This law deals with transvestism, that is, using clothes normally worn by members of the other sex. It is called an abomination, which seems to link it up with customs associated with pagan cults. For the word abomination itself see 7.24; 18.12. In Lev 18.22 and 20.13 the same word is applied to homosexual behavior.

Anything that pertains to a man: this seems to include other things besides clothes, such as adornments and weapons. But in parallel with a woman’s garment, it probably means simply a man’s clothes.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .