Ezekiel 16 – Jewelry
Some use Ezekiel 16 to sanction the wearing of Jewelry. The passage says, “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” (Ezekiel 16:11-13).
The subject here is not Jewelry. The incident is 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).
And in the New Testament, Jewelry and extravagant dress for Christian women are also spoken against. “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” (1 Timothy 2:9, 10); “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” (1 Peter 3:3, 4). The Lord desires His daughters to be adorned with the fruits of the Spirit.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
