Bible Verses About Nose Rings

Believe it or not, there are bible verses about nose rings. And you might be surprised by what the bible has to say. I’ve used these verses to spark conversation in bible studies and Sunday School classes.

The bible verses about nose rings are contained in two passages of scripture. The first is in Genesis 24 where Abraham sends a servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The second passage is in Ezekiel 16 where God uses highly figurative language to describe how he chose Israel as his own possession.

Bible Verses About Nose Rings from Genesis 24

Genesis 24:21-22
Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. (NIV)

Editor’s Note: It is true that the word "nose ring" in this passage is very slightly questionable. However, the emphasis is on "very slightly." Most modern translations read, "nose ring."

Bible Verses About Nose Rings from Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:9-14
I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD. (NIV)

Objections to Verses About Nose Rings

I brought up these verses about nose rings in a Sunday School class recently just for a little fun. The class members were mostly retired, conservative men and women. I thought it might stimulate some conversation. One person, however, objected to the whole concept of piercing – ears, nose, whatever. His reason was based on Leviticus 19:28. His translation read something like, “You shall not make any piercings in your body for the dead…,” or, “You shall not pierce your body for the dead…” I don’t remember exactly which. Based on that, he concluded that no one should have any type of piercing. Further, any nose ring or earring that God (metaphorically) gave Israel in Ezekiel 16 must be clip-on.

However, the word his translation rendered as, “pierce,” is in fact from a Hebrew word that means, “slash,” or “cut.” The nations around Israel and in the Promised Land where God was sending them had a funeral rite that involved using stones or knives to cut their flesh until it bled. That is what God commanded them not to do. Leviticus 19:28 has nothing to do with jewelry. It is better to read it as in the NIV, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead…” The law is against cutting oneself as a means of showing grief or for funeral rites – see also Deuteronomy 14:1; Jeremiah 16:6, 48:37; and Mark 5:5.

Conclusion

What can we say concerning these bible verses about nose rings? I think that the most we can say is that when God communicates to people, he uses language they will understand. So when God told Israel the metaphorical story about how he made them beautiful, he described a beautiful woman as defined by their culture. He wasn’t saying that that is how a beautiful woman should look in every culture. What description do you think God would use if he were telling us the same thing today?

What else can we say concerning these bible verses about nose rings? God certainly isn’t opposed to them. He even (metaphorically) gave one to a "woman" to make her beautiful.

Scripture marked "(NIV)" is taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.