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Bible study discussion thread: a biblical look at nose rings and lip rings for male and female worshipers of the Almighty and disciples of the Messiah who have them or are thinking about having them
First, there is a difference between a finger ring, an earring, and a nose ring in regards to jewelry mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. A finger ring is a tabbaath, a ring for the face being an earring or nose ring is nezem, and specifically a nose ring also includes a אף on it
Take note that some bibles have translated the word Nose Ring as Earring or simply a ring, especially in parts of Genesis 24, however the original Hebrew says nose ring. This is why using a Hebrew to English interlinear bible is useful to see the exact wording
Second, the first mention of a nose ring is Genesis 24 when Abraham is looking for a a wife for Isaac, you can review your personal copies of the chapter in full, however some passages that mention a nose ring being given as a gift from a man to a woman is included in this tweet
From what is seen in Genesis 24, the nose ring was given as a symbolic gift to a bride to be, a betrothal gift, like an engagement ring of sorts
Third, records show that men only had nose rings as a form of punishment when they were enslaved by pagan cultures as shown in 2 Chronicles 33:11, the ‘hook’ in the nose is a rope connected through the nose ring to pull the prisoner by
Further, as for males, we see in Isaiah 37:29 that both nose rings and lip rings were a form of punishment bestowed upon them by pagan cultures, to be used to connect a leash of sorts to when prisoners were being moved
Fourth, returning to discussing nose rings for betrothed women, Ezekiel 16 compares the tribes of Israel as a woman who the Almighty has taken as his bride, giving her fine clothes and jewels, a ring in the nose in 16:12
We also see in Isaiah 3 that the Almighty again describes the nation of Israel as a female bride of His, but since she was unfaithful He states He will remove her finery, including the nose ring in verse 3:21
For reference, the Jewish Encyclopedia states that records show nose rings were still worn by women during what would be considered the time of the Messiah and afterwards during the Early Church period, this is the full entry for Nose Ring
Fifth, we have the Proverb 11:22 noting a woman who is being provocative or overly displaying her body is no better than a female pig metaphorically, especially since a pig digs through garbage and dirt with its nose regardless of the gold nose ring
So basically we can surmise the following through biblical references: men were forced to wear nose rings a punishment, women were given nose rings as a sign of affection and betrothal gifts, and a lip ring was another sign of punishment and enslavement by a pagan culture
