Why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric?

The Mosaic Law’s Prohibition of Mixed Fabrics

Why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric? We're going to answer that question and you can also discover more on GotQuestions .org. There are two passages in the Mosaic Law that forbid the wearing of different types of fabric, that is, the wearing of blended fabrics, those woven from two different materials.

Leviticus says, keep my decrees, do not mate different kinds of animals, do not plant your field with two kinds of seed, do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. And Deuteronomy commands, do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard.

If you do, not only the crops you plant, but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled. Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. While the Deuteronomy passage specifically forbids wearing a woven garment of wool and linen, the Leviticus passage seems broader.

However, wool and linen would have been the primary options for the ancient Israelite when it came to making thread for weaving. Wool and thread would have been made from the hair of a sheep or goat. Linen was made from fibers contained in the stalk of the flax plant.

There is no evidence that ancient Israel cultivated cotton and, of course, they did not have synthetics like nylon or polyester. Thus, we can assume that wool and linen are in view in the Leviticus passage, even though the materials are not specifically stated.

Why the Command Targets a Single Woven Garment

Neither passage says anything about wearing two garments made of different kinds of material. For example, a linen undergarment worn with a wool outer garment may have been acceptable. Nor do the commandments say anything about clothing that is not woven, such as leather or animal skins being used with a lining made of wool or linen.

The prohibition pertains only to wearing a single garment woven with both wool and linen. The rule against wearing different types of fabric was not a moral law. There is nothing inherently wrong with weaving linen and wool together.

In fact, the ephod of the high priest was made of linen and dyed thread. The to understanding the prohibition. The ephod of the high priest was the only garment that could be woven of linen and wool. No one else was allowed to have such a garment.

Ceremonial Separation, Holiness, and Pagan Distinctives

These passages include a list of other prohibitions against mixing of various kinds, be it of seeds in a field or of ingredients for anointing oil. In the Old Testament, these prohibitions may have been to maintain distance between the people and the high priest, and therefore God, with the ultimate purpose of reminding Israel how holy God truly is.

In other cases, the prohibitions may have kept Israelites from imitating practices of the pagan nations surrounding them. Even though we do not understand all that is behind these prohibitions, the ancient Israelites knew exactly why the rules were in place.

Why Christians Are Not Bound by the Fabric Law

So, is it wrong for a Christian today to wear clothing made of two different types of material? The clear and unequivocal answer is no. As we have seen, the prohibition was only for linen and wool, which would be uncommon today anyway.

Beyond that, the prohibition was for ancient Israel, not for the New Testament Christian. The ceremonial laws for ancient Israel, as recorded in the Old Testament, simply do not apply today. That answers the question, why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric?

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