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.
Life
58-0512 §28
...ey do it, but mammy, you do too. "Oh," you say, "I don't wear them shorts (I believe they call it) and halternecks. I don't wear them; I wear slacks." The Bible said that a woman that'll put on a garment that pertains to a man, it's an abomination in the sight of God. That's what the Bible says. And today, you take women come down the street with these little old skirts on (that's so tight) and so sexy dressed, and call themselves Christians. Don't act much like the King of heaven's daughter, not conducting yoursel...
Discerning the Body of the Lord
59-0812 §28
A woman that dresses herself like that, she is going to be guilty of adultery at the day of judgment. You might be as pure as a lily to your husband or boyfriend, but Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her in his heart already." So you might not have done anything wrong actually, but when you dressed yourself like that, you presented yourself to the man; he is going to have to answer for committing adultery, and you are the blame. And the church is permitting t...
Why?
59-0813 §5
And then, like a person being healed: if they're not... See, faith don't know any defeat. A young woman come to me some years ago. It's when ladies begin to wear those, what they call scandal skirts in our country. It's kind of split up on the side. And she was a Christian girl of a certain denominational church. And she said, "Brother Branham," said, "do you think it's wrong for we Christians to wear these kind of skirts?" And I said, "What kind is that?" And she said, "It's a scandal skirt." I said, "The first pl...
Jehovah-Jireh, part 1
62-0705 §51
And the Bible said, "It's a dishonorable thing for a woman to cut her hair." She does it, she dishonors her head. She dishonors the angel, the angel of light. The seven church angels, the one bringing the light will stay with the Word. Dishonorable! She ought to have hair on her head. My, such! It used to be wrong for them to do it. In first Pentecost, it was wrong. What happened? You did run well, what happened? And some of our Pentecostal women dress in them dresses, look like a skin over a wiener, out here somew...
A greater than Solomon is here
63-0628E §80
...ven't got that much grace in your heart tonight, and you know the Bible teaches it, you should. He can't change. You say "I don't wear shorts; I wear slacks." That's worse. God said, "A woman that'll wear a garment pertains to a man, it's an abomination to God."