My Thoughts on Leviticus 19:19
Leviticus 19:19 says, "Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee." I was wondering why is such an issue as to not to interbreed cattle, not to sow seeds with mingled seed, and neither to have garments of mixed fabric. So what's the reason behind it? It turns out that there's a scientific reason behind God's commands and not just on Leviticus 11.
What would be interesting is that referring to different commentaries will give different answers. Trying to understand the Bible with both history and science is very important. God doesn't give a command without a good reason. Now, it's time to consider the sources which would give their various explanations. It would be good to analyze Leviticus scientifically as to see God's handprint in the laws of science.
The "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" says this if Leviticus 19:19:
- The possibility of not cross-breeding the cattle is done to avoid infringing the economy.
- Sowing mingled seed was also done as an idolatrous practice by the ancient Zabians which was accompanied by magical rites and invocations. God was clearly against the occult!
- The practice of mingling seed also results in injuries to vegetation. This was to prevent spurious seed. It will create inferior products which will be less ideal for consumption. This would be less nutritious unlike breeding pure crops.
- The mixing of wool and linen also creates a very unusual hot outfit to wear. This would generate electricity (since wool contains static electricity, emphasis mine) and the climate was very hot. This would not be very ideal for people of the desert.
The "KJV Study Bible" also says this of Leviticus 19:19:
- The prohibition was probably to instill a reverence for the order of nature set by God.
- It may be to prevent sterility as a result of hybrids.
- Probably the fear of the Israelites may indulge in the abomination of the Canaanites.
The "Thru the BIble Commentary" also says this of Leviticus 19:19:
- Not having hybrid plants and animals was to teach that you can't mingle truth with error.
The "Gardener's Bookshelf" website also reveals these advantages which actually would be very bad for future production:
Disadvantages:1. Hybrids cost up to five times more because they take longer to develop and are more trouble to produce.
2. They often require a more exacting horticulture. When things aren’t optimum, they may suffer more than plants grown from nonhybrid, open-pollinated seeds.
3. If you save and grow seeds from an F1 hybrid plant, don’t expect a similar plant in the next generation. The resulting plants in the second generation are usually much lower yielding, have less vigor, and are quite variable in their physical characteristics. You don’t know what you are going to get, and usually you’ll lose all the advantages you had in growing the original hybrid.
If you try to do some searches on hybrid seeds then you will realize that farmers don't save them. Why should farmers save them? The website "My Fearless Kitchen" also reveals this revelation which furtehr defends Leviticus 19:19's instructions about breeding:
The main reason farmers don’t save hybrid seeds to plant next year is that the seeds won’t “breed true.” Hybrids are made by crossing two highly inbred parent plants (more details coming soon). Every seed (or corn kernel) that is planted has the exact same genetics. Farmers know that they will get a very consistent crop in each field when they plant hybrid seeds.
As the crop grows and the plants are fertilized, hybrid plants are breeding with each other. This creates a lot more variability in the genetics of the corn kernels (seeds). If a farmer was to save these seeds to plant next year, the crop that grows will be inconsistent.
The overall yield in the field will likely be less. And because the genetics are not the same, the plants will be different. Some might have kept the trait for more efficient water use, some might have kept the trait for stronger stalks, some might have kept the trait for large kernels, and some might have lost all of these traits. Farmers have so much to worry about with the weather, pests, weeds, and field conditions, they don’t need to worry about inconsistent seeds, too!
Then we can consider the difference between wool and cotton. The "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" already provided it for a scientific reason. What can also be seen is that wool is made to keep yourself warm in colder days and cotton was worn during hotter days. Trying to mix both would be to create a conflict with each other. They aren't meant to be mixed. I remembered a blanket I had which was made from mixed fabric and it was rather itchy. However, the pure wool or pure cotton blankets gave the comfort that I had desired.
Bible studies must always be accompanied by science and history. Just think proving the verifiability of the Bible needs the facts to help validate such faith. After all, science is God's creation. You can't divorce the Bible from the Creator. The Bible is supported by facts yet the skeptics still sneer at it because of a hardened heart.
See also: