Topical Bible: Ornaments

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, ornaments were items of adornment used by both men and women, often signifying wealth, status, or religious devotion. These items included jewelry, clothing embellishments, and other decorative objects. The use of ornaments is mentioned throughout the Bible, reflecting cultural practices and spiritual symbolism.

Old Testament References

Ornaments in the Old Testament are frequently associated with beauty and prosperity. In Genesis 24:22, Abraham's servant gives Rebekah a gold nose ring and bracelets as a sign of her selection as Isaac's bride: "And when the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels." These gifts were not only tokens of betrothal but also indicators of wealth and honor.

In Exodus, the Israelites are instructed to remove their ornaments as a sign of repentance and humility after the incident of the golden calf. Exodus 33:5-6 states, "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." This act of removing ornaments symbolized a turning away from idolatry and a return to God.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of ornaments in the context of judgment and restoration. In Isaiah 3:18-23, the Lord warns the daughters of Zion that He will remove their finery as a consequence of their pride and vanity: "In that day the Lord will take away the finery of their anklets and headbands and crescents, their pendants, bracelets, and veils, their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes, their perfume bottles and charms, their signet rings and nose rings, their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses, and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from external adornment to inner beauty and character. The Apostle Peter advises women 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." This passage emphasizes the importance of spiritual virtues over physical appearance.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul instructs women in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "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." Here, the emphasis is on modesty and good works as true adornments for believers.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Ornaments in the Bible often carry symbolic meanings. They can represent God's blessings and favor, as seen in the gifts given to Rebekah. Conversely, they can also symbolize human pride and idolatry, as in the case of the Israelites at Mount Horeb. The removal of ornaments can signify repentance and a renewed commitment to God.

In a spiritual sense, the New Testament teachings encourage believers to prioritize inner beauty and godliness over external appearances. The true adornment of a Christian is found in the virtues of the heart and the demonstration of faith through good works.

Throughout Scripture, ornaments serve as a reflection of the heart's condition, whether in humility before God or in the pursuit of worldly vanity.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Tinkling ornaments

(Isaiah 3:18), anklets of silver or gold, etc., such as are still used by women in Syria and the East.

Greek

4025. perithesis -- a putting around
... Feminine Transliteration: perithesis Phonetic Spelling: (per-ith'-es-is) Short
Definition: a putting around Definition: a putting around or on (as of ornaments ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4025.htm - 6k

5558. chrusoo -- to gild, to cover with gold
... adorn, deck. From chrusos; to gild, ie Bespangle with golden ornaments -- deck.
see GREEK chrusos. (kechrusomene) -- 2 Occurrences. 5557, 5558. chrusoo. 5559 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5558.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5716. adi -- ornaments
... 5715, 5716. adi. 5717 . ornaments. Transliteration: adi Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-ee') Short Definition: ornaments. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/5716.htm - 6k

6497. peqaim -- gourd (shaped) ornaments
... 6496, 6497. peqaim. 6498 . gourd (shaped) ornaments. Transliteration: peqaim
Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-kah) Short Definition: gourds. ...
/hebrew/6497.htm - 6k

8447. tor -- a plait, turn
tor or tor. 8446, 8447. tor or tor. 8448 . a plait, turn. Transliteration:
tor or tor Phonetic Spelling: (tore) Short Definition: ornaments. ...
/hebrew/8447.htm - 6k

7720. saharon -- moon, crescent
... 7719, 7720. saharon. 7721 . moon, crescent. Transliteration: saharon Phonetic
Spelling: (sah-har-one') Short Definition: ornaments. ...
/hebrew/7720.htm - 6k

8561. timorah -- palm (tree) figure
... Word Origin from the same as tomer Definition palm (tree) figure NASB Word Usage
palm tree (3), palm tree ornaments (6), palm trees (10). palm tree. ...
/hebrew/8561.htm - 6k

6060. anaq -- a necklace, neck pendant
... Word Origin from the same as Anaq Definition a necklace, neck pendant NASB
Word Usage neck bands (1), ornaments (1), strand (1). chain. ...
/hebrew/6060.htm - 6k

Library

Of Images, and the Ornaments of Temples, and the Contempt in which ...
... Book II. Of the Origin of Error. Chap. iv."of images, and the ornaments of temples,
and the contempt in which they are held even by the heathens themselves. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv of images and the.htm

Symbolic Ornaments of the Church
... Symbolic Ornaments of the Church. The use of symbols for conveying and
enforcing truth goes back to earliest ages. God said to Noah ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolic ornaments of the church.htm

Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments.
... Chapter XIII"Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments. ... How much more
useful to acquire decorous friends, than lifeless ornaments! ...
/.../the instructor paedagogus/chapter xiiiagainst excessive fondness for.htm

So, when You Allege that the Ornaments of the Heathen Deities are ...
... Chapter X. So, when you allege that the ornaments of the heathen deities
are found no less? So, when you allege that the ornaments ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter x so when you.htm

Tertullian Refers Again to the Question of the Origin of all These ...
... Book II. Chapter X."Tertullian Refers Again to the Question of the Origin
of All These Ornaments and Embellishments. [233] It ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter x tertullian refers again to.htm

The Mind Clearer when Cleansed from Sin; the Ornaments of the Mind ...
... Chapter IV."The Mind Clearer When Cleansed from Sin; The Ornaments of the Mind and
the Order of Virtue; Charity Deep and Full; Chastity the Last Ornament of ...
/.../chapter iv the mind clearer when.htm

On Dress.
... Therefore every shilling that you needlessly spend on your apparel is in effect
stolen from the poor! For what end do you want these ornaments? To please God? ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/on dress.htm

The Doctrine Adorned
... The word in our minds usually expresses the idea of clothing or covering,
with the addition of decorations or ornaments. If you ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/v the doctrine adorned.htm

The Majestic Style of Speech Differs from the Temperate Style Just ...
... 42. The majestic style of speech differs from the temperate style just spoken of,
chiefly in that it is not so much decked out with verbal ornaments as exalted ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 42 the majestic style.htm

Christian Worship,
... A D.261-303) these churches were built much more handsomely than before, and were
furnished with gold and silver plate and other rich ornaments (page 32). ...
/.../chapter xviii christian worship.htm

Thesaurus

Ornaments (50 Occurrences)
... Tinkling ornaments. (Isaiah 3:18), anklets of silver or gold, etc., such as are
still used by women in Syria and the East. ...Ornaments (50 Occurrences). ...
/o/ornaments.htm - 22k

Neck-ornaments (2 Occurrences)
Neck-ornaments. Necklaces, Neck-ornaments. Necks . Multi-Version
Concordance Neck-ornaments (2 Occurrences). Exodus ...
/n/neck-ornaments.htm - 7k

Moon-ornaments (2 Occurrences)
Moon-ornaments. Moon, Moon-ornaments. Moons . Multi-Version
Concordance Moon-ornaments (2 Occurrences). Judges 8:26 ...
/m/moon-ornaments.htm - 7k

Chain-ornaments (1 Occurrence)
Chain-ornaments. Chaining, Chain-ornaments. Chains . Multi-Version
Concordance Chain-ornaments (1 Occurrence). Proverbs ...
/c/chain-ornaments.htm - 6k

Chain (21 Occurrences)
... CHAIN; CHAINS. chan, chanz: Chains were used by the Hebrews: (1) As ornaments:
'ets`adhah, neTiphah, `anaq, rabhidh, sharsherah, rattoq. ...
/c/chain.htm - 18k

Nosejewels
... They were among the most valued of ancient female ornaments. ... Such ornaments are
still worn in some parts of the East. See also AMULET; JEWEL. ...
/n/nosejewels.htm - 8k

Nose-jewels (1 Occurrence)
... They were among the most valued of ancient female ornaments. ... Such ornaments are
still worn in some parts of the East. See also AMULET; JEWEL. ...
/n/nose-jewels.htm - 9k

Jewelry (18 Occurrences)
... the LORD. (See NIV). Jeremiah 2:32 Is it possible for a virgin to put out
of her memory her ornaments, or a bride her robes? but my ...
/j/jewelry.htm - 11k

Finger-rings (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:22 They came, men and women, all who were ready to give, and gave pins
and nose-rings and finger-rings and neck-ornaments, all of gold; everyone gave ...
/f/finger-rings.htm - 7k

Tires (3 Occurrences)
... In Isaiah 3:18 the word saharonim is rendered "round tires like the moon," and in
Judges 8:21, 26 "ornaments," but in both cases "crescents" in the Revised ...
/t/tires.htm - 8k

Resources

What is Christmastide? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of root of Jesse in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Are there errors in the Qur'an (Koran)? | GotQuestions.org

Ornaments: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Ornaments (50 Occurrences)

1 Peter 3:3
Do not let your ornaments be those of the body such as dressing of the hair, or putting on of jewels of gold or fair clothing;
(BBE)

1 Peter 3:5
And these were the ornaments of the holy women of the past, whose hope was in God, being ruled by their husbands:
(BBE)

Revelation 17:4
And the woman was clothed in purple and bright red, with ornaments of gold and stones of great price and jewels; and in her hand was a gold cup full of evil things and her unclean desires;
(BBE DBY)

Revelation 18:16
Saying, Sorrow, sorrow for the great town, she who was clothed in delicate linen, and purple, and red; with ornaments of gold and stones of great price and jewels!
(BBE DBY)

Genesis 24:22
And when the camels had had enough, the man took a gold nose-ring, half a shekel in weight, and two ornaments for her arms of ten shekels weight of gold;
(BBE)

Genesis 24:30
And when he saw the nose-ring and the ornaments on his sister's hands, and when she gave him word of what the man had said to her, then he went out to the man who was waiting with the camels by the water-spring.
(BBE)

Genesis 24:47
And questioning her, I said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, and Milcah his wife. Then I put the ring on her nose and the ornaments on her hands.
(BBE)

Genesis 24:53
The servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.
(See RSV)

Exodus 3:22
For every woman will get from her neighbour and from the woman living in her house, ornaments of silver and gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and your daughters; you will take the best of their goods from the Egyptians.
(BBE)

Exodus 11:2
So go now and give orders to the people that every man and every woman is to get from his or her neighbour ornaments of silver and of gold.
(BBE)

Exodus 12:35
And the children of Israel had done as Moses had said; and they got from the Egyptians ornaments of silver and of gold, and clothing:
(BBE)

Exodus 33:4
And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 33:5
For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 33:6
And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.
(KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 35:22
They came, men and women, all who were ready to give, and gave pins and nose-rings and finger-rings and neck-ornaments, all of gold; everyone gave an offering of gold to the Lord.
(BBE NIV)

Numbers 15:39
So that, looking on these ornaments, you may keep in mind the orders of the Lord and do them; and not be guided by the desires of your hearts and eyes, through which you have been untrue to me:
(BBE)

Numbers 31:50
And we have here an offering for the Lord from what every man took in the war, ornaments of gold, leg-chains and arm-rings, finger-rings, ear-rings, and neck-ornaments, to make our souls free from sin before the Lord.
(BBE)

Numbers 31:51
So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, even all the worked ornaments.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 22:12
On the four edges of your robe, with which your body is covered, put ornaments of twisted threads.
(BBE)

Judges 8:21
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
(KJV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 8:26
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
(KJV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 1:24
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 7:18
And he made ornaments of apples; and two lines of apples all round over the network, covering the crowns of the pillars, the two crowns in the same way.
(BBE)

1 Kings 7:30
Every base had four wheels of brass, turning on brass rods, and their four angles had angle-plates under them; the angle-plates under the base were of metal, and there were ornaments at the side of every one.
(BBE)

2 Kings 9:30
And when Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel had news of it; and, painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 3:16
And he made chains, like neck ornaments, and put them on the tops of the pillars, and a hundred apples on the chains.
(BBE)

Job 40:10
Put on the ornaments of your pride; be clothed with glory and power:
(BBE)

Psalms 32:9
Be ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.
(YLT)

Proverbs 1:9
For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and chain-ornaments about your neck.
(BBE NAS)

Song of Songs 1:10
Your face is a delight with rings of hair, your neck with chains of jewels.
(See NAS RSV)

Song of Songs 1:11
We will make you chains of gold with ornaments of silver.
(BBE NAS RSV)

Song of Songs 7:1
As the chorus of 'Mahanaim.' How beautiful were thy feet with sandals, O daughter of Nadib. The turnings of thy sides 'are' as ornaments, Work of the hands of an artificer.
(YLT)

Isaiah 3:16
Moreover Yahweh said, "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
(WEB NIV)

Isaiah 3:18
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
(KJV BBE WBS YLT NAS)

Isaiah 3:20
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
(KJV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 3:24
And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.
(BBE)

Isaiah 49:18
Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 2:32
Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 4:30
You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck you with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain do you make yourself beautiful; your lovers despise you, they seek your life.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 7:20
As to the beauty of his ornament, For excellency He set it, And the images of their abominations, Their detestable things -- they made in it, Therefore I have given it to them for impurity,
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 16:7
I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.
(KJV WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 16:11
I decked you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:26
And they will take all your clothing off you and take away your ornaments.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 23:40
Furthermore you have sent for men who come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you did wash yourself, paint your eyes, and decorate yourself with ornaments,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 40:16
There were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate all around, and likewise to the arches; and windows were around inward; and on each post were palm trees.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 40:26
There were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them; and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, on its posts.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 40:31
The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 40:34
The arches of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 40:37
The posts of it were toward the outer court; and palm trees were on its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Ornaments

Related Terms

Araunah (14 Occurrences)

Threshingfloor (18 Occurrences)

Grain-floor (27 Occurrences)

Threshing-floor (36 Occurrences)

Jeb'usite (8 Occurrences)

Threshing (57 Occurrences)

Floor (69 Occurrences)

Jebusite (39 Occurrences)

Wheat (56 Occurrences)