Biblical Dress: The Inside Story

Did you know that the Bible refers to dress as more than clothing and accessories? Oh yes, it talks about them, too, but did you know there’s a biblical adornment that has nothing whatsoever to do with cloth?

Let’s look at the key passages about women’s clothing.

• Proverbs 31:22, 25—She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
• 1 Timothy 2:9-10—In  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—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.

These parts of the verses are about how God wants us to dress our hearts:

• (About the Virtuous Woman) Strength and honour are her clothing.
• That women adorn themselves . . . with shamefacedness and sobriety and with good works.
• Whose adorning . . . 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. 

Isn’t it interesting that what pleases God, those things that are of great price in the sight of God, are those character traits that are inside us? Yes, what’s on the outside is important, too, but what’s on the inside is more important.

Over the years, I’ve noticed the correlation between the inside and the outside, when it comes to women’s clothing. It seems that when a woman has her heart in tune with God’s wishes, then her clothing reflects her love for God. She is beautiful, modest, and glowing.

Let’s look at which characteristics we should have—our inside clothing:

• strength
• honor
• shamefacedness (means: respect, a sense of shame, honor, modesty, reverence, regard for others)
• sobriety (self-control)
• good works
• meek and quiet spirit (Meek here means mildness, gentleness.)
• submission to our husbands

Do these traits surprise you?

They do me. When I think of adornment, beauty, and fashion, I don’t necessarily think first of strength, honor, self-control, respect, and gentleness. And, I would doubt that many women would include submissiveness to their husbands on that list, either.

But God does.

For us to sync with what He wants of us, our dress should include those inside traits. 

• Are we strong?
• Are we honorable?
• Are we respectful and modest?
• Do we have self-control?
• Do we do good works?
• Do we demonstrate a quiet and gentle spirit?
• If we’re married, are we submissive to our husbands? 

How are we dressing our hearts?