Wearing a Garment Made of 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).
The mixing of materials is one of commandments in Scripture regarding prohibited mixtures (Deuteronomy 22:9–11). These commandments include: mixing cattle (Leviticus 19:19), mixing seed (Leviticus 19:19), wearing garments made of two kinds of material (Deuteronomy 22:6), and intermarrying with the nations (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). These commandments are about separation and purity.
There are several possible reasons for the instruction of not mixing materials such as wool and linen:
1-Purity and separation from sin
In regard to mixing two materials, wool is an animal product and linen a plant product. The commandment has a symbolic meaning which is to forbid the mixing of two things that don’t go together. We can’t mix sin with righteousness and we can’t mix truth with falsehood. To be a believer in God is to be set apart from the world.
2-Health
The mixing of wool and linen is not healthy. The Jamison, Faucett and Brown Bible Commentary, written in 1871, asserts that: “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. 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.”
Ezekiel shows that wool makes the body warm as to cause sweat. So mixing wool and linen will cause imbalance to body temperature. Priest were pure and were not to wear material that will cause impurities. “And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat” (Ezekiel 44:17-18).
Scientific research on the electronic frequencies of the human body and different fabrics shows that the most beneficial was linen, then wool, while silk had none.
3-Pagan Connotations
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 and therefore the Torah forbade it.
4-Durability
Clothing made from two basic kinds of natural fibers, one kind is from plant cellulose fiber (linen and cotton) while the other is made from animal fiber (wool and silk), differ in strength, durability and absorption. Therefore, its best if they are not mixed because the one may outlast the other or cause a tear in the fabric (Matthew 9:17).
It is interesting to think that God cares for every detail for the happiness of His children and His wisdom is “past finding out” (Romans 11:33).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
