The Bible and Nakedness

Since I suggested approaching the Bible with no preconceived notions, I will make my comments after the list of verses.

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Bare (not the verses referring to bearing children or bearing burdens)
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Isaiah 32:11
Is        47:2
Jeremiah 13:22
Jer      49:10
Ezekiel 16:7
Eze      16:22
Eze      16:39
Eze      23:29
Joel     1:7
1st Corinthians 15:37

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Naked
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Gen 2:25  
Gen 3:7  
Gen 3:10  
Gen 3:11  
Exo 32:25  
1Sa 19:24  
2Ch 28:15  
2Ch 28:19  
Job 1:21 
Job 22:6  
Job 24:7  
Job 24:10  
Job 26:6  
Ecc 5:15  
Isa 20:2 
Isa 20:3;
Isa 20:4  
Isa 58:7 
Lam 4:21  
Eze 16:7  
Eze 16:22  
Eze 16:39  
Eze 18:7  
Eze 18:16  
Eze 23:29 
Hos 2:3  
Amo 2:16  
Mic 1:8  
Mic 1:11  
Hab 3:9  
Mat 25:36 
Mat 25:38  
Mat 25:43  
Mat 25:44  
Mar 14:51  
Mar 14:52  
Joh 21:7  
Act 19:16 
1Co 4:11  
2Co 5:3  
Heb 4:13  
Jam 2:15 
Rev 3:17  
Rev 16:15  
Rev 17:16  
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Nakedness
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Gen 9:22  
Gen 9:23  
Gen 42:9  
Gen 42:12  
Exo 20:26  
Exo 28:42  
Lev 18:6  
Lev 18:7  
Lev 18:8  
Lev 18:9  
Lev 18:10
Lev 18:11  
Lev 18:12  
Lev 18:13  
Lev 18:14  
Lev 18:15  
Lev 18:16  
Lev 18:17  
Lev 18:18 
Lev 18:19  
Lev 20:11 
Lev 20:17  
Lev 20:18  
Lev 20:19  
Lev 20:20  
Lev 20:21  
Deu 28:48  
1Sa 20:30  
Isa 47:3  
Lam 1:8  
Eze 16:8  
Eze 16:36  
Eze 16:37  
Eze 22:10  
Eze 23:10 
Eze 23:18  
Eze 23:29  
Hos 2:9  
Nah 3:5  
Hab 2:15  
Rom 8:35  
2Co 11:27  
Rev 3:18 

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Strip
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Isa 32:11  
Eze 16:39  
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Stripped
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Exo 33:6  
Num 20:28  
1Sa 18:4  
1Sa 19:24  
1Sa 31:9  
1Ch 10:9  
2Ch 20:25  
Job 19:9  
Job 22:6  
Mic 1:8  
Mat 27:28  
Luk 10:30  
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Uncovered
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Gen 9:21  
Lev 20:11  
Lev 20:17  
Lev 20:18  
Lev 20:20  
Lev 20:21  
Rth 3:7  
2Sa 6:20  
Isa 20:4  
Isa 22:6  
Isa 47:3  
Jer 49:10  
Eze 4:7 
Hab 2:16  
Mar 2:4  
1Co 11:5  
1Co 11:13  

In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve disobey God, become afraid, and become aware that they are naked. They make aprons out of fig leaves.

God replaces their fig leaves with coats of skins. There is no indication that God told them to wear them all the time (remember, God made them naked after all). He allowed man to cover themselves, but didn't tell them to do it.

Much later, God commanded His chosen people, Abraham and his descendants, to be circumcised. This requires the baring of the ONE PART Adam covered up originally with his apron!

Later yet, in Deuteronomy, God gives a long list of situations where uncovering someone else's nakedness is prohibited. Many scholars believe "uncovering someone's nakedness " was a euphomism for having sex with them, much like the modern phrase "sleeping with " someone. This makes more sense when you see the context, but even if the expression is just taken literally, "uncover" is an active term - you are uncovering someone. Given that most people in our society are uncomfortable with nakedness, forcing them to be exposed would humiliate them, and clearly be wrong.

Many people will cite these verses in Deuteronomy to argue that family members should not see each other naked. Again, think of the context of the culture these scriptures were given to. Homes of that era (actually most homes throughout history) were typically one room. Bathing was done in rivers, streams, etc., or even on rooftops! It's hard to imagine family members not seeing each other naked!

In ancient times, "primitive" cultures today, or nudist/clothing optional families today, being seen naked isn't traumatic. In these families, seeing their family members naked is neither shocking nor erotic - it's just normal. The body is not considered dirty or scandalous.

Getting back to the Bible, we later see people prophesying naked before God. No one is shocked. When King Saul is seen prophesying in the nude, the comment circulated was not that he was naked, but that he was among the prophets!

Several references mention someone's shame associated with nakedness. God clearly acknowledges that man often associates nakedness with shame. But never does God say the nakedness itself is or should be shameful. Slaves were often naked. Very poor people were often naked, as were young children. Slaves, the poor, and children were powerless (or helpless) people. No person of means would choose to be seen as helpless or powerless - they would be ashamed.

God himself said he would "show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame". If nakedness itself were sinful, then how could God show it to the nations? Granted, this is a prophesy, and prophesies often spoke metaphorically, but would God even use the metaphor if nakedness were inherently sinful? He would be forcing people to think about something which he wouldn't want them doing, and God doesn't tempt people!

Again, nakedness here equates to poverty or powerlessness, in this case the result of wrongdoing, hence the shame.

In biblical times, it was common for conquerers to lead captives away naked. There were several reasons for this. Clothing was valuable (why do tou think the poor often couldn't afford it?). Clothing was considered part of the spoils. Also, naked people can't hide weapons well, and they are more vulnerable to the lash if they get out of line. Then of course there's that humiliation factor, contributing to their sense of defeat.

God told Isaiah to go naked for three years (Isaiah chapter 20). This was to show how the mighty nations of Egypt and Ethiopia were going to be carried into captivity "naked and barefoot with their buttocks uncovered". Everyone knew Isaiah. He was highly respected, like the Billy Graham of his day. And God told him to walk around naked and barefoot!

God didn't seem concerned that people would be scandalized by Isaiah's nakedness. This suggests that people were more sensible about it back then. They certainly would have seen it a lot more often than we do, even if they generally chose to be clothed.

While you won't find it in the Bible, Roman history clearly indicates that people were crucified naked. It was meant to be a cruel, horrible form of execution, and humiliation was part of the process. Modern painters show Jesus with a cloth around His pelvic area, but the Romans would have had no motivation to extend Jesus such a courtesy. Women were definitely present, and it's likely children (at least teenagers) were there (remember, boys were considered men in Jewish culture after 12).

If nudity was inherently wrong, God wouldn't have wanted people exposed to His own son's. Jesus would have had to die a different way, or the Roman custom of crucifying naked would have been prevented from being developed.

For that matter, according to church history, people were baptised naked for centuries. I think God would have nipped that in the bud if it had been offensive to Him!

Bottom line, while the Bible specifically prohibits some behaviors, it is neutral on nakedness. It acknowledges that man associates shame and nakedness, but doesn't actually express approval of that association. (The Bible acknowledges slavery as well, but doesn't express approval of that either.)

The only caveat the Bible gives that can be applied to nudity is to not intentionally offend - but this applies to everything, not just nakedness.


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