Biblical Standards of Modest Attire

The posted meme: "My favorite part of the Bible is when Jesus - instead of telling women how to dress - tells men to gouge out their eyes and cut off their hands if they can't control themselves."

My Response:

The King James Version (KJV) Bible gives instructions on how women should dress in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:3-5, Deuteronomy 22:5, and 1 Corinthians 11:5-6. These verses focus on modesty, gender distinction, and inner character over outward flashiness.

Key Passages on Women's Attire

• 1 Timothy 2:9-10: States that women should adorn themselves in "modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety", avoiding braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing, and instead wearing what is proper for those professing godliness through good works. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

• 1 Peter 3:3-5: Advises that a woman's beauty should not come from outward adornment like elaborate hairstyles, wearing gold, or fine clothes, but rather from a "gentle and quiet spirit" of the hidden heart. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands"

• Deuteronomy 22:5: Prohibits cross-dressing, stating that a woman must not wear men's clothing and a man must not wear women's clothing, to maintain a clear distinction between the sexes. "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"

• 1 Corinthians 11:2-16: Instructs that a woman praying or prophesying with an uncovered head dishonors her head, a cultural practice of the time linked to propriety in worship.
1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Co 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1Co 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Co 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Co 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

F. B. Meyer in his Commentary says:

"The power on a woman’s head in 1Co_11:10 probably refers to the veil or covering which the Grecian woman assumed at marriage as the sign that she was not free from the sacred ties and duties of wedlock. In Paul’s thought of the matter, therefore, it was unseemly for the Christian matron to lay this aside. He conceded the absolute freedom and equality of male and female in Christ, and yet he stood for the observance of the best customs of the age, lest the gospel should be brought into disrepute. The women, therefore, must veil their heads in the Christian assemblies as the angels veil their faces in the presence of God."

"The uncovered face of man is to the glory of God, but the covered face of woman recognizes that she finds her glory in her husband’s love and care. Each is dependent on the other-the man on God, and the wife on her spouse. These precepts and reasons are somewhat foreign to modern thought, but at least we must notice that there was no subject too trivial-even the headdress-to be brought into subjection to Christ and related to the great principle of His supreme Headship and Lordship."

So, yes, the post is in jest, meant as a laugh. However, any reference to the Word Of God needs to also speak the truth of the matter after the chuckle is over, so that wrong impressions are not left up front in people's minds. You, reader, how closely do you follow these Godly directions? There is also the question of judging. We are not to judge other hypocritically, but we are to judge all things per the Word. In other words, judge oneself first before judging others. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.