A necklace, in biblical times, was more than just an ornamental piece of jewelry; it often held significant cultural, social, and spiritual connotations. Throughout the Scriptures, necklaces are mentioned in various contexts, symbolizing beauty, status, and even wisdom.

Cultural and Social Significance

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, necklaces were commonly worn by both men and women as a sign of wealth and status. They were often made from precious metals and stones, indicating the wearer's social standing. In Genesis 41:42, Pharaoh adorns Joseph with a gold chain around his neck as a symbol of authority and honor: "Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck."

Symbol of Beauty and Adornment

Necklaces are frequently associated with beauty and adornment in the Bible. In the Song of Solomon, the beloved is described in terms of her beauty enhanced by jewelry: "Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels" (Song of Solomon 1:10). This imagery highlights the aesthetic value of necklaces as part of the attire that enhances one's appearance.

Spiritual and Moral Symbolism

Beyond physical beauty, necklaces also carry spiritual and moral symbolism. In Proverbs, wisdom and instruction are likened to a graceful ornament: "My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck" (Proverbs 6:20-21). Here, the necklace serves as a metaphor for the importance of internalizing and valuing wisdom and guidance.

Necklaces in Prophetic and Poetic Imagery

The prophets and poets of the Bible also use the imagery of necklaces to convey messages of restoration and divine favor. In Isaiah 3:18-21, the Lord warns of the removal of finery, including necklaces, as a judgment against the pride of the daughters of Zion. Conversely, in Ezekiel 16:11, God describes adorning Jerusalem with jewelry, including a necklace, as a sign of His covenant love and blessing: "I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck."

Moral Warnings

While necklaces are often depicted positively, the Bible also warns against the misuse of adornment. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, women are encouraged to dress modestly and focus on good deeds rather than outward adornment: "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God."

In summary, necklaces in the Bible are multifaceted symbols representing beauty, status, wisdom, and spiritual truths. They serve as reminders of the values and priorities that should adorn the lives of believers.1. (n.) A string of beads, etc., or any continuous band or chain, worn around the neck as an ornament.

2. (n.) A rope or chain fitted around the masthead to hold hanging blocks for jibs and stays.

NECKLACE

nek'-las (rabhidh, "chain"): A neck-chain ornament, worn either separately (Ezekiel 16:11), or with pendants (Isaiah 3:19), such as crescents (Isaiah 3:18) or rings (Genesis 38:25); sometimes made of gold (Genesis 41:42 Daniel 5:29), or of strings of jewels (Songs 1:10). Even beasts of burden were sometimes so adorned by royalty (Judges 8:26). It was considered suggestive of pride (Psalm 73:6) or of filial loyalty (Proverbs 1:9). The word does not occur in the King James Version, but such adornments have always been popular in all the Bible lands.

2002. hamnika -- a chain, necklace
... 2001b, 2002. hamnika. 2003 . a chain, necklace. Transliteration: hamnika
Phonetic Spelling: (ham-neek') Short Definition: necklace. ...
/hebrew/2002.htm - 6k

6059. anaq -- to serve as a necklace
... 6058, 6059. anaq. 6060 . to serve as a necklace. Transliteration: anaq
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nak') Short Definition: liberally. ...
/hebrew/6059.htm - 6k

6701b. tsavvaron -- necklace
... necklace. Transliteration: tsavvaron Short Definition: necklace. Word Origin from
the same as tsavvar Definition necklace NASB Word Usage necklace (1). ...
/hebrew/6701b.htm - 5k

6060. anaq -- a necklace, neck pendant
... a necklace, neck pendant. Transliteration: anaq Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nawk') Short
Definition: bands. ... chain. From anaq; a necklace (as if strangling) -- chain. ...
/hebrew/6060.htm - 6k

7242. rabid -- a chain (ornament for the neck)
... 7241, 7242. rabid. 7243 . a chain (ornament for the neck). Transliteration:
rabid Phonetic Spelling: (raw-beed') Short Definition: necklace. ...
/hebrew/7242.htm - 6k

The Larger Part of Womankind, However, have had to Fight for ...
... A duchess may ruin a duke for a diamond necklace; but there is the necklace. A coster
may ruin his wife for a pot of beer; and where is the beer? ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 19 the larger part.htm

Pagan Shrines and Temples.
... for the statue of the goddess] studded with gems; a sistrum of gilded silver; a
gilt cup; a patera ornamented with ears of corn; a necklace studded with beryls ...
/.../lanciani/pagan and christian rome/chapter ii pagan shrines and.htm

The Debt of Israel
... She thrust her fingers under the band and essayed to wrench off the offending necklace,
but the stout fastening held and the flexible braid printed its woof on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter x the debt of.htm

Tales by the Way
... She wore the superb necklace of pearls which she took, perhaps wrongly, from
the neck of the statue of Rhea, the mother of the gods.'. ...
/.../chapter xvi tales by the.htm

Against Excessive Fondness for Jewels and Gold Ornaments.
... prisoners. For is not the golden necklace a collar, and do not the necklets
which they call catheters [1559] occupy the place of chains? ...
/.../the instructor paedagogus/chapter xiiiagainst excessive fondness for.htm

Grace Abounding
... and tis well and good; but the position of the Princess is such that we do not view
it as any great liberality to subscribe to a diamond necklace, since those ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/grace abounding.htm

A Persuasive to Steadfastness
... in one. You have all the flowers in one posy, all the gems in one necklace,
all the sweet spices in one delicious compound. "We ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/a persuasive to steadfastness.htm

Temptation
... and play with it, then you might be tempted, as many a poor child has been ere now,
to admire it, fondle it, wreathe it round the neck for a necklace, or round ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon vii temptation.htm

Pilate and his Wife.
... her shoulders. She wore earrings, a necklace, and her flowing dress was drawn
together and held up by a species of clasp. She conversed ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xix pilate and his.htm

In the Desert
... golden rings. With a murmur of satisfaction, the young man reclaimed the
necklace and thrust it into the bosom of his dress. When ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xix in the desert.htm

Necklace (9 Occurrences)
... and stays. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NECKLACE. nek'-las ... Bible lands.
Multi-Version Concordance Necklace (9 Occurrences). Genesis 41 ...
/n/necklace.htm - 10k

Writing (194 Occurrences)
... The nature of this step may perhaps be seen in the account of the
leopard-tooth necklace of an African chief described by Frobenius. ...
/w/writing.htm - 70k

Necklaces (2 Occurrences)

/n/necklaces.htm - 7k

Neck-irons (1 Occurrence)
Neck-irons. Necked, Neck-irons. Necklace . Multi-Version Concordance Neck-irons
(1 Occurrence). ... (See NIV). Necked, Neck-irons. Necklace . Reference Bible
/n/neck-irons.htm - 6k

Seal-ring (3 Occurrences)
... they come in -- the men with the women -- every willing-hearted one -- they have
brought in nose-ring, and ear-ring, and seal-ring, and necklace, all golden ...
/s/seal-ring.htm - 7k

Studs (1 Occurrence)
... affix to the new golden "plaits" (the Revised Version) or "borders" (the King James
Version), and which were to replace the strung beads of the bride's necklace...
/s/studs.htm - 7k

Elamarna
... A necklace of solid gold and gems, a bracelet of iron gilt, an anklet of solid gold,
and other gold objects follow; and apparently cloths, and silver objects ...
/e/elamarna.htm - 31k

Tablets (31 Occurrences)
... A necklace of solid gold and gems, a bracelet of iron gilt, an anklet of solid gold,
and other gold objects follow; and apparently cloths, and silver objects ...
/t/tablets.htm - 41k

El-amarna
... A necklace of solid gold and gems, a bracelet of iron gilt, an anklet of solid gold,
and other gold objects follow; and apparently cloths, and silver objects ...
/e/el-amarna.htm - 31k

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