ORNAMENTS. The excavations in Pal. have revealed a variety of personal ornaments with which the people adorned themselves. In the times of the patriarchs the Bible mentions the use of rings, bracelets, and necklaces (Gen 24:22, 47; 41:42). When the Israelites left Egypt, they took jewels of gold and silver with them (Exod 12:35), some of which were used in making the golden calf (32:2-4) and others were used in preparing cult objects in the Meeting Tent (35:5, 9, 22, 27). Although various precious stones have been found in Palestinian tombs, most of them apparently were imported from surrounding countries, e.g., Egypt and S Arabia.

Rings. The nose-ring (נֶ֫זֶם, H5690) was worn by women in the OT (Gen 24:22, 30, 47; Isa 3:21; Ezek 16:12; Hos 2:13). This same Heb. word also refers to earrings worn by women (Gen 35:4; Exod 32:2) and men (Exod 32:2). These earrings also were worn by Ishmaelites (Judg 8:24) and were made of gold (Gen 24:22; Judg 8:24; Job 42:11).

Earrings (עֲגִילִ֖ים) are mentioned in Numbers 31:50; Ezekiel 16:12. “Pendants,” the dropletshaped ornaments mentioned in Judges 8:26 and Isaiah 3:19 may have been worn on the ears or on a necklace.

Signet-rings (טַבַּ֫עַת, H3192, from the root טבע, “to press, sink”) were mentioned in Genesis 41:42; Exodus 35:22; Numbers 31:50; and Esther 3:10, 12; 8:2, 8, 10. This term is included in the list of items worn by the luxurious daughters of Zion (Isa 3:21) where it may be a general designation for finger ring. Another term for signet is חֹתֶ֧מֶת (Gen 38:25) where it is kept on a string (cf. Exod 28:11 and Jer 22:24). Biblical Aram. uses the term עִזְקָה, H10536, (Dan 6:17) for signet ring.

Bracelets. Heb. צָמִיד֒, H7543, refers to an ornamental circlet worn on the lower arm (יָד, H3338). Some were made of gold (Gen 24:22, 30, 47; Num 31:50; Ezek 16:11; 23:42). The שֵּׁירֹ֖ות of Isaiah 3:19 can be equated with Akkad. shewēru “bracelet.”

Armlets. Hebrew זְרﯴעַ, H2432, (2 Sam 1:10) was worn on the אֶצְעָדָה׃֙ (“arm”). It was also listed in the booty of war (Num 31:50). In its simplest form it consisted of a thick strip of precious metal, bent into a circle, the ends of which were then pressed together. Hebrew כּוּמָז, H3921, was mentioned only in Exodus 35:22 and Numbers 31:50 and tr. by the KJV as “tablet,” but by the RSV as “armlet.”

Anklets. Heb. עֲכָסִ֛ים were ornamental circlets worn about the ankles. Some of these have been found in situ in Palestinian tombs and were made of heavy bronze. Anklets are mentioned in Isaiah 3:18. The word is used also as a verb in Isaiah 3:16 for the daughters of Zion who were described in their luxury as “tinkling with their feet.” This may be involved in the statement, “Ahijah heard the sound of her feet” (1 Kings 14:6).

Necklaces. Heb. עֲנָק֒, H6736, is mentioned in Judges 8:26 (here worn by camels) and Proverbs 1:9. In both cases the KJV trs. “chains.” This item hung on the bride’s neck (Song of Solomon 4:9); perhaps on it hung gold or silver discs, or crescents (4:4) for the bride’s neck was compared to a military tower on which hung a thousand bucklers and shields. The שַׂהֲרֹנִים, H8448, (Judg 8:21, 26, KJV “ornaments” and Isa 3:18, KJV “round tires like the moon”) prob. refer to crescents (RSV) worn on a necklace. The רָבִיד, H8054, was an ornament for the neck given by Pharaoh to Joseph, and the context indicates it was an emblem of authority (Gen 41:42). Jerusalem personified a young woman who was decked with ornaments (Ezek 16:11). The חֲרוּזִים, H3016, of Song of Solomon 1:10 appears only once and apparently referred to a string of beads or shells. Biblical Aram. הַמּﯴנְכָ (a Pers. loanword) was a neck ornament promised to the man who could interpret the handwriting on the wall (Dan 5:7, 16, 29).

General terms. Heb. חָח, H2626, signifies a hook or ring, usually for holding a man (2 Kings 19:28) or animal (Ezek 29:4) captive, but also used as an ornament (Exod 35:22, RSV “brooch”; KJV “bracelet”). The term כְּלִי, H3998, is a general designation for “jewelry” in such passages as Genesis 24:53; Exodus 3:22; 11:2; 12:35; Job 28:17; Ezekiel 23:26. Hebrew עֲדִי, H6344, (from the root עדה “to adorn”) is another general term for “ornaments” (Exod 33:4, 5, 6; 2 Sam 1:24; Isa 49:18; Jer 2:32; 4:30; Ezek 7:20; 23:40). Another general term is מִ֨גְדָּנֹ֔ת which the RSV trs. “costly ornaments” (Gen 24:53) and the KJV trs. “precious things.” In 2 Chronicles 21:3 the RSV renders it “valuable possessions”; while the RSV trs. the same word (32:23) as “precious things” and the KJV uses “presents.” In Ezra 1:6 this term is tr. “costly wares” by the RSV. Another general term, חֲלִי֒, H2717, is rendered “ornament” (KJV, RSV, Prov 25:12) and “jewels” (KJV, RSV, Song of Solomon 7:1).

The Bible speaks against the excessive use of ornaments (Isa 3:18; 1 Tim 2:9, 1 Pet 3:4). Where the favoring of the rich over the poor is condemned (James 2:1-4); the rich were characterized as wearing gold rings.