Is Nudity Viewed as private in the Bible?

BrianM · #1 12-16-2002, 06:18 AM

It is clear that many instances of nudity is in the Bible, and we have discussed this to death. It does seem that many commandments, not just the top 10, but many other shall nots in the Bible, are geared toward preserving mankind and to prevent the spead of disease. In many cases, clothing's purpose is just that, a protection, and we can all think of instances and reasons that it would be required. One particular set of passages that references the phrase "uncovering the nudity of" is in Lev 18 verse 6-19, is condemmed for family members. One Bible with comments, says taht this is talking about who you can marry. In all cases it is talking to man, not women, but in verse 7, it says the ....father or mother. Obviously you cannot marry your father, so what does this mean?

BrianM · #2 12-16-2002, 06:18 AM

It is clear that many instances of nudity is in the Bible, and we have discussed this to death. It does seem that many commandments, not just the top 10, but many other shall nots in the Bible, are geared toward preserving mankind and to prevent the spead of disease. In many cases, clothing's purpose is just that, a protection, and we can all think of instances and reasons that it would be required. One particular set of passages that references the phrase "uncovering the nudity of" is in Lev 18 verse 6-19, is condemmed for family members. One Bible with comments, says taht this is talking about who you can marry. In all cases it is talking to man, not women, but in verse 7, it says the ....father or mother. Obviously you cannot marry your father, so what does this mean?

Burntbuns · #3 12-16-2002, 10:51 AM

Is this where you want to have your Bible study group? Anyway, it seems to me that circumcision wouldn't have been selected as a "sign" if the sign wasn't seen somewhat regularly. This leads me to believe that at least male/male nudity was common. I think also that many passages like the one you quoted do have to do with distinguishing with whom sexual contact is permitted.

BrianM · #4 12-16-2002, 11:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Burntbuns:
[qb]Is this where you want to have your Bible study group? [/qb]

I thought this was a religion and Nudity section???
But I think you are right in your points about circumcision and the nakedness question. After pondering this question again, I think that Lev 18:7 means that anyone that is kin to your father or mother as a generality, then it goes into detail about sisters, cousins, in-laws, etc. So a father's nakedness would mean anyone that the father is related to.

Leighton · #5 12-16-2002, 12:10 PM

Brian M,

About your question regarding the Leviticus term "uncover the nakednes of" - when I was in theological college studying for my BTH they taught me that this phrase is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. The translators of the Kings James Version were evidently embarassed to mention sexuality so they used a phrases that they knew would be understood by the readers of the time. The instruction, then, is aimed at thise who might be tempted to fornication or adultery.

#6 12-16-2002, 09:35 PM

Leighton, My understanding is that the scripture mentioned refers to incest. "Uncover the nakedness of----" means that no one is to have sex with relatives. This scripture doesn't mean that seeing the nude bodies of ones relatives of the opposite sex is wrong. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

RalphVa · #7 12-30-2002, 03:15 AM

The "uncover the nakedness of..." in Leviticus is about not have sexual relations with. The modern translations say it that way.

Most comments about sexual relations in the Bible talk about keeping it covered, e.g. private. Whereas, pure nakedness was open. People often would strip to work because they didn't want to damage their clothing. That was the case with Peter, why the female lover in Song of Solomon was all brown after working in the vineyard, Jesus working in the garden after his resurrection and reappearance, Isaiah doing his work for 3 years naked, etc.

Ralph

BrianM · #8 12-30-2002, 05:55 PM

Would anyone agree that while it is not condemned, nudity was associated more to poverty and low class work, whereas clothes dressed up and covered the person? Also, would people of status commonly be seen nude? I understand the instances that possibly Jesus was nude on occasion, and others, but weren't those people trying to come down to the level of the lower class by doing this? I am not trying to prove that nudity is viewed as wrong, just trying to understand the way clothing was viewed in the Bible. A better understanding for us help us to talk through these issues with people who condemn nudity for religious reasons.

David77 · #9 12-30-2002, 07:31 PM

From what I recall, I don't think that the Bible condemns nor praises nudity, but I think it was probably a non-issue morally.

David77 · #10 12-30-2002, 09:23 PM

This is in response to your mention of "poverty", "low class work" and "people of status" and nudity back then.

First it must be remembered that almost everyone was of the lower class and lived in relative poverty. There was no such thing as "middle class". ("Middle class" is a relatively new phenonoman in history).

The tax collectors, working for the authority of Rome, squeezed ever bit of tax they could from the people there, leaving them very little for themselves to live on. The tax collector got a "cut" of the taxes he collected, and the rest went to Rome for administration and to support the people who lived idle lives in Rome. Except for the slaves in Rome, no one else in Rome worked, but amused themselves at government expense, so were very much dependent on the taxes collected from these poor people.

The persons of any wealth in Jesus society were officials sanctioned by Rome and treated well so that they would remain loyal to Rome. Did these favored ones always wear fine clothing and never went nude? I don't remember reading the answer to this question. I have read, however, that the Roman and Greek cultural ways had a great influence on the society of Jesus time. In Rome and Greece they were not "prudes" when it came to nakedness. They bathed in the open and sat on stone toilet seats in the open, side by side, male and female, and socialized verbally while sitting on the toilets in the open. I suspect that some of this culturally "free" attitude regarding nudity did influence Jesus society, just as the foreign language usage was adopted and used somewhat.

The poor people then did not have a wardrobe of changes of clothes. (just as the people during our great depression in the 1930ties hardly had a change of clothing.) Anthropologists tell us that while working in the fields in Jesus day, sometimes they would remove their clothing to work nude. It conserved their possible only garment they owned, and was more comfortable.

We know that it is said in the Bible that Jesus came upon the boat of fishermen who were working nude and came aboard. He did not lecture them about being naked! He probably "stripped down" himself as they were, and as was their custom.

All this is what I remember I read in books, but my post here is certainly not intended as any authoritive statement, as I have no special training in this. If I got some "history" wrong or you have a different view, fine!