Doesn’t Ezekiel 16 endorse the wearing of Jewelry?

Ezekiel 16 is a vivid and symbolically rich chapter in the Bible, using allegorical language to describe God’s relationship with Jerusalem. The primary purpose of Ezekiel 16 is not to provide a directive on personal adornment but to convey God’s redemptive love and the subsequent betrayal by His people.

Understanding Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16 presents an allegory where Jerusalem is depicted as an abandoned child whom God finds, cares for, and adorns with beauty, only for her to turn away and engage in idolatry and immorality. This passage is rich in symbolic language and metaphor, focusing on the themes of God’s grace, Israel’s unfaithfulness, and the consequences of that unfaithfulness.

The Allegory of Jerusalem

• Ezekiel 16:1-3 (NKJV): “Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, “Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: ‘Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.'””

These verses set the stage for the allegory, describing Jerusalem’s origins as humble and neglected, symbolizing the city’s spiritual state before God intervened.

God’s Grace and Adornment

• Ezekiel 16:8-14 (NKJV): “‘When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,’ says the Lord God. ‘Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,’ says the Lord God.”

In these verses, God describes how He rescued Jerusalem, nurtured her, and adorned her with beautiful clothing and jewelry. This adornment symbolizes the blessings, favor, and status that God bestowed upon Israel.

Betrayal and Unfaithfulness

• Ezekiel 16:15-19 (NKJV): “‘But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor be. You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them. You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set My oil and My incense before them. Also My food which I gave you-the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey which I fed you-you set it before them as sweet incense; and so it was,’ says the Lord God.”

Here, the allegory shifts to depict Jerusalem’s betrayal. The city, symbolizing Israel, misused the gifts and adornments given by God, engaging in idolatry and turning away from Him. The jewelry and fine clothes, initially symbols of God’s grace, become symbols of Israel’s infidelity.

Symbolism and Figurative Language

Ezekiel 16 uses rich symbolic language to convey spiritual truths. The jewelry and adornments mentioned are not endorsements of their use but serve as metaphors for the spiritual blessings and status that God bestowed upon His people.

Metaphorical Use of Jewelry

The primary purpose of the jewelry in this passage is to symbolize God’s lavish grace and the honor He bestowed upon Israel. The metaphor highlights the transformation from a neglected state to one of beauty and splendor, illustrating God’s redemptive power.

• Ezekiel 16:11-12 (NKJV): “I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.”

These adornments are symbols of God’s blessings rather than literal endorsements for the practice of wearing jewelry.

The Consequence of Misuse

The misuse of these adornments symbolizes Israel’s spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness. The passage serves as a warning against taking God’s blessings for granted and misusing them for idolatrous purposes.

• Ezekiel 16:17-19 (NKJV): “You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them.”

This emphasizes that the issue is not the jewelry itself but the heart’s attitude and the actions it leads to.

Broader Biblical Perspective on Jewelry

Ezekiel 16 uses figurative language symbolizing God redeeming His children from slavery and lavishing on them the many benefits of salvation. When the Egyptians gave the Israelites, who were leaving Egypt, jewelry (Exodus 11:2,3), the Israelites gladly gave it to build the beautiful Sanctuary in the wilderness as a cheerful gift to what the Lord has done for them (Exodus 25:1-8).

In the Old Testament, the Bible talks about the Israelites even taking off their jewelry before appearing before the Lord. “And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Say to the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.’ So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb” (Exodus 33:4-6).

In the New Testament, jewelry and extravagant dress for Christian women are also spoken against.

• 1 Timothy 2:9-10 (NKJV): “In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”
• 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV): “Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

These passages caution against placing too much emphasis on outward appearance and instead encourage focusing on inner virtues. The Lord desires His daughters to be adorned with the fruits of the Spirit. Ezekiel 16 does not endorse the wearing of jewelry as a primary teaching but uses jewelry symbolically to illustrate God’s grace and Israel’s unfaithfulness. The chapter employs vivid, figurative language to convey spiritual truths about God’s redemptive actions and the subsequent misuse of His blessings by Israel. The Bible encourages believers to prioritize inner beauty, godliness, and modesty over outward adornment. They should seek to honor God in their choices, ensuring that their adornment reflects the values of modesty, propriety, and inner beauty as highlighted in the Scriptures.