In the context of the Bible, "ornamental" refers to objects or adornments used for decoration, beauty, or embellishment. These items often hold cultural, religious, or symbolic significance. The use of ornamental items is evident throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both the aesthetic values and spiritual meanings attributed to them by the people of biblical times.

Old Testament References

Ornamental items are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in relation to the Tabernacle, the Temple, and personal adornment. In Exodus 28, God commands Moses to make holy garments for Aaron, the high priest, "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2). These garments included ornamental elements such as gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns, and fine linen, as well as precious stones set in gold filigree (Exodus 28:6-21).

The construction of the Tabernacle also involved the use of ornamental craftsmanship. Skilled artisans were appointed to create intricate designs, including cherubim woven into the curtains (Exodus 26:1) and the golden lampstand with its ornamental cups shaped like almond blossoms (Exodus 25:31-36).

In the context of personal adornment, the Song of Solomon provides vivid imagery of ornamental beauty, often used metaphorically to describe the beloved. For example, "Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels" (Song of Solomon 1:10).

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the use of ornamental items is addressed in the context of modesty and inner beauty. The Apostle Peter advises women, "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" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Similarly, the Apostle Paul instructs women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes (1 Timothy 2:9).

These passages emphasize the importance of inner spiritual beauty over external adornment, reflecting a broader biblical principle that values the heart's condition over outward appearances.

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

Ornamental items in the Bible often carry symbolic meanings. Gold, for instance, is frequently associated with divinity and purity, as seen in the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple. Precious stones are used to symbolize the tribes of Israel on the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:17-21).

In prophetic literature, ornamental imagery is used to convey spiritual truths. For example, in Isaiah 61:10, the prophet rejoices in the Lord, saying, "For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" . Here, the ornamental language underscores the beauty and joy of salvation and righteousness.

Cultural Context

The use of ornamental items in biblical times reflects the cultural practices of the ancient Near East. Jewelry, fine clothing, and decorative objects were not only symbols of wealth and status but also played roles in religious and social rituals. The Bible's references to ornaments often highlight the tension between cultural practices and spiritual values, urging believers to prioritize their relationship with God over material possessions.

Overall, the concept of "ornamental" in the Bible serves as a reminder of the balance between appreciating God's creation and maintaining a focus on spiritual integrity and inner beauty.(a.) Serving to ornament; characterized by ornament; beautifying; embellishing.2864. kome -- hair
... Apparently from the same as komizo; the hair of the head (locks, as ornamental,
and thus differing from thrix; which properly denotes merely the scalp) -- hair ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2864.htm - 6k6807. ts'adah -- a marching
... going, ornament of the legs Feminine of tsa'ad; a march; (concretely) an (ornamental)
ankle-chain -- going, ornament of the legs. see HEBREW tsa'ad. ...
/hebrew/6807.htm - 5k

4572. Maaday -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Maadai (1). Maadai. From adah; ornamental; Maadai, an Israelite --
Maadai. see HEBREW adah. 4571, 4572. Maaday. 4573 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4572.htm - 6k

4174. morad -- a descent, slope
... going down, steep place, thin work. From yarad; a descent; as architecture, an
ornamental appendage, perhaps a festoon -- going down, steep place, thin work. ...
/hebrew/4174.htm - 6k

6290. Paran -- a place in Sinai
... Paran. From pa'ar; ornamental; Paran, a desert of Arabia -- Paran. see HEBREW
pa'ar. 6289, 6290. Paran. 6291 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6290.htm - 6k

7196. qishshurim -- bands, sashes
... attire, headband. From qashar; an (ornamental) girdle (for women) -- attire, headband.
see HEBREW qashar. 7195, 7196. qishshurim. 7197 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7196.htm - 6k

Questions About the Lord's Supper
... Most lay Churchmen can only see that the service in some churches is more ornamental
and musical than in others, and that in some there is more importance ...
/.../chapter xx questions about the.htm

Elegance and Grace
... for saying that perspicuity is best suited by proper words, and ornament by
metaphorical, yet we should always know that an impropriety is never ornamental. ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/elegance and grace.htm

Concerning the Tabernacle which Moses Built in the Wilderness for ...
... having a basin beneath of the like matter, whence the priests might wash their hands
and sprinkle their feet; and this was the ornamental construction of the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning the tabernacle.htm

Composition and Style
... Feet composed of long syllables best suit grave, sublime, and ornamental
subjects. The grave will take up a longer space in the ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/composition and style.htm

Symbolism of the Church Building
... This was not only the most ornamental form of structure; it was much more: it made
the very fabric of the church the symbol of our faith in Christ crucified. ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolism of the church building.htm

Copiousness of Words
... perplexity would be less, as then words would immediately present themselves with
things, but some being more proper than others, or more ornamental, or more ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/copiousness of words.htm

The Runaway
... "What the devil do I care? Go, and be hanged to you!" - that was the gist of it,
only a trifle more ornamental. "Don't forget! " said Stanislaus. ...
/.../greater things the story of saint stanislaus kostka /chapter x the runaway.htm

Christian Unity.
... worthless in Christ's army. Milksops may be ornamental, they are certainly
not militant, and God wants soldiers. The man who does ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter v christian unity.htm

Elucidations.
... Only the ornamental bordering was sent, "made of lamb's-wool and superstition,"
says old Fuller, for whose amusing remarks see his Church Hist., vol. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on the pallium/elucidations.htm

Letter xvi. Charity.
... The apostle calls charity the "bond of perfectness;" alluding to the girdle of the
Orientals, which was not only ornamental and expensive, but was put on last ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter xvi charity.htm

Ornamental (4 Occurrences)
...Ornamental (4 Occurrences). Exodus 39:28 and the turban of byssus; and the ornamental
caps, of byssus; and the linen trousers, of twined byssus; (DBY). ...
/o/ornamental.htm - 7k

Apparel (38 Occurrences)
... habiliments or array. 2. (n.) A small ornamental piece of embroidery worn
on albs and some other ecclesiastical vestments. 3. (n.) The ...
/a/apparel.htm - 24k

Knop (4 Occurrences)
... candlestick. It was an ornamental swell beneath the cups of the candlestick,
probably an imitation of the fruit of the almond. (2 ...
/k/knop.htm - 9k

Guard (185 Occurrences)
... with an ornamental border; hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc. ... 11.
(vt) Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. 12. ...
/g/guard.htm - 55k

Dressing (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire. ... 8. (n.) An
ornamental finish, as a molding around doors, windows, or on a ceiling, etc. ...
/d/dressing.htm - 9k

Bracelet (5 Occurrences)
... Some interpret it as a nose-ring. (5.) In Genesis 38:18, 25, the rendering of a
Hebrew word meaning "thread," and may denote the ornamental cord with which the ...
/b/bracelet.htm - 13k

Crystal (7 Occurrences)
... crystal. Ornamental vessels are made of it. Cf. Smoky quartz, Pebble;
also Brazilian pebble, under Brazilian. 3. (n.) A species ...
/c/crystal.htm - 11k

Stud (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) A kind of nail with a large head, used chiefly for ornament; an
ornamental knob; a boss. 5. (n.) An ornamental button of ...
/s/stud.htm - 7k

Ornamented (14 Occurrences)

/o/ornamented.htm - 10k

Ornament (23 Occurrences)

/o/ornament.htm - 17k

Ornamental: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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