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WHDL - 00020068

Clothing to cover nakedness: A comparative analysis of Genesis 2:25, 3:7, 3:10-11, and Genesis 9:21-23

Roldan T. Delos Santos

Resource Types

Academic (Thesis, Dissertation, Etc.)

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Description / Abstract

The book of Genesis records the origin of human clothing. In the account of this book of the beginning, Adam and Eve created clothing made of sewed fig leaves to cover nakedness. Likewise, a second instance is narrated in Genesis where Shem and Japheth took a garment or piece of clothing to cover the nakedness of their father, Noah. From these two significant narratives, this study draws attention to the purpose of clothing to cover nakedness. Nakedness is defined etymologically and contextually from the narrations. Shame, fear, and sin were the identified reactions to nakedness. These three associated effects are expounded in this study based on the way they were perceived by the narrators and characters with God’s illuminating revelations. Intertextual approach and narrative criticisms are applied to analyze the components, usage, and replacement of clothing. The clothing or coverings used by Adam and Eve, Shem and Japheth, and God to cover nakedness are compared in this study to formulate not only a comprehensive but also a collaborative analysis of nakedness in relation to the feeling of shame, a sense of fear and the admission of sin. Comparative analysis is used to produce layered presentations of nakedness, shame, fear, and sin. The sewed fig leaves for Adam and Eve and the garment placed over Noah were initially used as coverings for shame and fear respectively. But then, God altered the fig leaves with the coats of skin to cover the body and deal with sin. Hence, the conclusion of the study reveals that the purpose of clothing to cover nakedness is to cover shame, fear and sin. It is finally discovered that determining the form of clothing, function of clothing and the ownership of the body are the significant considerations to select the appropriate and suitable clothing to cover nakedness.