Earring
1:
Earrings — rings properly for the ear (Gen. 35:4; Num. 31:50; Ezek. 16:12). In Gen. 24:47 the word means a nose-jewel, and is so rendered in the Revised Version. In Isa. 3:20 the Authorized Version has “ear-rings,” and the Revised Version “amulets,” which more correctly represents the original word (lehashim), which means incantations; charms, thus remedies against enchantment, worn either suspended from the neck or in the ears of females. Ear-rings were ornaments used by both sexes (Ex. 32:2).
Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
2:
EARRING.
Egyptian. The earrings usually worn by Egyptian women were large, round, single hoops of gold, from 1½ to 2 1/3 inches in diameter, and frequently of a still greater size or made of six rings soldered together. Sometimes a snake, whose body was of gold set with precious stones, was worn by persons of rank as a fashionable caprice, but it is probable that this emblem of majesty was usually confined to members of the royal family. Earrings of other forms have been found at Thebes, but their date is uncertain, and it is difficult to say if they are of an ancient Egyptian age or of Greek introduction. Of these the most remarkable were a dragon and another elegant, fancy shape. A few were of silver, and plain hoops, like those made of gold already noted, but less massive, being of the thickness of an ordinary ring. At one end was a small opening, into which the curved extremity of the other caught after it had been passed through the ear. Others were in the form of simple studs. The ancient Assyrians, both men and women, wore earrings of exquisite shape and finish; those on the later monuments are generally in the form of a cross.
Hebrew. Rings and amulets were worn.
Ring (Heb. nezem). Used both as a nosering and an earring, and differing little if any in form. It certainly means an earring in Gen. 35:4 but a nose jewel in 24:47; Prov. 11:22; Isa. 3:21; its meaning is doubtful in Judg. 8:24–25 (though the NIV has “earring”); Job 41:22.
Amulet (Heb. laḥash, “whispering”). This word, rendered in the KJV “earrings” (Isa. 3:20), is “amulets” in the NASB and “charms” in the NIV. These latter more correctly represent the Heb. word (meaning “incantations”). Amulets were gems or metal charms with an inscription upon them, worn for protection as well as ornament. On this account they were surrendered along with the idols by Jacob’s household (Gen. 35:4). Chardin describes earrings, with talismanic figures and characters on them, as still existing in the East. Jewels were sometimes attached to the rings. The size of the earrings still worn in Eastern countries far exceeds what is usual in the West; hence they formed a handsome present (Job 42:11) or offering to the service of God (Num. 31:50). Earrings were worn by both sexes (Ex. 32:2). See also Dress.
Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. (1988). The new Unger's Bible dictionary. Revision of: Unger's Bible dictionary. 3rd ed. c1966. (Rev. and updated ed.). Chicago: Moody Press.
3:
earrings, jewelry worn at the ear. Earrings were listed together with brooches, signet rings, and armlets (bracelets) as gifts brought to the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exod. 35:22). They were offered with beads and other items as atonement for defiling the dead (Num. 31:50), and Ishmaelite men gave them as material from which Gideon made an ephod (Judg. 8:24-26). They were viewed by Ezekiel as part of the garb of the exquisitely clothed woman (Ezek. 16:12) and reflected God’s treatment of Jerusalem.
In archaeological evidence, earrings are most commonly found in burials, and the forms of single and multiple pendant designs frequently incorporated the lunar motif as a most popular expression. Materials used included silver and gold, as with rings and bracelets. Filigreed gold is sometimes extremely fine work in these examples, and the numerous burials with single earrings reflect the practice of Roman times. R.S.B.
Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (232). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
4:
Earring
Men, women, and children of the ancient Near East adorned their ears and noses with jewelry. Ezek. 16:12 distinguishes Heb. ˓āg̱ɩ̂lɩ̂m, ear ornaments, from nezem, a nose ring (Gen. 24:22, 30, 47; Isa. 3:21; Prov. 11:22), but nezem can also refer to earrings (Gen. 35:4; Exod. 32:2–3; Prov. 25:12). In other passages the distinction is not clear, and nezem may have simply referred to any small ring-shaped item of jewelry.
Rings are associated with the manufacture of an idol or cult object (Exod. 32:2–3; Judg. 8:27; Gen. 35:4), and they are among the pieces of jewelry offered for use in God’s tent of meeting (Exod. 35:22). A ring’s material, when mentioned, is always gold (Gen. 24:22, 30, 47; Exod. 32:2–3; 35:22; Judg. 8:24; Job 42:11). Gold or silver rings are infrequent among Palestinian archaeological finds, but iron, copper, and brass rings are common. Gold rings are often lunate (crescent shaped) with a point at one end for insertion into the earlobe or nose. Other rings are penannular, i.e., circular with a break and two overlapping points. Some earrings were quite heavy (Gen. 24:22; Judg. 8:24–26; cf. ANEP, 72). Rings sometimes had additional decorations, especially clusters of balls (“mulberry” earrings) and pendants shaped like pomegranate buds. Jewelry smiths cast these rings in engraved stone molds. See ANEP for pictures of various rings.
Joseph E. Jensen
Freedman, D. N., Myers, A. C., & Beck, A. B. (2000). Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (361). Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans.
