Deuteronomy 22:11 kjv
Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together.
Deuteronomy 22:11 nkjv
"You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.
Deuteronomy 22:11 niv
Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
Deuteronomy 22:11 esv
You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together.
Deuteronomy 22:11 nlt
"You must not wear clothing made of wool and linen woven together.
Deuteronomy 22 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:19 | "...You shall not wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material." | Direct parallel, explicitly reiterates the same law. |
| Deut 22:9 | "You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed..." | Immediate context: Laws of distinct categories in creation. |
| Deut 22:10 | "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together." | Immediate context: Laws of distinct categories in practical life. |
| Deut 22:5 | "A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak..." | Laws emphasizing distinct gender roles and appearance. |
| Exod 28:6, 8, 15, 39 | (Priestly Ephod) "...twisted linen with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn..." | Apparent exception where specific mixes were divinely ordained for holy use, highlighting God's prerogative to set boundaries. |
| Lev 20:26 | "You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart..." | General principle of Israel's holiness and separation from other nations. |
| Lev 11:47 | "You are to distinguish between the unclean and the clean..." | Broader principle of distinction for purity. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Come out from them and be separate..." | New Testament principle of spiritual separation and purity, echoing Old Testament distinctness. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." | Spiritual parallel: Non-conformity to worldly standards. |
| Acts 15:28-29 | (Jerusalem Council) "...no greater burden than these necessary things..." | New Testament approach: Gentle yoke for Gentiles, ceremonial laws less emphasized. |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival..." | Ceremonial laws as shadows; Christ is the substance. |
| Mark 7:18-19 | (Jesus on food) "...nothing outside a person can defile him by going into him..." | Focus shifts from external rituals to internal purity in the New Covenant. |
| Matt 5:17-18 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Christ's fulfillment of the Law, including its underlying principles. |
| Heb 8:13 | "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete." | Transition from Old Covenant external law to New Covenant spiritual realities. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession..." | New Covenant believers called to be distinct and holy. |
| Eph 4:22-24 | "...put off your old self... and put on the new self..." | Metaphorical clothing, spiritual transformation into a new nature. |
| Isa 61:10 | "He has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness..." | Symbolic clothing representing spiritual righteousness and holiness. |
| Gal 5:1-6 | "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore... in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything..." | Freedom from literal legal requirements while upholding the spirit of the Law in love. |
| Rom 10:4 | "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." | The law finds its goal and completion in Christ for salvation. |
| Ps 119:34 | "Give me understanding, that I may keep your law..." | Seeking divine insight to observe God's commands rightly. |
Deuteronomy 22 verses
Deuteronomy 22 11 Meaning
Deuteronomy 22:11 prohibits the wearing of clothing made from a blend of wool and linen. This command reinforces the broader biblical principle of separation and distinctness, mirroring God's order in creation where various elements are kept separate and pure in their intended categories. It signifies the covenant people's unique identity and consecration to God, avoiding mixture with anything that could blur divine distinctions.
Deuteronomy 22 11 Context
Deuteronomy 22:11 is embedded within a series of miscellaneous laws concerning daily life, ethics, and civic responsibility (Deut 21:10-25:19). Specifically, it follows prohibitions against mixing different kinds of seed in a field (v. 9) and yoking different kinds of animals for plowing (v. 10). This immediate sequence of commands concerning diverse materials and species highlights a pervasive theme throughout the Mosaic Law: the importance of maintaining distinct categories and resisting mixtures. The broader context of Deuteronomy emphasizes Israel's covenant identity as a holy nation set apart by God, where all aspects of their lives—from agricultural practices to personal attire—were to reflect this divine call to holiness and order, in contrast to the customs of the surrounding pagan nations.
Deuteronomy 22 11 Word analysis
- You shall not wear: (לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ - lo tilbash). This is a strong, negative imperative, conveying a direct prohibition. The verb tilbash (תִלְבַּשׁ) means "to put on," "to clothe oneself." It signifies an action to be refrained from by any Israelite. This emphasizes God's direct command for their daily life.
- cloth of wool and linen mixed together: (שַׁעַטְנֵז - sha‘atnez). This single Hebrew word encapsulates the entire concept of the forbidden mixed fabric.
- Sha‘atnez is a unique term in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only here and in Leviticus 19:19. Its precise etymology is debated but widely believed to mean "woven of two sorts" or "that which is carded, spun, and twisted," indicating a thorough mixing from raw material to finished product.
- The prohibition specifically targets the mixing of `tsemer` (צֶמֶר), which is wool (animal fiber), and `pishtim` (פִּשְׁתִּים), which is linen (plant fiber).
- Significance: This command emphasizes the God-ordained distinction between different natural categories: those from animals and those from plants. God, as the Creator, established an order and desired His people to reflect this order in their lives. The mixing of these two distinct fibers was a transgression against this principle of created order. It symbolizes a form of synthetic union that blurs the boundaries God has established, both in nature and, by extension, in the lives of His people. It conveyed a desire for purity and a clear separation between categories, underscoring Israel's status as a distinct, set-apart nation.
Deuteronomy 22 11 Bonus section
The strictness surrounding sha‘atnez in later Jewish tradition highlights its significance. Rabbinic law meticulously defines what constitutes sha‘atnez, including detailed processes for testing fabrics. An interesting apparent exception exists within the Old Testament itself: priestly garments, specifically the ephod, were to be made with a blend of twisted linen and colored threads (blue, purple, scarlet), which were often dyed wool (Exod 28:6, 15). This suggests that while mixing these fibers was forbidden for common people in everyday wear, it was explicitly commanded by God for sacred priestly attire in His direct worship. This indicates that the prohibition was not based on inherent evil in the fibers or the mixture itself, but on a divine decree about specific boundaries for different contexts. It underscores that God, who sets the boundaries of creation and distinctness, also has the authority to make exceptions or specific rules for holy purposes. This reinforces the idea that the Law taught Israel about divine authority, order, and their unique identity and calling under God.
Deuteronomy 22 11 Commentary
Deuteronomy 22:11, prohibiting sha‘atnez (wool and linen mixed together), is more than a simple dress code; it's a profound teaching about God's nature and Israel's covenant identity. Situated among other laws preventing mixtures in agriculture and animal husbandry, this command illustrates God's desire for order, distinctness, and purity in all areas of life. Wool, derived from animals, and linen, from plants, represented two fundamental categories of God's creation. Their mandated separation in clothing reminded Israel that God's distinctions were to be honored. This principle points to Israel's call to be set apart and distinct from surrounding nations and their practices. While ceremonial laws are not literally binding for Christians today, the underlying spiritual principle remains: God calls His people to holiness, integrity, and uncompromised devotion, not mixing spiritual truth with worldly practices (2 Cor 6:14).