Aids to Beautification - Biblical Blueprints

4 • Aids to Beautificationsardius (probably a form of carnelian - Ex. 28:17; 39:10;Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 21:20),sardonyx (Rev. 21:20),topaz (Ezek. 28:17; 39:10; Job 28:19; Ezek. 28:13; Rev.21:20). 1Functional and AestheticMost of those stones had no functional value beyond theirbeauty and rarity. Jewelry was worn in the Bible as bracelets(Gen. 24:22,30,47; Ezek. 16:11), ornaments for the ankles (Isa.3:18,20), necklaces (Gen. 41:42; Prov. 1:9; Song 1:10; Luke15:8 - a garland of coins worn by a married woman), ear rings(Gen. 24:22), nose rings (Gen. 24:22; Isa. 3:21), rings for thefinger (Gen. 41:42; Esth. 3:10; Luke 15:22), head dressing (Prov.1:9; 4:9) signet ring (Isa. 3:21), crisping pins (Isa. 3:22), andbrooches (Ex. 35:22). It was expected that people would useornamentation (Isa. 61:10). Only the immoderate or sinful use ofsuch ornamentation was condemned.Hurley explains 1Tim. 2:9:He [Paul] refers instead to the elaborate hair-styles whichwere then fashionable among the wealthy and also to thestyles worn by courtesans. The sculpture and literature ofthe period make it clear that women often wore their hair inenormously elaborate arrangements with braids and curlsinterwoven or piled high like towers and decorated withgems and/or gold and/or pearls. The courtesans wore theirhair in numerous small pendant braids with gold droplets orpearls or gems every inch or so, making a shimmering screenof their locks. Pliny complains of the vast sums spent onornamentation and various satirists comment on the hoursspent in dressing the hair of women. When Paul wrote'braided hair and gold or pearls' he probably meant 'braidedhair decorated with gold or with pearls'.1 J. D. Douglas (ed.), The New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1978).