Adornment in the Bible refers to the practice of decorating or embellishing oneself, often with clothing, jewelry, or other accessories. The concept of adornment is addressed in various contexts throughout Scripture, reflecting both cultural practices and spiritual principles.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, adornment is often associated with beauty and celebration. For example, in Ezekiel 16:11-13, God describes His lavish adornment of Jerusalem, symbolizing His blessings and favor: "I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth."

Adornment is also seen in the context of preparation and purification. In Exodus 33:5-6, the Israelites are instructed to remove their ornaments as a sign of repentance: "For the LORD had said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites, "You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you."' So the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from external adornment to inner beauty and character. The Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter both address the issue of adornment in their epistles. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Paul writes: "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God."

Similarly, Peter emphasizes the importance of inner beauty in 1 Peter 3:3-4: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."

Spiritual Symbolism

Adornment in the Bible often carries spiritual symbolism, representing the state of one's heart and relationship with God. In Isaiah 61:10, the prophet rejoices in the salvation and righteousness bestowed by God, using the imagery of adornment: "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

The Book of Revelation also uses adornment imagery to describe the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ, adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).

Cultural and Historical Considerations

In biblical times, adornment was often a reflection of one's social status, wealth, and cultural identity. Jewelry, fine clothing, and other forms of adornment were common among both men and women, serving as indicators of prosperity and beauty. However, the biblical narrative consistently points to the greater importance of inner character and spiritual devotion over external appearances.

Practical Implications

The biblical teachings on adornment encourage believers to prioritize modesty, humility, and the cultivation of inner virtues. While the Bible does not prohibit the use of adornment, it cautions against allowing external appearances to overshadow one's spiritual life and relationship with God. The emphasis is on reflecting God's glory through a life of holiness and good works, rather than through outward displays of wealth or beauty.1 Timothy 2:9-10
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with modesty and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 3:1-6
Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
Topicalbible.org

Deuteronomy 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination to the LORD your God.
Topicalbible.org

1 Timothy 2:10
But (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.
Topicalbible.org

(n.) An adorning; an ornament; a decoration.2889. kosmos -- order, the world
... Phonetic Spelling: (kos'-mos) Short Definition: the world, universe Definition:
the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2889.htm - 7k1925. heder -- an ornament, adornment, splendor
... 1924, 1925. heder. 1926 . an ornament, adornment, splendor. Transliteration:
heder Phonetic Spelling: (heh'-der) Short Definition: Jewel. ...
/hebrew/1925.htm - 6k

1927a. hadarah -- adornment, glory
... 1927, 1927a. hadarah. 1927b . adornment, glory. Transliteration: hadarah
Short Definition: array. Word Origin from hadar Definition ...
/hebrew/1927a.htm - 5k

1927. hadarah -- adornment, glory
... 1926, 1927. hadarah. 1927a . adornment, glory. Transliteration: hadarah Phonetic
Spelling: (had-aw-raw') Short Definition: beauty. beauty, honor ...
/hebrew/1927.htm - 5k

2580. chen -- favor, grace
... Word Origin from chanan Definition favor, grace NASB Word Usage adornment (1), charm
(1), charm* (1), charming* (1), favor (51), grace (8), graceful (2 ...
/hebrew/2580.htm - 6k

8597. tipharah -- beauty, glory
... Word Origin from paar Definition beauty, glory NASB Word Usage adornment (1), beautiful
(8), beauty (7), boast (1), glorious (7), glory (17), honor (2), jewels ...
/hebrew/8597.htm - 6k

The Adornment of the Spritual Marriage
The Adornment of the Spritual Marriage. <. The Adornment of the Spritual Marriage
John of Ruysbroeck. Table of Contents. Title Page. INTRODUCTION. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/

Of the Work of Adornment, as Regards the Fourth Day (Three ...
... OF THE WORK OF ADORNMENT, AS REGARDS THE FOURTH DAY (THREE ARTICLES). We
must next consider the work of adornment, first as to each ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the work of adornment.htm

Whether the Adornment of Women is Devoid of Mortal Sin?
... OF MODESTY IN THE OUTWARD APPAREL (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the adornment of
women is devoid of mortal sin? Objection 1: It would seem ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the adornment of women.htm

God Seeks for Adornment of this Kind, and Desires a Soul Arrayed ...
... The Doubtful Letters Of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter XIV. God seeks for adornment
of this kind, and desires a soul arrayed in such a? ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xiv god seeks for.htm

The Adornment of the Spritual Marriage
The Adornment of the Spritual Marriage. <. ... Title Page. JOHN OF RUYSBROECK
THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE. THE SPARKLING STONE. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/title page.htm

Men not Excluded from These Remarks on Personal Adornment.
... Book II. Chapter VIII."Men Not Excluded from These Remarks on Personal
Adornment. Of course, now, I, a man, as being envious [205 ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter viii men not excluded from.htm

The Woman who Brings Forth, to whom the Dragon is Opposed, the ...
... Discourse VIII."Thekla. Chapter V."The Woman Who Brings Forth, to Whom the
Dragon is Opposed, the Church; Her Adornment and Grace. ...
/.../chapter v the woman who brings.htm

Whether any Gifts Should be Assigned as Dowry to the Blessed?
... marriage. Therefore a dowry should be especially assigned thereto. Further,
the adornment of the bride is part of the dowry. Now ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any gifts should be.htm

Whether the Lights Ought to have Been Produced on the Fourth Day?
... OF THE WORK OF ADORNMENT, AS REGARDS THE FOURTH DAY (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
the lights ought to have been produced on the fourth day? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the lights ought to.htm

Whether the Dowry is the Same as Beatitude*? [*Cf. Fp, Q , a , Ad ...
... For as appears from the definition of dowry [5138](A[1]), the dowry is "the everlasting
adornment of body and soul in eternal happiness." Now the happiness of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the dowry is the.htm

Adornment (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An adorning; an ornament; a decoration.
Multi-Version Concordance Adornment (7 Occurrences). 1 Peter ...
/a/adornment.htm - 8k

Ornament (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) That which embellishes or adorns; that which
adds grace or beauty; embellishment; decoration; adornment. ...
/o/ornament.htm - 17k

Jewel (12 Occurrences)
... nose-ring, etc. Oriental dress yields itself freely to such adornment,
to which there are many allusions in Scripture. a frequent ...
/j/jewel.htm - 12k

Adorn (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Adornment. 3. (a.) Adorned; decorated. ... When we remember how very highly
Orientals esteem the adornment of the body, its use here becomes very forceful. ...
/a/adorn.htm - 12k

Colors (12 Occurrences)
... Bright yellow, crimson, magenta and green are used for adornment with no evident
sense of fitness, according to the foreigners' eyes, other than their ...
/c/colors.htm - 36k

Gold (429 Occurrences)
... 8:10, 19; 16:16, 22; 25:12), hence was most worthy for use in worshipping Yahweh
(Exodus 25; Revelation 1:12, 13, 10, etc.), and the adornment of angels ...
/g/gold.htm - 57k

Color (18 Occurrences)
... Bright yellow, crimson, magenta and green are used for adornment with no evident
sense of fitness, according to the foreigners' eyes, other than their ...
/c/color.htm - 39k

Glory (590 Occurrences)
... with a group of words, translated "glory" in the English Versions of the Bible,
and in which the ideas of size, rarity, beauty and adornment are prominent, the ...
/g/glory.htm - 71k

Quality (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 3:4 but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment
of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. ...
/q/quality.htm - 11k

Network (19 Occurrences)
... in 2 Kings 25:17 2 Chronicles 4:13 (also in the plural, 4:12, 13), for "wreathen
work" and "wreath" in the King James Version (of the adornment of the capitals ...
/n/network.htm - 14k

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