Crisping Pins
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Crisping pins are mentioned in the context of ancient Israelite culture and attire, specifically in the book of Isaiah. The term "crisping pins" appears in Isaiah 3:22 in the King James Version, but modern translations, including the Berean Standard Bible, render this term differently. The BSB translates it as "fine robes" or "festal robes," reflecting a broader understanding of the original Hebrew word.

Biblical Reference:
Isaiah 3:18-23 provides a detailed list of the fineries and adornments that the daughters of Zion wore, which God would take away as a judgment against their pride and vanity. The passage reads: "In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents, the pendants, bracelets, and veils, the headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses, and the mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls."

Cultural and Historical Context:
The term "crisping pins" in the King James Version is derived from the Hebrew word "מִטְפָּחוֹת" (mitpachot), which is often understood to refer to some form of luxurious clothing or accessory. The context of Isaiah 3 suggests that these items were part of the opulent attire worn by the women of Jerusalem, symbolizing their wealth and social status.

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, personal adornment was a significant aspect of daily life, especially among the affluent. Women of high social standing often wore elaborate garments and accessories to display their wealth and beauty. These items included not only clothing but also jewelry and other decorative objects.

Theological Significance:
The mention of crisping pins, or fine robes, in Isaiah 3 serves as a metaphor for the spiritual state of the people of Judah. The passage highlights the contrast between outward appearance and inward righteousness. The Lord's judgment upon these adornments signifies a call to humility and repentance, urging the people to turn away from vanity and pride.

The removal of these items is symbolic of God's purifying judgment, stripping away superficial beauty to reveal the true spiritual condition of the heart. This theme is consistent throughout Scripture, where God often calls His people to focus on inner holiness rather than external appearances.

Application for Today:
The reference to crisping pins, while rooted in an ancient context, carries a timeless message about the dangers of vanity and the importance of prioritizing spiritual over material wealth. Believers are reminded to seek beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit, as emphasized in 1 Peter 3:3-4 : "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight."

In contemporary application, Christians are encouraged to evaluate their own lives, ensuring that their focus remains on cultivating a heart that honors God, rather than being consumed by the pursuit of external beauty and status.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Crisping Pins

CRISPING PINS

kris'-ping: Pins for crisping, or curling, the hair. Thus the King James Version renders Hebrew chariTim (Isaiah 3:22; compare Vulgate). the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes more correctly "satchels" (so Qimchi (compare 2 Kings 5:23); compare Arabic). Others think of girdles; still others of veils or head-bands.

Library

Was it for this He Sent Souls, that they which Shortly Before had ...
... 3698] to deck their bodies, [3699] darken their eyes with henna; nor, though in
the forms of men, blush to curl their hair with crisping-pins, to make the skin ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/41 was it for this.htm

Face to Face with Shams
... sewed pillows to all armholes,' and abounded in wimples and crisping pins; to see
deaconesses at once bold and mincing, to see them forward, intriguing ...
/.../chapter xxiii face to face.htm

The Preacher as a Patriot.
... the tablets and the earrings, the rings and nose jewels, the changeable suits of
apparel and the mantles and the wimples and the crisping pins, the glasses and ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture iii the preacher as.htm

Treatise ii. On the Dress of virgins.
... away the glory of their apparel, and their ornaments, and their hair, and their
curls, and their round tires like the moon, and their crisping-pins, and their ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise ii on the dress.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... To my best remembrance he told us, that he began the trade of a thief by stealing
of pins and points;[15] and therefore did forewarn all the youth that then ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Resources
Crisping: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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