Jewelry and Ornaments

 

Jewelry and Ornaments

 

In a day and time when the wearing of jewelry is commonplace and everyone now wears it (both men and women), what does the Bible say concerning it?  Is it wrong?  Is it a sin?  How does God look at the wearing of jewelry?

As I was preparing this lesson, I became curious as to why people wear jewelry, so I began to research the reasons.  Here are the answers I found:

·        For centuries, jewelry has been seen as a form of body decoration, allowing for the expression of self and social status.

·        Jewelry can speak of an individual’s wealth, social status, culture and reveal more about their self-identity.

·        People wear it because it sparkles, creates a focal point, and makes a person feel beautiful/pretty and more confident.

·        Research has shown that wearing jewelry can increase an individual’s self-esteem, no matter their age or social status.  (I, personally, do not understand how that effects self esteem but it is what research has revealed is one of the reasons)

·        You can enhance and draw attention to a particular physical feature with your jewelry. (examples: ears, eye brows, nose, etc)

·        Some will wear a piece of jewelry because it is connected to someone special in their life.  Every time they wear, see, or touch it, it reminds them of the person.

·        It used to be said that women wore jewelry because it represented femininity, but with men wearing jewelry now, I’m not sure how that changes things.

·        One survey claims that to men bracelets and other hand jewelry make the hand of a woman look more slim and seductive.

 

History of Jewelry (according to Encyclopedia Brittanica)

Throughout history, what was considered rare, beautiful, or valuable differed depending upon the culture.  

Some would fashion jewelry out of steel or plastic rather than gold or some other gem.  Others might use shells, bones, pebbles, tusks, claws, wood, or a precious metal or stone.

In some societies, jewelry was considered a sign of social rank, therefore, all were forbidden to wear any unless they were a part of the ruling class. 

Some would wear jewelry as a talisman to drive away evil and bring good luck. 

Some forms of jewelry were worn out of superstition.  For example, during the Middle Ages a ruby ring worn on the left hand was thought to help the wearer obtain land, titles, and to protect them in various ways.

So, we see from history that there are varying types of jewelry as well as reasons for wearing it depending upon culture and region.  However, we can not base what is acceptable upon what a culture may have accepted and their reason for wearing it. 

Everything must revolve back to how God views it and what His Word says concerning it.

 

HISTORY OF JEWELRY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

Let’s begin at the beginning – the book of Genesis.

In the beginning, God created man then woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden.  He did not place any form of jewelry upon either of them.  Of course, we understand He did not place clothes on them at the beginning either. 

After they sinned by disobeying God, God made for them coats of skin to cover their nakedness.  He did not make any ornamentation or jewelry for them to wear along with their coats of skin.

As time went on, the population began to increase more and more but so did sin as well. Many departed from serving the One True God and very few were found to still follow the Lord and do what was right.  

Even after the flood, we find sin abounding once again as the majority of people gathered to build the Tower of Babel.  God confused the languages, the people scattered, and we now begin to see mention of various nations who served false gods and exampled pagan practices such as the Chaldeans, Egyptians, and Sodom. (Genesis 11 – 13)  It is after the rise of these nations that we begin to see the mention of jewelry in the Bible.

 

The New Testament Church encountered some of these issues as the Apostles went throughout the then known world into pagan countries to convert and teach them about Jesus.  They, then, sent letters of instruction occasionally to the Churches teaching them how to live godly and holy and truly become a Christian.

Paul instructed the Church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 6:17….

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you.

Paul and Peter both addressed the issue of dress and adornments in their writing to the Churches.

Paul is teaching and admonishing in 1 Timothy 2:9-10….

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,
with shamefacedness and sobriety;
not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Peter taught and admonished in 1 Peter 3:3-5….

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting of the hair, and of wearing of gold,
or of putting on of apparel.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart,
in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjections unto their own husbands:

These Scriptures are speaking expressly to the women admonishing us that what we put on and what we do with our hair should reflect that of a Godly woman.  Our examples to look to are the holy women of old.  How we dress, live, act, speak, or what we put on should reflect and bring glory to Jesus Christ. 

The wearing of jewelry and ornaments can lead to vanity or is worn because of which is contrary to the teachings on moderation and modesty.

Paul said women should not adorn themselves with broided hair, gold, silver, or costly array.  (Obviously this applies to men now as well although it is mainly women who struggle in these areas.)

Adorn means ‘to decorate, ornament, beautify, or embellish (which means to make something more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features).

Peter said their outward adorning should not be in plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, or in apparel.  The braided hair refers to elaborate hair arrangements, particularly to the intertwining of pearls or gold threads into the hair which were popular at that time.

Paul and Peter both admonished and taught against all showy and expensive displays, including clothing that is too expensive and worn because of pride and vanity.

To understand more fully, we need to look back to the Old Testament which is our schoolmaster as Galatians 3:24 teaches.  Peter referred back to the Old Testament concerning examples of holy adornment used.

Exodus 33:1-6

And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence,
thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it….
Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou are a stiffnecked people:
lest I consume thee in the way.
And when the people heard these evil tidings they mourned:
and no man did put on him his ornaments.
For the Lord had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

God had just delivered the Jewish people out of bondage in Egypt. He promised to lead them into the land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.  Yet, the people quickly forsook God.  They had picked up heathenistic practices and ways while in Egypt that they still carried with them in their heart. 

Despite all the mighty miracles they had witnessed, they quickly forgot and forsook the God who had delivered them to make a golden calf from the gold earrings they had taken out of Egypt (Exodus 12:35 + 32:1-4) and then they worshipped it. 

Not only did they worship the golden calf made from the earrings they brought out of Egypt, but they also stripped themselves and were naked as they danced around it. (Exodus 32:25)

God had promised to lead them into the land of Canaan but said due to them being a stiffnecked (stubborn) people, He would not go up in the midst of them.

When they heard those words, they mourned and NO MAN PUT ON HIM HIS ORNAMENTS. (Exodus 33:4)  They knew God was angry!

In the next verse (5), God commanded them to “put off thy ornaments from thee.”

In response, all the people stripped themselves of their ornaments. (vs 6) 

Moses then pitched (set up) the Tabernacle and entered it.  As he did, a cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the Tabernacle.  (Exodus 33:7-11)

As a result of their consecration, the Lord came down in that cloudy pillar.  All of the people were free of any ornament and jewelry as they worshipped before God. In response, God spoke to Moses face to face as unto a friend.

Why did God command them to strip off their ornaments?  Why did the people strip off the ornaments as soon as they realized God was angry at their idolatry? 

It was a response of stripping off anything that caused vanity and humbling themselves in the presence of God. 

The vanity of ornaments is described in Isaiah 3:16-26.

The Jews had become proud and this displeased God.  As a result, He told them He would take off all their ornaments, which were signs of the pride in their hearts.

Below, are a list of the ornaments and expensive apparel which displayed their pride along with their definitions from Strong’s and Vine’s Expository Dictionary as well as Jamieson, Fausset & Brown’s Commentary.

Isaiah 3:16-26

16 – Moreover the LORD swaith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

wanton eyes (strong’s H8265) = to ogle (having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire); behave in a sexually unrestrained way (oxford dictionary)

walking and mincing as they go (H2952) = tripping with short steps coquettishly (flirtatious)

making a tinkling with their feet (H5913) = to put on anklets; make a tinkling ornament.

17 – Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab (make bald by disease) the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

18 – In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

Tinkling ornaments (H5914) = fetter; hence, an anklet, tinkling ornament.

cauls (H7636) = meaning to interweave; a decorative netting for the hair.

round tires like the moon (H7720) = a round pendant for the neck

19 – The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers

chains (H5188) = pendant for the ear (especially of pearl); chain, collar

bracelets (H8285) = pressing; a wrist-band (as compact or clasping)

mufflers (H7479) = long fluttering veil

20 – The bonnets and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings.

bonnets (H6287) = embellishment, i.e. fancy head-dress; ornament

ornaments of the legs (H6807) = an ornamental ankle chain

headbands (H7196) = ornamental head garments

tablets (H1004, H5315) = houses of the breath; smelling boxes (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown’s Commentary)

earrings

21 – The rings and the nose jewels

And the list continues.  The Lord said He would take these things away (Isaiah 3:18).

 

Yes, we find at times that God’s people would put on jewelry.  This does not mean it had His stamp of approval.  Some habits and ways were picked up from the ungodly nations around them.

For example: Jacob had lived with his uncle Laban in the region of Padan-Aram for approximately 20 years.  He had married 2 wives and had several sons and daughters. Jacob was tricked into marrying two wives, but God’s original design was one man/one wife.  Somewhere they had picked up the practice of polygamy.  Just because they did this did not mean God approved for we see Jesus correcting the false thinking concerning marriage and divorce in the New Testament. From the beginning it was not so. (Mt 19:8)

Jacob’s wives had learned idol worship as well as other ways from their father’s house and the surrounding nations.  God spoke to Jacob to return to Beth-el.  It was the place of his early altar, the place where he first encountered God. (Genesis 28:10-22)

After God spoke to Jacob, he went to his family and instructed them to put away the strange gods that were among them, be clean (morally), and change their garments. (Gen. 35:2)

They gave to Jacob all the strange gods which they had AND all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. (Gen. 35:4)

Notice that when they were going to return to the place of Jacob’s early altar, they cleaned house and removed their earrings.  If there was nothing wrong with it, there would not have been a reason for them to remove and bury them.

We find that throughout history, God’s people removed the jewelry when they repented, reconsecrated themselves, and turned back to God.

 

Questions a person should ask themselves in figuring out what is right and what is wrongs:

1.      Does it align with Peter and Paul’s Biblical teachings of Godliness, holiness, and sobriety?

2.     Is it flashy or gaudy drawing attention to Christ or the person wearing it?

3.     What is my true motive for wearing it?

4.    Does it draw me closer to Jesus Christ or feed the vanity of the flesh?

5.     It may seem cliché, but What Would Jesus Do?  

Samson - looking for love in all the wrong places

Samson's downfall was that he desired the women of the world more than the women of God.  They were more "his type" but became his downfall.   He was looking for "love" in all the wrong places.  Don't make the same mistake that Samson did. Pray and wait on the Lord. 

 

💯 - because that "village" may have different morals and ideas contrary to what your morals and convictions.  Throughout the Bible,  we see the parents raising the child/children,  not a village.

I had this very thought come to my mind just yesterday.  Then, I see this posted today.   Be careful not to listen to the counsel of the ungodly.  Because the ungodly want to corrupt and indoctrinate your children.  

It Takes BOTH Faith AND Works

 ¹4 - What doth it profit, my brethren, 

though a man say he hath faith, 

and have not works? 

can faith save him?

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, 

is dead, being alone.

¹⁸ ...I will shew thee my faith by my works.

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, 

that faith without works is dead?

²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works...?

²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, 

and by works was faith made perfect?

²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, 

and not by faith only.

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, 

so faith without works is dead also.

  — James 2 (KJV)

It takes both Faith AND Works

THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Jesus knew that the hour was drawing near when He would be betrayed and then crucified by one He called 'friend.'

The agony was great as He knew what soon lay ahead for Him to endure. He took 3 of the Disciples a little deeper with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane and instructed them to TARRY and WATCH with Him. 

Jesus prayed an agonizing prayer for what is thought to be at least an hour before returning back to the 3 Disciples and finding them fast asleep.   

Jesus singled Peter out when He asked, "What, could ye not watch with Me one hour?  WATCH and PRAY that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing,  but the flesh is weak."

Just a few hours prior, Peter had bravely declared that he would never be offended because of Jesus, even if everyone else did. Peter may have thought the little time he had prayed was adequate.  His body was tired and needed rest.  Yet Jesus knew that just a few hours later, Peter was going to become fearful,  curse, and deny he ever knew Jesus.  

The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.  

WATCH and PRAY that ye enter not into temptation.  

You never know what this flesh is capable of and will do in times when you least expect it when our prayer life is not as fervent and frequent as it used to be. 

 The destination of you and your child's eternity matters more than any career or success you/they may obtain in this life.  Goals, jobs, success obtained in this life will not matter when we stand before the Lord. Only what's done for Christ, only a life lived for Christ, will be worth it in the end.

Holiness is Inside and Out

Once a Pastor was preaching about holiness inside AND out. A brother interrupted the Pastor and asked this question: " When you eat a banana,  what do you eat? The inside? Or the outside?" 

The Pastor answered him, "the inside." The brother responded back to him, "so God is more concerned with what is on the inside (the heart) than what is on the outside (appearance). 

The Pastor immediately received a word from God and asked the brother this question, "when you go to buy bananas,  what do you notice first? The inside? Or the outside?" 

The brother said,  "the outside." 

The Pastor replied, "because Holiness IS inside AND out.  Having a clean heart is important.  But dressing as children of God is also important. "

Author unknown

Are We Just 'Splitting Hairs'?

 

ARE WE JUST ‘SPLITTING HAIRS’?
The Hair Controversy

 

Some think it doesn’t matter what you do with your hair and that if you say anything concerning it, you are just ‘splitting hairs.’

The phrase ‘splitting hairs’ means ‘ to make peevish objections about matters that are minor, unimportant, or irrelevant.

So, is what we do with our hair minor, unimportant, or irrelevant?  Does God care what we do with our hair?

Jesus’ Himself said in Luke 12:7 and Matt 10:30-31
           But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

The Disciples were asking Jesus concerning what the signs would be of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple as they knew it. 

Jesus gave some unsettling and fearful signs warning them of what was soon to come.  (Luke 21)  But then He offered some comfort… “But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”  (Luke 21:18)

Jesus could have merely said, “don’t worry, you’ll be safe” but instead He said “not a hair of your head shall perish.”

This shows us God does care about our hair. 

He numbered every hair on our head.

He knows exactly how many we have and which ones fall out.

Proverbs 16:31 calls the grey hair a crown of glory…IF it be found in the way of righteousness.

It amazes me today that young women are trying to dye their hair grey and look old while older women are trying to dye their hair so they look young.

Because some have come to accept dying of the hair as long as it is just to cover the gray, we now have some even in ministry teaching and believing that it’s ok no matter if you want to dye it purple or pink or orange.

Remove not the ancient landmarks. 

It is God Who gives us these grey hairs.
He did not create people with purple or pink or orange hair.
Grey hair is a glory…if it comes from God and is not man-made.
It’s part of living and aging.

Lev 19:32 instructs:

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary (grey) head
and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God….

Modern terminology would mean we are to show honor and respect to our elders.  A person who was grey headed and aging was to be honored.

Proverbs 20:29, a proverb written by the wisest man, wrote:

The glory of young men is their strength
but the beauty of old men is the gray head.

God spoke in Isaiah 46:4 saying:

And even to your old age I am He;
and even to hoar (grey) hairs will I carry you:
I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

God cares about us so much that He’s numbered every hair on our head and said He’ll carry us even when our hair is graying.

As the Gospel of Jesus Christ was being spread throughout the then known world, questions arose about various issues.

One of those issues was a question about hair which the Corinthian Church sent a letter to Paul concerning. 

Let’s look at what Paul’s response was in I Corinthians 11:1-16.

Paul starts out by admonishing them to follow him as he follows Christ Jesus.  (verse 1)

He instructs them to keep the ordinances that he has delivered to them.  (verse 2)

He then addresses the divine order of creation and authority. (Verse 3)

The next few verses reveal that Paul was responding to questions the Corinthian Church must have been asking concerning whether head coverings were necessary for women whenever they were praying or taking part in a Church service. 

Verse 4 - Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

**dishonoureth means ‘to shame down, i.e. disgrace or put to the blush, make ashamed.’  (see Strong’s #G2617)

Paul is instructing the men not to cover their heads saying it would be a shame for them.

Verse 5 - But every woman that prayeth or phophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Shaven means to shave or shear the hair with a razor down to the skin   (see Strong’s #G3587)

Verse 6 - For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn:  (shorn means ‘to shear’ - G2751) but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her covered.

If you have ever seen a sheep after it was sheared, there was still
a slight covering of wool.  It was cut close to the skin but not
shaved completely bald.

In today’s society, women have shaved their heads bald or cut the hair close to the scalp….and to many, that’s acceptable. However, we can’t go by what society says is okay or not okay.  We have to line up with the Word of God.  We could name many things that society says is okay and acceptable yet is contrary to God’s Word.

Important note: These Scriptures are not addressing those who have lost their hair due to cancer or some other disease. It is addressing those who deliberately shave or shear the hair of the head.

Since the beginning of creation, it was a shame for a woman to shave her head bald or cut the hair so short it was barely covering the scalp.

God created gender distinction - our hair reveals (or is supposed to reveal) whether we are a man or a woman. 

Paul said in Verse 6 that if a woman shaves or shears her head, then let her put on a covering for it is a shame to her.

Verse 7 - For a man ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Verse 8 - For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

Verse 9 - Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

We can see from these verses that a man is not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God.

Next verse:  Verse 10 -
        FOR THIS CAUSE (because of this) ought the woman
        to have power on her head because of the angels.
                   **Power means ‘delegated influence’ (see Strong’s #1849)

Verse 11 -
        Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman,
        neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
        For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man
        also by the woman; but all things of God.

Contrary to what the feminist movement would like to spread and propagate …….the man needs the woman and the woman needs the man.

We need each other - That’s Bible!

Verse 13
           Judge in yourselves: is it comely (suitable, proper)
           that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

Verse 14 -
           Doth not even nature itself teach you,
           that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him.

Verse 15 -
           But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her:
           for her hair is given her for a covering.

Paul explains that a woman’s hair is given to her ‘for’ (meaning: ‘opposite, instead of’ Strong’s #G473) a covering (something thrown around one, i.e. a mantle, veil  Strong’s #G4018)

In other words, a woman’s long hair is given to her instead of a mantle, a veil.

Paul is expounding in verses 14-15 that a woman is not required to wear a veil, because her long hair is her covering.

While it is the opposite for the man: it is a shame for him to have long hair that would be like wearing a veil.

However, Paul is not saying a  man cannot wear something on his head such as a prayer cap. The Jewish men wear a prayer cap and a prayer shawl on their head when they pray.

If he was saying it’s a sin for the men to wear something on top of their head, then the Jewish man who places that prayer shawl on his head is sinning when he prays.

Verses 14 - 15 explains what Paul is really referring to….our hair.

Nature itself teaches that a man is not to have long hair.

Did Jesus have long hair?

Paintings depict Jesus and His disciples with hair draping over their shoulders.  Many believe this to be true and use it as an excuse for men to have long hair. But that popularly held thinking is inaccurate Biblically and historically.  

God's Word is not going to teach that men are to have short hair and women are to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11) only to have Jesus contradict God's Word by going around flaunting long hair on men. Can you imagine Jesus wearing a 'man' bun? 😳

I am not being hateful or mean nor am I attacking anyone by saying this.   That sly ol' fox has been trying to blur the distinction between male and female for years and now has many so confused that they can no longer define what a baby is nor a female.  The devil is a master at deception and a twister of Truth.

So, back to the question: did Jesus have long hair?

Biblically, the answer is No!  Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:1-10) and is not going to contradict Himself nor His Word. Paul knew the Word of God and taught on it in 1 Corinthians 11.

What about historically? History also proves that Jesus did not have long hair, so again, the answer is No!   Look at Sculptures and carvings from that era.  The men had short, cropped hair which was above their neck. 

   

Historically and Biblically, it is proven that no, Jesus and His disciples did not have long hair.  God did not create Adam with long hair.

When the lines of Truth and what is right versus what's wrong become blurred, confusion ensues.  God is not the author of confusion, but the devil is. 

The paintings of Jesus with long hair are inaccurate.              

But if the woman have long hair, it is a GLORY to her.

Since the beginning of creation, a woman was blessed (yes, blessed) with a crown of glory on her head…her long hair.

Paul said a woman’s hair is given to her for (instead of) a covering (a veil).

And it is a glory to her… Glory means dignity, honour, praise (see Strong’s # G1391)

Some women have asked, “but what’s the definition of long?” because their hair doesn’t grow very long due to hormonal imbalance, surgeries or medicines that have messed up the health and growth of the hair, etc.

Sometimes, the hair doesn’t grow due to our own doing such as the over-processing of hair by straighteners, curling irons, or harsh chemicals from perms or hair dyes which causes severe damage and breakage.

This is not saying it is a sin to use straighteners or curling irons.  There are, sadly, women who will deliberately hold the straighteners and curling irons on their hair or get perm after perm in order to cause their hair to break off and appear shorter. 

Our hair is our glory - we need to take care of it as best we can.

There are some cultures whose hair does not grow very long.  So what does it mean by ‘long hair’?

The definition of long hair means ‘To wear tresses of hair’
           (see Strong’s G2863)

Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines ‘long’ this way:
            Komao = signifies to let the hair grow long

Paul addressed it as a shame for a woman to use cutting instruments on the hair to shave or shear the head.  Shorn is the past participle of the word shear.

Shear (according to Google’s definition) means:
           “to cut off (something such as hair, wool, or grass) with scissors
             or shears.” 
           “Break off or cause to break off, owing to a structural strain.”

Therefore, a woman is not to cut off her hair with scissors or shears. 

Nor is she to deliberately break off her hair or do something to damage the hair knowing it will cause it to break off. 

History even supports this. 

Down through the pages of history, women who professed to be Christians did not use any cutting tool on her hair…regardless of denomination.

It wasn’t until the 1920’s when women began to cut their hair into ‘bobs’ and began wearing the immodest flapper dress. 

It was reported that many women fainted when the scissors were first put to their head.

Schools and churches rallied against the “flappers” for acting like and looking like men.

Cutting of the hair was always seen as ‘masculine’ by those who professed Christianity up until the last 100 years.

Long hair was considered feminine and a sign of godliness. 

Those who cut their hair proclaimed short bobbed hair made them look ‘smarter’ rather than beautiful…..which was the goal of that day.

Those who were for ‘bobbing’ of the hair looked at long uncut hair as a ‘shackle’.

Isn’t that just like the devil to deceive people into thinking that a woman’s long uncut hair is a shackle?

It’s not a shackle - God calls it our Glory!  If God says it’s a glory to us, then who are we to despise it and call it a ‘shackle’?

On the contrary, there’s freedom when we obey and follow God’s Word.

By not cutting her hair, a woman is showing submission and obedience to God’s Word and His order.  Her obedience in not cutting her hair is a testimony against the fallen angels who left their created role in rebellion.

That’s what Paul was referring to in Verse 10 -
        FOR THIS CAUSE (because of this) ought the woman
        to have power on her head because of the angels.
                   **Power means ‘delegated influence’ (see Strong’s #1849)
                   **the angels who followed lucifer left their creative order
                       in rebellion.
                   **In the garden, the woman was deceived.

God instructed Adam - Adam later instructed Eve concerning what God had said after she was created.  (Gen. 2:15-23)   Eve was deceived by the fallen angel, but Adam was in disobedience to God’s Word.

If Eve had listened to her husband’s instruction, she wouldn’t have been deceived into sinning and then caused her husband to sin.  Because of this, God has placed delegated influence over the wife as a covering.

Paul concluded in verse 16…
         But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom,
         neither the churches of God.

In this statement, Paul is not saying that if anyone wants to argue concerning what he has written, then so be it ….. Never mind …. Disregard everything he’s previously written. 

Especially since he started out saying in verses 1-2…
        Follow me as I follow Christ….and…..Keep the ordinances
        as I delivered them to you

On the contrary, Paul is addressing the issue of contention.

Contention is always the result of pride.  Proverbs 13:10 instructs…

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

He is saying we do not have a custom of contention and arguing within the Church.

Paul has delivered the Word of the Lord, explaining the way they are walk more fully.

They were instructed to heed it.

When a woman is obedient to God’s Word and allows her hair to grow uninhibited, she is covered.

Because she is covered, she is then free to pray and prophesy and be used by God within the Church services however He chooses to use her.

A woman’s prayers can be powerful tools to break the strongholds of satan when she’s in alignment with God and not in rebellion.

The devil wants women to think they’re shackled, but really we’re free when we obey the Truth in the Word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

1 Timothy 2

9 – In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.

10 – But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

 

1 Peter 3

1 – Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if an obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2 – while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3 – Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 – but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 – For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

 

Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines these words this way.

Broided = means ‘braided hair’ which can signify as ringlets, curls

‘Broided’ is to be distinguished from ‘broidered,’ which means to adorn with needlework (not to plait).

‘Plaiting’ the Hair = means to intertwine the hair in ornament.

In these passages of Scripture, Paul was not saying that a woman should not braid her hair or curl it.  He is addressing elaborate hairstyles that were intertwined with gold and jewels which drew undue attention to a woman as it sparkled when she moved.