Ear Ring
“Ring, ornament worn in the ear or nose”
Summary
An ornament worn in the ear, commonly used by Hebrew women and children, and sometimes by men, often associated with wealth and occasionally with idolatry.
☩Usage and Wearers
Earrings were commonly worn by Hebrew women, and by children of both sexes. The ornament appears frequently in Scripture: Abraham's servant gave Rebekah an earring of gold as part of his betrothal gifts; Job's friends each gave him an earring after his restoration. Asiatic males have worn earrings in both ancient and modern times, and Hebrew men likely observed this custom as well, though less commonly than women. The Hebrew word translated 'earring' is sometimes ambiguous and may refer to either an ear ornament or a nose ring, with context determining which is meant.
☩Religious Associations
Earrings sometimes carried religious or superstitious significance. When Aaron made the golden calf, he collected the golden earrings from the men, women, and children of Israel to provide the material. More tellingly, when Jacob commanded his household to put away foreign gods before going to Bethel, they surrendered both their idols and their earrings, which he buried together under the oak at Shechem. This association suggests that some earrings functioned as amulets or charms. Isaiah's reference in chapter 3 to ornaments 'of the ears' likely indicates amulets on which charms could be inscribed rather than simple decorative earrings.
References
- 1.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Earring," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 2.George Morrish, "Ear-ring," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).