under the New Covenant. One kind is from plant cellulose fiber, such as linen and cotton. | THE WILL OF THE LORD: NEW INSIGHTS INTO ROMANS 12:1-2 ». You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Keeping wool and linen separate in garments reminds us of this Biblical episode and its lessons. “Defile not yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. In the next verse, God says, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Holy means “sacred” and “set apart.” The points that follow are designed to set Israel apart, and if observed, these statutes and judgments would keep Israel undefiled. Its frequency is 5,000. Verse 1 informs us that God spoke directly to Moses and that he was to share all of this with the children of Israel. Come out of Egypt.” So, although we do not have to worry about our beards or hair as much in this regard, we still have to be aware of the “Egypt” around us and come out of her. Fabric excavated at Kuntillat ‘Ajrud, which may have been a … The Bible teaches us that we should not wear a garment mingled with linen and wool. The Law of Sha’atnez, they feel, is a chok, a decree that the King has passed for His subjects, for which we do not know the reason. Just as not circumcising one’s baby boy would not be a sin, since it is not a sign under the New Covenant, so with mixing wool and linen. More importantly, the apostle clearly indicates that the principle still applies! Even so, few of us farm the land anymore, so what does mixing livestock or seed have to do with us? China also has very large farms for sheep to … Jerusalem, En Gedi, Caesarea, Gamla, Bet She'an, Last Days of Jesus and more. Some of the physical rituals—such as circumcision, the various washings, sacrifices and offerings—may not have to be performed anymore, but the spiritual intent lives on. Wool is also 5,000, but when mixed together with linen, the frequencies cancel each other out and fall to zero. The second reason why China produces about 18% of the world’s wool is its significance in the textile and clothing industries in the country. This results in a more formal, dressier look, that is appropriate for the office or events that require business attire. Some suggest that the focus is on dressing in clothing distinct from the pagan cultures that surrounded the Israelites. It is still the prime choice for high-quality business suits, warm sweaters, and premium carpets. Sign up for The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. The Old Covenant emphasized physical things as a means of righteousness, but the emphasis under the New Covenant is on spiritual elements in our relationship with God and each other. Another possibility for God giving this command involves the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The most beneficial was linen, while silk had none at all. “…Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shalt a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.”. Do any of us doubt that these are still in force and to be kept? These might have been things that these rural people just knew not to do; you didn’t mix linen with wool because of the danger of the fabric tearing under wear and with shrinkage; you didn’t let your cattle gender with a diverse kind because it destroyed the integrity of the breed and you didn’t sow your field with mingled seed because it made it difficult, if not impossible to harvest effectively. He is telling them not to follow after the ways of the pagan world into which they were to be plunged. The truth is that if this is so, it is an explanation lost in antiquity but one which may have made perfect sense to the people of the time. A “Christian” website reasoned along similar but exactly opposite lines when it opined that wool is Old Covenant or “works,” and linen is New Covenant and “grace.” It went on to state that the two can nevermix! This was written in 1871, so when the authors refer to “researches of modern science,” they are speaking of not-so-modern research. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Linen is very strong and absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Woollen definition: Woollen clothes or materials are made from wool or from a mixture of wool and artificial... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples THE WILL OF THE LORD: NEW INSIGHTS INTO ROMANS 12:1-2 », David Flusser on the Historical Jesus: An Interview with Roy Blizzard Transcript, Book Promo - Understanding the Difficult Passages in the Bible, A Review of "Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus" by Dr. Weston Fields. But what does it mean for us today? For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? They will give me food and water, wool and linen, olive oil and wine.' | Wool gets dirty and smelly until it is purified (cleansed). All clothing was made either of linen or wool. Where does this leave us in terms of Deuteronomy 22:11 and Leviticus 19:19? Linen is bast fiber. . Different from those around you and you will do it by obeying his commandments, statutes and ordinances and by not following after the ways of the people living in the lands you are to possess. Further, Paul writes in Titus 2:14, speaking of Christ, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Recall the “Christian” website mentioned earlier that asserted that wool stands for works and linen represents grace, and the two can never be mixed. Only man can create a mule by mixing seed. Wool comes from sheep and linen from flax. A final thought is that it is also interesting to note that linen is a product of a riverine agricultural economy, such as that of the Nile Valley, while wool is a product of a desert, pastoral economy, such as that of the Hebrew tribes. But we try. 22:9–11). What does that mean? Each of these can be of spiritual significance once we understand the gist of what these few chapters, in particular, are all about. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? Each of these options has some merit. Can we discern God’s original point here, and does this mandate have any significance for Christians today? This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. God doesn’t like mixed seed. They who make linen of silk shall blush, and the weaver, of curtains (Isa. Then again, it could simply be a reference to common practice of the day in an agricultural setting. Should a Christian Wear Clothing of Mixed Fibers (Leviticus 19:19). Perhaps the combining of linen and wool had some more sinister significance than is apparent to us at first reading – perhaps it was linked to the warding off ‘spirits’ or perhaps providing some special power or invoking some special favor from a deity worshiped at that time. The other is from animal protein fiber, such as wool and silk. For further study, here are some books that we've found to be valuable resources. [6] From all this it can be seen that linen signifies spiritual truth, which is the truth of the good of faith; but that wool signifies celestial truth, which is the truth of the good of love; and as those who are in the latter truth cannot be in the former truth, for the two differ as do the light from the sun and the light from the stars, therefore it was decreed that a mixed garment of wool and linen was not to be worn (Deut. Deuteronomy 14:2 says essentially the same thing to the children of Israel: “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (see Exodus 19:5). Ancient Egyptians made heavy use of linen fabric, and it is only as late as 19th and 20th centuries that the western world has come to realize the superiority of linen over cotton. Dr. Blizzard – I just wanted to tell you that I am enjoying your new book SO much! This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi) Wool and Linen “You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together“ (Deuteronomy 22:11 also Leviticus 19:19).. Just Getting Started in Biblical Studies? Then verse 2 of chapter 19: “…you shall be holy as I the Lord (YHWH) am holy.”. Here’s what you need to know about using this comfy fabric in your home. But if mixing these fabrics is not a sin, what is the point for us? It is about being different from the world around us. The same could be true of letting cattle gender with diverse kind and sowing mingled seed in one’s field. Understand the meaning of Deuteronomy 22:11 using all available Bible versions and commentary. The great medieval Jewish scholar, Maimonides, wrote that ancient pagan priests used to wear wool and linen together while practicing the occult and idol worship. Yet none of these explanations is universally accepted, and the origin of the word remains unknown. Still, it is likely that the priests have wool and linen, because some of their clothing is said to be dyed (Exod 28:4–6), and it is extremely difficult to dye linen (I learned this from Avigail Sheffer, a specialist in ancient textiles). Yet, Revelation 19:8 tells us that the resurrected saints will be clothed in fine linen, clean and white, which would seem to demolish the “linen equals Egypt” theory. Another option offered by some is that mixing wool and linen upsets the environmental and/or metaphysical fabric of the universe. Are they on a par with some of these others? Wool is chosen for flags because of its excellent ability to withstand water. A wise principle to follow in selecting either a pure or mixed garment is to purchase the best quality one can afford—it will last longer and fit better than inferior, less expensive clothes. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgements, and shall not commit any of these abominations: neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled.”. That the priest’s white undergarment was made of linen and his vestment was made of wool is true, but they are two different articles of clothing, not one item of mixed fabrics. This is said of Egypt; to make linen of silk denotes to counterfeit truths. The point is that a spiritual principle is involved, and it is nothing more than the principle of separation. For you are the temple of the living God. Therefore, he reasoned, we should stay away from sha’atnez. Certainly, all of one or the other produces a better quality garment. Wool today is prized for its beauty and durability. Some of these verses deal with the Ten Commandments. It is the principle of clean and unclean, righteous and unrighteous, Christian or pagan, Egypt or God. Click here to begin. So as to not mixing wool and linen, there could well be health benefits, just as there are health benefits to circumcising baby boys on their eighth day. Since it is a product of natural animal hair, it doesn't rot as readily as vegetable fibers like cotton or linen. Rabbinic commentators believe that many of God’s statutes are of that sort. These same traditions have Cain bringing flax (from which linen is made) and Abel, a sheep (and thus wool). It also has other distinctive characteristics, notably its tendency to wrinkle. It is therefore permitted to wear a wool coat together with an inner lining of linen, if they are buttoned (but not sewn) together. He closes the chapter in verse 37 with the same reminder. Thou shalt not wear a bed garment of wool and flax together (Deut. And what communion has light with darkness? These threads were distinctive, because linen is from a plant (often flax) fiber, while wool is from animal fiber. Linen (/ ˈ l ɪ n ə n /) is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Verse 15 encourages us to judge righteously. Is this a chok, a law whose logic is not evident? Tithing Giving and Prosperity Notice the three matters listed in verse 19: “You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. When choosing between a wool and a linen blazer, one consideration is style. In contrast, a more recent, non-Jewish writer said the reason for this law was that both the priestly garments of the Old Testament and the Tabernacle weavings were a combination of wool and linen, so laypersons were prohibited from dressing the same way. Flax. The rabbis of the Talmud Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of t… The second ”could be” is that it could very well be linked to superstition and paganism. In fact, China is currently the world’s largest and 2nd largest exporter of clothing and textiles respectively. After Cain killed Abel, it was decreed, the thinking goes, that never again should the two substances mix. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. Ezekiel 44:17-18 ESV The significance of linen is revealed in Revelation 19:6-8. Join us for a Travel Study tour of Israel, coming soon. Along with linen and leather, wool was an important textile in the Roman empire, and this textile became even more central to European life during the Middle Ages. The Hebrew word here comes from the root word “qadash” which means, ‘to be, to make ceremonially clean or morally clean. Linen represents righteousness. Looking at the symbolism of the purity laws in the Old Testament. Under the New Covenant, we become a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), and that sacrifice begins in our mind. This same principle applies to mixing wool and linen. A quick scan of Leviticus 19, which the New King James Bible heads as “Moral and Ceremonial Laws,” will be helpful. Should we not wear garments mingled with linen and woolen and how does that affect me today?” This is a really good question and when I asked those to whom I normally turn when I am faced with questions like this, I received an overwhelming, “I don’t know.” So I dug around a little and here is my take on this subject. made from…. A 100% wool suit is of higher quality than one of mixed types. He provides no reason and expects us to accept them on faith. Lest we make light of the seeming absurdity of this statement, other sources support this view. We will consider several possibilities for God stating that we should not wear wool and linen together. When we examine the commandments of God, sometimes confusing is centered around Leviticus chapter 19 verse 19. Let’s read some of what it says in chapter 18 as an introduction to understanding 19:19. It is God YHWH telling us that in no way, shape or form do we belong together or in any way united with the ways of the pagan world. In short, to be different. Learn more. ..” The Hebrew word underlying “statutes” is shamar, “to hedge about, guard, protect, attend to, preserve, observe, and to treasure up in your memory.” God covers a great deal of ground in the first 18 verses, so at the chapter’s half way mark, He inserts a reminder that these laws and life principles, this huge amount of wisdom, is to be guarded, protected, attended to, preserved, and observed. The Mountain of the Lord. What do we know of mixing fabrics? They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. In the same way, writing “them on the doorposts of your house” had something to do with remembering Torah every time you entered your home and every time you allowed a stranger into your home and writing them “on your gates” meant that you remembered God’s commandments, his statutes and ordinances every time you left your home and walked out through your gates so that you would not be defiled by the world into which you were to enter. He clarifies that wearing linen by itself is not forbidden, just that it represents Egypt. Articles, easily found on the Internet, tout the healing properties of linen and, to a lesser extent, wool, not to mention scientific studies that have measured the respective electronic frequencies of the human body and different fabrics. . This short piece on our website ends by pointing out that wearing such materials in not a sin in itself. The relevant Biblical verses (Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11) prohibit an individual from wearing wool and linen fabrics in one garment, the blending of different species of animals, and the planting together of different kinds of seeds (collectively known as kilayim). View Dr. Blizzard's new YouTube: "Science and the Bible". These ways were totally opposed to the ways of Torah and God YHWH sets out clearly what we are and are not to do. The phrase “garment of different sorts” is from the Hebrew sha’atnez, literally “mixed stuff,” which Orthodox Jews define as specifically wool and linen together, not any other mixture. Perhaps these practices were linked to the worship of some deity other than Yehovah. Its classic texture makes it a hot commodity in home decor. On a symbolic level, mixing the … Remember that the Tenach (Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvum) [Torah, Prophets and Writings] were only divided into chapters in about 1205 and so chapter 18 is very much a part of chapter 19. Wool did well, but its benefits were not nearly as good as linen. Add your review to Amazon.com. Nor is idol worship (verse 4) comparable with gleaning the fields (verse 9). address than the relative success of cotton versus linen. A 100% silk tie is preferred over a blend, and so on. Just as God wanted the physical nation of Israel to be kept separate from the nations around it, we are to maintain spiritual separation from the sin that surrounds us. What is God telling the Israelites in these chapters? Verse 16 condemns gossip, and verses 17-18 concern familial relationships. Yehovah commands us not to follow after the ways of this world but to follow his statutes, judgements and commandments. 19:9). But does not the apostle Paul do just that in this verse? The ancient Romans had a poetic name for linen, textus ventilus, meaning “woven wind.” Though probably the world’s oldest fabric, linen is still kicking it in the 21st century. The same applies with snaps or Velcro, since they can be easily detached. What does it mean to be holy? Europe as a whole was much more geared to flax and linen production than to wool or cotton in the 18th century, and linen was more directly comparable with cotton in functional terms. One explanation could be that different threads or fabrics like linen and wool would react to wear and shrinkage in vastly different ways and combining them could lead to premature damaging of the cloth. Flax was the most important plant fiber in Bible times because it was used to make linen. Even today, it is considered to be a royal fabric used only by rich people. God has no part in it! ... meaning it wrinkles and creases easily. "Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together." Of course not. No, of course not. Except now it is God’s church that is separated out. Firstly there are a few “could be’s”. It would be like a garment made of linen and wool – they don’t belong together and the garment would eventually be destroyed because of it; it would be like letting your cattle gender with a diverse kind, the integrity and the purity of the breed would be defiled and the result would be half-breeds which would be good for nothing; it would be like sowing your fields with mingled seed and then trying to coordinate a harvest of plants which would mature at different times and which would affect the integrity of the other and be almost impossible to harvest without spoiling one of the crops. By around 1200 AD, in fact, wool production had become a major component of the Italian economy. Main Rather, God does not want manufacturers producing shoddy materials in order to take advantage of their customers. From this distance in time, we do not really know what they were doing with their beards and hair, but God tells them, “No, don’t do that. I Peter 2:9, describing the church, the apostle Peter writes, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”. the observations and researches of modern science have proved that wool, when combined with linen, increases its power of passing off electricity from the body. Even the smallest point in the Old Testament is not “done away” until “all is fulfilled,” until “heaven and earth pass away.” Has that happened yet? Deuteronomy 22:11 reads, “You shall not wear a [singular] garment of . It was awful to experience and we highly do NOT recommend any further testing. Personally, I think that the explanation lies somewhere in the previous chapter. Kayin's offering to G-d was from the produce of the ground and Hevel's was from his flock. With this understanding, we can bring the principle to the New Testament and apply it under the New Covenant: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For that matter, how many tailors do we have today? [Here I imagine God saying: “Let me give you an illustration to which you can relate.”]. What we generally know about clothing agrees with this. You are a special people. 22:10, 11); It is God YHWH telling us that his ways are totally opposed to those of the pagan world. Before I go there let me say this: “There are two ways that you could approach this verse (19). There is one restriction, however, in wearing wool and linen garments on top of each other: One needs to determine if the inner garment can somehow be removed without completely removing the outer … The mixing of materials is one of commandments in Scripture regarding prohibited mixtures (Deut. Wool is a heavier material so it drapes strongly over the body, offering sleek lines. These were things Egyptians did, and perhaps some of the Israelites had adopted those practices. Linen is a textile made from hairs of the flax plant. When you interweave these fibers, you are mixing two very diverse kinds together as one. Now you might take these instructions literally just as the orthodox Jews and Hasidic Jews take the tenants of Deut 6 literally : “…and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”, and it would probably do you no harm to do so, but personally, I don’t believe that these verses were meant to be taken literally but to be interpreted figuratively. Flax is an annual plant, which means it only lives for one growing season. Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? [This is my personal belief] I believe that binding the words of Torah “as a sign upon your hand” had something to do with remembering Torah during the day while you were working with your hands and keeping them “as frontlets between your eyes” meant that you did not lose sight of Torah (kept it in the forefront of your mind) throughout your day. God used this as an example that signifies mixing righteousness with unrighteousness. Linen fabric is made from the cellulose fibers that grow inside of the stalks of the flax plant, or Linum usitatissimum, one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history. Before the arrival of wool and cotton, linen fabric was the most important fabric. They shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within. The references leading up to this statement are clearly references to pagan practices but those following are just as applicable and are warnings and instructions to stay away from pagan practices. Even the word “shatnez” is mysterious. Please help build our review community. Then he goes on to say that Jesus did this to purify us, to set us apart, to make us a people “zealous for good works.” He redeemed us by grace so we could strive to live a sinless life, which we fail at repeatedly. Verse 13 gives counsel on dealing with neighbors and employees, and verse 14, with the handicapped. Flax/Linen Source. It can also mean to dedicate or consecrate oneself or to sanctify (set apart for a specific purpose) oneself. Mishnah and the Words of Jesus The word doesn’t look like a Hebrew one, and linguists have speculated that the term may come from the Coptic words “saht” (woven) and “nudj” (false) or from the Arabic words “shash” (black gauze) and “atmuz” (strong). How does this bare on our interpretation of verse 19? For this reason, Israelites were not to mix wool and linen, nor mix physically with those around them. Verses 3 and 4 cover the first, second, fourth, and fifth commandments, and the following four verses deal with sacrificing. the observations and researches of modern science have proved that wool, when combined with linen, increases its power of passing off electricity from the body.
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