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21 The
rings, [tabba`ath] and nose ['aph] jewels, [nexem]KJV-Interlinear
21 finger
rings, nose rings, NASB
Rings, 'tabba ath,' is a reference to a signet for sealing, to sink, and comes to refer to ring that is masculine in nature and used not for beauty but for the purpose of signing or sealing documents. A ring or image sunk into melted wax to seal a document or official agreement.
This also can be referred to as rings in general as in the plural reference here for rings. Generally only one signet was worn or carried due to its business or official purpose. However, when many rings are used, then that implies numerous official capacities as in the case of all of these accessories which we have been studying.
The direction of these verses is that the nature of the individual is toward anything in opposition to God and doctrine. Instead of doctrine or truth decorating the soul, the outer appearance is decorated as a substitute, in order to bring an artificial beauty to the person, rather than an intrinsic beauty. The persons character is transferred to the ornaments, rather than being retained within ones soul.
Nose rings refer to the jewels that usually hang down from necklaces on the forehead and hang down to or below the nose. This also refers to the puncturing of the nose into which rings may be inserted.
Together these refer to the image placed on the face, that directs the view away from the face and onto the ornaments. The person is placed behind the ornaments. In uncultured societies, when beauty was not an attribute of the woman or man, then ornaments were used as a substitute to redirect the attention away from the ugliness of the individual and onto the accessories. The accessories being on the person, but not a part of the person.
Both person and accessories are mutually exclusive. Neither being a part of the other.
Doctrine is the only source of beauty. Doctrine in the soul places true beauty inside the individual and becomes an inherent part of the individual.
Accessories on the outer parts of the body, which body is temporary, makes for temporary decorations on a temporary vessel, of which both will sooner or later be discarded. The individual then has nothing of intrinsic value within them.
The nothing individual amounts to the ugliness of an empty of soul. So other things are used to present the appearance of beauty, that does not exist.
Thus far we have covered several verses that describe, that people will go to great lengths to acquire what is in effect nothing.
We still have a few more verses to go, but in the end, the end of this chapter, we will see the ultimate result. It is not a pretty picture and the original has a greater description of misery than is readily obvious. Suffice to say, if your emphasis in life is on the accessories of life, to the exclusion of doctrine, then your future will not be a good one.
You might want to rethink your priorities.
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