In the biblical context, jewels are often mentioned as symbols of beauty, wealth, and divine favor. They are used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the cultural and spiritual significance of precious stones and ornaments in ancient times.

Old Testament References

Jewels are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in relation to the adornment of individuals or sacred objects. In Genesis 24:22, Abraham's servant gives Rebekah a gold nose ring and bracelets as a sign of her selection as Isaac's bride, indicating wealth and honor. Similarly, in Exodus 28:17-20, the high priest's breastplate is described as being adorned with twelve precious stones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel. This use of jewels signifies the beauty and sanctity of the priestly garments.

The book of Proverbs also uses jewels metaphorically to convey wisdom and virtue. Proverbs 3:15 states, "She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her," highlighting the incomparable value of wisdom. Similarly, Proverbs 31:10 describes a virtuous woman as being "worth far more than rubies," emphasizing her worth and the esteem in which she is held.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, jewels are less frequently mentioned but still hold symbolic significance. In Revelation 21:18-21, the New Jerusalem is described with foundations adorned with every kind of precious stone, and its gates are made of pearls. This imagery conveys the glory and splendor of the heavenly city, reflecting the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Jewels in the Bible often symbolize spiritual truths and divine attributes. They represent the beauty and value of God's creation, the richness of His blessings, and the honor bestowed upon His people. In Isaiah 61:10, the prophet declares, "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my soul will exult in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Here, jewels symbolize the joy and righteousness bestowed upon the faithful by God.

Furthermore, jewels are used to illustrate the transformation and refinement of believers. Malachi 3:17 states, "They will be Mine," says the LORD of Hosts, "on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." The term "treasured possession" can be understood as God's people being likened to precious jewels, refined and cherished by Him.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, jewels were not only symbols of wealth and status but also served as amulets and talismans believed to offer protection and convey divine favor. The biblical use of jewels reflects these cultural practices while also elevating their significance to convey spiritual truths.

Overall, jewels in the Bible serve as powerful symbols of beauty, value, and divine favor, illustrating the richness of God's blessings and the honor of being His chosen people.Jewel

[STONES, PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS]

1. (n.) An ornament of dress usually made of a precious metal, and having enamel or precious stones as a part of its design.

2. (n.) A precious stone; a gem.

3. (n.) An object regarded with special affection; a precious thing.

4. (n.) A bearing for a pivot a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone, as a ruby.

5. (v. t.) To dress, adorn, deck, or supply with jewels, as a dress, a sword hilt, or a watch; to bespangle, as with jewels.

JEWEL

ju'-el, joo'-el: An ornament of gold, silver or of precious stones in the form of armlet, bracelet, anklet, nose-ring, etc. Oriental dress yields itself freely to such adornment, to which there are many allusions in Scripture. a frequent term in Hebrew is keli ("utensil," "vessel"), coupled with mention of "gold" or "silver" or both (Genesis 24:53 Exodus 3:22; Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35; Exodus 35:22 1 Samuel 6:8, 15, etc.; the Revised Version (British and American) in 2 Chronicles 32:27 translations "vessels"). In Songs 1:10, where the King James Version has "rows (of jewels)," the Revised Version (British and American) has "plaits (of hair)"; in Songs 7:1, the word is from a root chalah, meaning "to adorn." In 3 instances in the King James Version "jewel" represents the Hebrew nezem (Proverbs 11:22 Isaiah 3:21 Ezekiel 16:12); the American Standard Revised Version changes Proverbs 11:22 to "ring" Septuagint here = "earring"), and both the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version have "ring" in Ezekiel 16:12. The familiar phrase in Malachi 3:17, "in that day when I make up my jewels," becomes in the English Revised Version, "in the day that I do make, even a peculiar treasure" (margin "or, wherein I do make a peculiar treasure"), and in the American Standard Revised Version, "even mine own possession, in the day that I make" (margin "or, do this").

See , further, ORNAMENT; DRESS; STONES, PRECIOUS.

James Orr

2484. chelyah -- jewelry
... Word Origin from the same as chali Definition jewelry NASB Word Usage jewelry (1).
jewel. Feminine of chaliy; a trinket -- jewel. see HEBREW chaliy. ...
/hebrew/2484.htm - 6k

5141. nezem -- a ring (worn as an ornament)
... earring, jewel. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a nose-ring -- earring,
jewel. 5140, 5141. nezem. 5142 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5141.htm - 6k

5459. segullah -- possession, property
... jewel, peculiar treasure, proper good, special. Feminine passive participle
of an unused root meaning to shut up; wealth (as closely ...
/hebrew/5459.htm - 6k

2481. chali -- an ornament
... jewel, ornament. From chalah; a trinket (as polished) -- jewel, ornament. see
HEBREW chalah. 2480, 2481. chali. 2482 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2481.htm - 6k

1925. heder -- an ornament, adornment, splendor
... 1924, 1925. heder. 1926 . an ornament, adornment, splendor. Transliteration:
heder Phonetic Spelling: (heh'-der) Short Definition: Jewel. ...
/hebrew/1925.htm - 6k

3627. keli -- an article, utensil, vessel
... yokes (1). armour bearer, artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel,. From kalah; something prepared, ie Any ...
/hebrew/3627.htm - 6k

3558. kumaz -- (a golden ornament) perhaps a bracelet
... tablet. From an unused root meaning to store away; a jewel (probably gold beads) --
tablet. 3557, 3558. kumaz. 3559 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3558.htm - 6k

What the Soul Ought to do in Internal Recollection.
... If a Jewel given to a friend were once put into his hands, it is not necessary to
repeat such a donation already made, by daily telling him, (Sir, I give you ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xiii what the soul.htm

"That which was from the Beginning, which we have Heard, which we ...
... He had found a jewel, and he hides it not, but proclaims it, that all men may have
fellowship with him, and that is, with God, and that cannot but bring in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i that which was.htm

Elucidations.
... The famous appeal of Bishop Jewel, known as "the Challenge at Paul's Cross," which
he made in a sermon preached there on Passion Sunday, ad1560, is an instance ...
/.../tertullian/the prescription against heretics/elucidations.htm

This ChapterSpeaks of the Manner in which God Communicates with ...
... 1. The jewel in the locket.2. The simile explained.3. The apparition explained.4.
Awe produced by this vision.5. False and genuine visions.6. Illusive visions.7 ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ix this chapter speaks.htm

Faith
... (4.) A true justifying faith, which is called A faith of the operation of God,'
and is a jewel hung only upon the elect. Colossians 2:22. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 faith.htm

The Gift
... Love maketh thy steps to fly.". Lord, to Thee my jewel I bring,. Greater than mountains
high; ... My Spirit's diadem to wear,. How is thy jewel named?". ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/the gift.htm

Worth of Beauty. September 23.
... old Hebrew Scriptures told them, that physical beauty is the deepest of all spiritual
symbols; and that though beauty without discretion be the jewel of gold ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /worth of beauty september 23.htm

The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
... There is a rich jewel in them, a precious pearl in that field, even Jesus Christ
and in him eternal life; and therefore we ought to search the scriptures for ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iv the scriptures reveal.htm

The Doctrinal Position of the Anglican Church and Her Relation to ...
... Bishop Jewel, the final reviser of the Thirty-nine Articles, wrote to Peter Martyr
at Zurich (Feb.7, 1562): 'As to matters of doctrine, we have pared every ...
/.../ 77 the doctrinal position.htm

A New Year's Benediction
... 1. Now the first sparkling jewel in this ring is perfection. The apostle
prays that God would make us perfect. Indeed, though this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a new years benediction.htm

Jewel (12 Occurrences)
...JEWEL. ju'-el, joo'-el: An ornament of gold, silver or of precious stones in the
form of armlet, bracelet, anklet, nose-ring, etc. ...Jewel (12 Occurrences). ...
/j/jewel.htm - 12k

Nosejewels
... noz-ju'-elz, -joo'-elz (nezem (probably from nazam, "muzzle") a "nose-ring," or
"nose-jewel," so rendered in Isaiah 3:21; "jewel in a swine's snout," Proverbs ...
/n/nosejewels.htm - 8k

Nose-jewels (1 Occurrence)
... noz-ju'-elz, -joo'-elz (nezem (probably from nazam, "muzzle") a "nose-ring," or
"nose-jewel," so rendered in Isaiah 3:21; "jewel in a swine's snout," Proverbs ...
/n/nose-jewels.htm - 9k

Phylactery
... It may be rendered then as a mark or ornament or jewel, and used figuratively of
Yahweh's Law as an ornament or jewel to the forehead of the Israelite, a ...
/p/phylactery.htm - 13k

Jewels (54 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:21 The jewels are to be twelve in number, for the names of the children
of Israel; every jewel having the name of one of the twelve tribes cut on it ...
/j/jewels.htm - 23k

Forehead (23 Occurrences)
... The "jewel on thy forehead" mentioned in Ezek. 16:12 (RV, "a ring upon thy nose")
was in all probability the "nose-ring" (Isaiah 3:21). In Ezek. ...
/f/forehead.htm - 19k

Quest (2 Occurrences)
... Quest (2 Occurrences). Matthew 13:45 "Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like
a jewel merchant who is in quest of choice pearls. (WEY). ...
/q/quest.htm - 7k

Jeweler (1 Occurrence)

/j/jeweler.htm - 6k

Gem (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A precious stone of any kind, as the ruby, emerald, topaz, sapphire, beryl,
spinel, etc., especially when cut and polished for ornament; a jewel. ...
/g/gem.htm - 7k

Rare (8 Occurrences)
... frequent. (DBY NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 20:15 There is gold and abundance of rubies;
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel. (WEB NIV). ...
/r/rare.htm - 9k

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