Literal Translation Ecclesiastes 9:8 “In all times, let be garments white”
בכל־עת יהיו בגדיך לבנים
𐤁𐤊𐤋־𐤏𐤕 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤅 𐤁𐤂𐤃𐤉𐤊 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤌
KJV – Let thy garments be always white;
Why would Ecclesiastes say “In all times, let be garments white?” What would happen if you always wore white?
White is associated with being “clean and pure”
The fact that white is associated with being clean and pure is no surprise. If you were to wear white you would have to be truly set-apart and walk carefully as you go. Being watchful about who touches you and if their hands were clean. You would watch where you sat and who you sat with. You would be mind of your surroundings and your clothes. Wearing white would make you more alert and other would be able to see any flaws on your apparel. If you were to wear white, it would be evident if you were clean or unclean. If your clothes stayed clean during the whole day, you would know you were truly being “set-apart”. White clothing thus “sets one apart” from others.
The act of wearing white creates a natural discipline – it requires heightened awareness and careful living. Wearing white makes one hyper-conscious of one’s surroundings, interactions, and activities. This physical vigilance becomes a perfect metaphor for spiritual vigilance.
White clothing wasn’t just symbolic – it was transformative, changing how the wearer experienced the world and interacted with it. The practical demands of keeping white garments clean created a lived experience of what it means to be set apart for sacred purposes.
Would you be able to wear white all day? If you wore white, would you be more mindful and thoughtful about your surroundings and where you sat? and who touched you?
I believe that we would do better if we wore white at all times. All the times I wore white, I protected myself from dirty and getting dirty. I was very careful. I also felt clean and set-apart.
