Lexical Summary
shaatnez: Mixed fabric, mixed cloth
Original Word:שַׁעַטְנֵז
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:sha`atnez
Pronunciation:shah-at-NEZ
Phonetic Spelling:(shah-at-naze')
KJV: garment of divers sorts, linen and wollen
NASB:material mixed, material mixed together
Word Origin:[probably of foreign derivation]
1. linsey- woolsey, i.e. cloth of linen and wool carded and spun together
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
garment of divers sorts, linen and wollen
Probably of foreign derivation; linsey- woolsey, i.e. Cloth of linen and wool carded and spun together -- garment of divers sorts, linen and wollen.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originperhaps of foreign origin
Definitionmixed stuff
NASB Translationmaterial mixed (1), material mixed together (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(perhaps of Egyptian origin; Kn derives from Coptic
saht, woven, + nudj, false (Peyron
Lex 224. 133), and thinks originally ; has
spurious); — a kind of cloth forbidden for garments; defined
Deuteronomy 22:11 by , and
Leviticus 19:19 (H) by .
see .
I. (√of following; Late Hebrew ,deep, depth, of sea; Aramaic , ,
= Biblical Hebrew []).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning within Israel’s Covenant LifeThe term שַׁעַטְנֵז (shaʿatnez) denotes a specific kind of mixed-fabric cloth—principally wool and linen woven together—that the Torah forbids for personal garments. Although apparently technical, the word stands in a wider framework of laws that distinguish Israel from surrounding nations by marking everyday life with reminders of covenant holiness (Leviticus 11:44).
Biblical Occurrences
•Leviticus 19:19 sets the principle: “Do not wear a garment of mixed linen and wool.”
•Deuteronomy 22:11 repeats the prohibition: “Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together”.
Both contexts cluster שַׁעַטְנֵז with statutes concerning mixtures—crossbreeding cattle, sowing fields with mixed seed, and combining materials in clothing. Together they form a pattern: God’s covenant people are to reject confusions that obscure the created order.
Historical and Cultural Background
Archaeology confirms that Canaanite and Egyptian textiles sometimes blended plant and animal fibers for luxury or cultic use. Royal and priestly garments in many ancient religions employed mixed materials to symbolize cosmic powers. In Israel, however, such mixtures were carefully confined to the sanctuary. The ephod, breastpiece, curtain, and veil of the tabernacle employed “blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen” interwoven with dyed wool (Exodus 26:31; 28:6). By restricting שַׁעַטְנֵז to sacred space, God highlighted the separation between priestly mediators and the lay populace.
Theological Significance
1. Holiness through Separation: The prohibition embodies the call to be “holy to the LORD” by refusing practices that blur God-ordained distinctions (Leviticus 20:26).
2. Creation Order:Genesis 1 presents ordered realms—land, sea, sky—each producing “according to its kind.” Shatnez reminds Israel to respect those boundaries.
3. Typology of Purity: As sacrifices required unmixed blood (Leviticus 17:11), clothing free from shatnez illustrated moral and spiritual integrity (Psalm 24:3-4).
Christological Perspective
Jesus Christ, the perfect High Priest, wore a seamless tunic (John 19:23), underscoring an undivided righteousness that fulfills the symbolism behind shatnez. In Him the ceremonial wall dividing Jew and Gentile is demolished (Ephesians 2:14), yet His church still reflects holiness through ethical purity rather than fabric codes (Hebrews 9:9-10).
Practical Ministry Applications
• Teaching Holiness: Shatnez laws provide a tangible entry point for explaining how God cares about the details of daily life.
• Guarding Distinctiveness: Believers are called to avoid moral syncretism—blending incompatible worldviews—just as ancient Israel avoided mixed fabrics (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
• Appreciating Fulfillment: While the new covenant releases Christians from ceremonial clothing regulations (Acts 15:10-11;Colossians 2:16-17), the principle of integrity remains. Ministries can use shatnez to illustrate the danger of compromise in doctrine and conduct.
Related Passages for Study
Exodus 26:31; 28:6, 36-38 – sacred mixed fabrics allowed only for priestly service
Ezekiel 44:17-18 – linen garments for restored-temple priests
Matthew 5:17-19 – Christ’s fulfillment of the Law
James 1:27 – pure and undefiled religion
Summary
Shatnez is more than an ancient dress code; it is a symbol woven into Israel’s collective memory, reminding God’s people that holiness requires discernment, separation from corruption, and wholehearted devotion to the Creator.
Forms and Transliterations
שַֽׁעַטְנֵ֔ז שעטנז ša‘aṭnêz ša·‘aṭ·nêz shaatNez
Links
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Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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