the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Nakedness
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or NUDITY. These terms, beside their ordinary and literal meaning, sometimes signify void of succour, disarmed. So, after worshipping the golden calf, the Israelites found themselves naked in the midst of their enemies. "Nakedness of the feet" was a token of respect. Moses put off his shoes to approach the burning bush. Most commentators are of opinion, that the priests served in the tabernacle with their feet naked; and afterward in the temple. In the enumeration that Moses makes of the habit and ornaments of the priests, he no where mentions any dress for the feet. Also the frequent ablutions appointed them in the temple seem to imply that their feet were naked. To uncover the nakedness of any one, is commonly put for a shameful and unlawful conjunction, or an incestuous marriage, Leviticus 20:19; Ezekiel 16:37 . Nakedness is sometimes put for being partly undressed; en deshabille. Saul continued naked among the prophets; that is, having only his under garments on. Isaiah received orders from the Lord to go naked; that is, clothed as a slave, half clad.
Thus it is recommended to clothe the naked; that is, such as are ill clothed. St. Paul says, that he was in cold, in nakedness; that is, in poverty, and want of raiment. Naked is put for discovered, known, manifest. So Job 26:6 : "Hell is naked before him." The sepulchre, the unseen state, is open to the eyes of God. St. Paul says, in the same sense, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do," Hebrews 4:13 .
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Nakedness'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/n/nakedness.html. 1831-2.
