What do you think about Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11 and wearing clothes of mixed fibers? These Scriptures do not seem very clear.
Leviticus 19:19 says,
“You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together” (Leviticus 19:19, NASU).
This passage lists a variety of forbidden mixtures, not only pertaining to kinds of materials or cloth, but also breeding different kinds of cattle and different kinds of seed. The challenge in interpreting this text correctly, does not relate to the principle that God’s people are not to mix things or have an imbalance of them. Rather, what did Leviticus 19:19 mean to the Ancient Israelites, and how can, or should, this to be applied today in the Twenty-First Century? Based on this verse alone, it would seem that God’s people can only wear clothes which are of only one type of fabric.
Various Messianic people can get confused from this verse, because of the simple reason that many clothes today are made of mixed threads or different types of fabrics. One of the most common types of mixed fabric today is cotton and polyester. Does this mean that we are to throw out all of those clothes which have synthetic fabrics in them? It may be important to let the Scriptures interpret themselves here. Deuteronomy 22:11 clarifies what was mainly in view:
“You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together” (Deuteronomy 22:11, NASU).
Here, the text is specific and indicates how a mixture of wool and linen is prohibited in Ancient Israel. This may have partially been due to how the combined fibers of wool and linen can be a poor combination, with garments made of this mixture wearing out very easily. Modern fabrics today, including mixtures such as cotton and polyester, can actually be very strong and versatile.
It is proper to interpret Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:11 together, noting that how forbade Ancient Israel from mixing wool and linen. This should not be taken in the direction of the mixing of organic and synthetic fabrics. This commandment was originally given in an Ancient Near Eastern context where linen and wool were the two major fabrics. It was not given in a time when more diverse organic fabrics, in addition to synthetic fabrics, would exist.[1]
NOTES
[1] For a further review, consult “How Should Messianics Dress Modestly and Groom Themselves?” in the author’s book Torah In the Balance, Volumes I&II.
