Jewels

Concise Bible Dictionary:

“476. Jewels - Necklaces” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

1. Eastern women sometimes have a cord of gold around their head at the forehead, on which are strung precious stones of various sorts, which hang down over the cheeks of the fair wearers. Thus their “cheeks are comely with rows of jewels.”
2. Neck chains were made of gold or other metal, or else consisted of strings of pearls, corals, and precious stones. They were sometimes made of gold-pieces shaped like a half-moon. Such are referred to in Isaiah 3:1818In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, (Isaiah 3:18): “round tires like the moon.” See also note on Judges 8 :21 (#231). These necklaces hung low down upon the breast, and were worn both by men and women. See Proverbs 1:9; 3:39For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. (Proverbs 1:9)
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (Proverbs 3:3). This was the custom among the Egyptians as well as the Hebrews; Joseph had a gold chain put around his neck by Pharaoh (Gen. 41:4242And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; (Genesis 41:42)). The Medes, Persians, Babylonians, and other ancient nations, followed the same custom. See Daniel 5:7,16,297The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:7)
16And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:16)
29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:29). Neck chains are also referred to in Song of Solomon 4:99Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. (Song of Solomon 4:9); Ezekiel 16:1111I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. (Ezekiel 16:11).

“485. Jewelry and Vials” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

1. Netiphoth, “chains,” were properly pendents, or ear-drops. See note on Genesis 35:44And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. (Genesis 35:4) (#66).
2. Sheroth, “bracelets,” were probably bracelets made of gold wire, and wreathed or woven.
3. Realoth, “mufflers,” were thin nails. The Hebrew name was given to them because of their tremulous or fluttering motion.

Related Books and Articles:

485. Jewelry and Vials
Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min
476. Jewels - Necklaces
Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 1min