How Can a Christian Woman Swim Safely Without Offending God in Dress?
1) Direct Answer
A Christian woman can swim without offending God by keeping modesty, separation, and a feminine testimony. Choose private or women‑only settings; avoid mixed bathing and beaches. Wear a loose, opaque, feminine swim garment that does not reveal the form when wet, covers the body well (neckline high, sleeves at least to the elbow, hem well below the knee—mid‑calf is safer), and is not transparent, tight, split, or clingy. Do it for health or family refreshment, not for show. Keep a meek, shamefaced spirit, and if there is any doubt in the heart, don’t do it.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says women are to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:9–10). Modesty is not only the cloth, but the spirit—yet it does govern how we dress.
- “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man” (Deuteronomy 22:5). So the outer garment should remain clearly feminine, not the form or style of men’s wear.
- Peter points to the hidden man of the heart, with a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3–4). The inside life shows on the outside.
- We must not be a stumbling block (Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus said a man can commit adultery in his heart by looking with lust (Matthew 5:28). So we guard our brothers by not displaying the body.
- God covered Adam and Eve with coats, not mere aprons (Genesis 3:7, 21). Isaiah 47:2–3 shows that uncovering the thigh is counted as nakedness; Exodus 28:42 shows covering from the loins even to the thighs. Now notice, Scripture treats exposure of the thigh as nakedness—so coverage below the knee is a safe, clean standard.
- “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15) and “be not conformed” (Romans 12:2). Beaches and mixed pools are built for display; separation keeps the testimony clean.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Water makes thin fabric cling and show the body. So choose garments and fabrics that stay opaque and loose when wet.
- Mixed settings put a woman’s body before men’s eyes. Even if her intent is pure, the effect can still stumble others and stain her witness.
- A feminine outer garment honors Deuteronomy 22:5. If functional underlayers are used for coverage, keep them under a proper, loose, opaque swim dress so the visible outfit remains clearly feminine.
- If you have to ask, “Is this too tight, too short, too sheer, or too revealing when wet?” it’s already a warning from the conscience. Better to please the Lord than to fit the culture.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Salvation is in the new birth, but the new birth shows itself. You see, holiness is beautiful when it’s simple, modest, and separate. Walk softly, cover cleanly, and keep your testimony above reproach.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
The flashing red light of the sign of His coming
63-0623E §61
Female flesh, they're flesh and blood; they're not gods. To my opinion---God forgive me if I'm wrong---it is a wholesale strip tease. You can't hardly blame a man if he's not a Christian but what would fall, and fall into temptations into such a place that he would do something wrong, till he could not hold himself. It's amazing that there's not more ravages goes on, because so many of it, the women's in for it. But if it wasn't, how could you blame the men? Put blame where blame belongs. Woman say, "Now, Brother B...
Questions and Answers, Part 2
64-0823E §109
QUESTION: Brother Branham, is it all right for a young child to wear slacks and shorts? How young? Just let you be the judge of that; you're a Christian. A little girl or any little bitty kid, I imagine, I don't know, I... Only thing I know, the Bible says it's an abomination for a woman to wear a garment that's---that pertains to man. See? "A woman," didn't say, "a child." But now, I just ... You just suit yourself about that, I... For my part, I see nothing wrong with a little bitty kid, little bitty girl four or...
Presuming
62-0610M §63
Now, let a man look at you, a little Christian girl coming down the street---pretty, sweet, innocent little thing---all dressed sexy. And a sinner looks upon her to lust after her. At the day of the judgment, when this man answers for committing adultery, who's guilty? Her. See what I mean? I pray some day you'll find out it's not me trying to be a smart aleck. It's with godly love, see. I love you. I don't want you to be like that. Don't be like the rest of the world, you Pentecostal women. Your organization's wha...
Perseverant
62-0719E §75
I was telling some women here not long ago (shame them, dressing the way they do, with these little ... look like a skinned wiener with them dresses on like that) how they're going to have to answer at the day of judgment for committing adultery. You might be as pure as a lily to your husband, or to your boyfriend. But you remember, Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already." And when that sinner answers for committing adultery, who did it? You. My Penteco...
The Pillar of Fire
53-0509 §62
While we have our heads bowed... If God will hear my prayer, give visions... He stopped me then, in my prayer, and said for me to ask something. While you're praying, all Christians, is there a man or woman in here that doesn't know Christ yet and hasn't been born again, would raise your hand up and say, "Brother Branham, pray for me. I want God to give me the experience of being born again." God bless you. God bless you, you, you, you. Anywhere over in the wing? God bless you. God bless you. Back in the second win...