Is it a sin for women to wear pants or trousers?

When we negate the etymology of Hebrew words in the Bible, we miss crucial factors that help us gain understanding.

Let’s take for example the prohibition some religious leaders say “that it is a sin for women to wear pants and doing so will send them to hell”?!?!

Is this true? Will God condemn the daughters of Israel to eternal damnation for wearing pants?

Let’s check out the commandment:

“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.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now on the surface, from a western perspective it sounds exactly the way they preach it but let’s dive deeper and grab the Hebraic understanding of what God is relaying in this commandment.

The WOMAN (Strong's H802) shall not WEAR that which PERTAINETH (H3627) unto a MAN (Strong's H1397), neither shall a MAN (Strong's H1397) put on a WOMAN'S

(Strong's H802) GARMENT (Strong's H8071): for all that do so are abomination (Strong’s H8441) unto the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5 KJV

What is important to note and what many religious leaders miss, is the type of “Man” this verse is talking about.

In the Hebrew language we have several different words that translate into the English word “Man”: is, enos, adam, and geber.

In this verse “man” is the Hebrew word “geber”. This is important because it refers to a specific type of man: A valiant man, warrior, or strong man (specifically for his ability to fight).

If we breakdown each word in this verse, it becomes clear that this verse is not talking about pants or trousers as some would suggest but a Woman assuming the characteristics or role of a warrior or valiant Man; and the warrior or valiant Man assuming the characteristics or role of a Woman.

Think about it this way: A woman who takes on the role of protector and provider for the family while her living husband who is supposed to be the warrior assumes the role of the wife.

Shalom.