Original Word: נֶזֶם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nexem
Pronunciation: NEH-zem
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-zem)
KJV: earring, jewel
NASB: ring, earrings, rings, earring
Word Origin: [from an unused root of uncertain meaning]

1. a nose-ring

earring, jewel

From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a nose-ring -- earring, jewel.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a ring (worn as an ornament)
NASB Translation
earring (3), earrings (4), ring (6), rings (4).

נֶ֫זֶם noun masculine^{Job 42:11} ring, always of gold when material mentioned; — ׳נ absolute Genesis 24:30 +; construct Genesis 24:22 +; suffix נִזְמָהּ Hosea 2:15; plural נְזָמִיםGenesis 35:4; construct נִזְמֵי Exodus 32:2 +; —

1 nose-ring (Syriac ) woman's ornament, עַלאַֿמָּהּ ׳נ Genesis 24:47 compare Genesis 24:22; Genesis 24:30 (J); נִזְמֵי הָאָף Isaiah 3:21 ("" טַבַּ֫עַת seal-ring); perhaps also Hosea 2:15; Ezekiel 16:12 figurative of ׳יs adorning Jerusalem ("" עֲגִילִים עַלאָֿזְנַיִךְ); compare בְּאַף חֲזִיר ׳נ Proverbs 11:22.

2 earring ornament of men and women, Genesis 35:4, אֲשֶׁר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם ׳נ so Exodus 32:2,3(all E); compare Proverbs 25:12 (in simile of wise reprover), and perhaps Exodus 35:22 (P; "" טַבַּ֫עַת); probably also Judges 8:24 (twice in verse); Judges 8:25,26 (of men, compare GFM), Job 42:11. — compare further Gei^{Jüd. Zeltaschr. x (1872), 45 ff.} RS^{Semitic i. 434, 2d ed. 453}; also ref, below נור.

Meaning and Cultural Background

The noun נֶזֶם denotes a small circular ornament worn principally in the nose or ear. In the Ancient Near East such jewelry served multiple purposes: personal adornment, declaration of social status, expression of familial covenant, dowry token, and even portable wealth. The prevalence of gold נֶזֶם in archaeological finds corresponds well with the biblical record, where the metal’s durability and luster make the ring a fitting symbol for enduring commitment or, conversely, for stubborn idolatry.

Occurrences in the Patriarchal Narratives

In Genesis 24:22, 30, 47 a gold נֶזֶם is used by Abraham’s servant as a bridal gift for Rebekah, marking her betrothal to Isaac. The ring, placed in her nose, publicized the covenantal promise and anticipated the soon-to-be-consummated marriage. Genesis 35:4 mentions earrings surrendered to Jacob before he buries foreign gods under the terebinth at Shechem, showing that jewelry could be entangled with idolatrous practice and that true worship demands consecration of even personal ornaments.

Wilderness and Tabernacle Context

In Exodus 32:2-3 Aaron receives נְזָמִ֔ים from the people and fashions the golden calf, demonstrating how quickly covenant gifts can be perverted when the heart strays. Later, Exodus 35:22 records the voluntary return of similar items for the construction of the Tabernacle: “So all whose hearts were moved…brought to the LORD an offering…brooches, earrings, rings, and necklaces.” The same object thus becomes either an idol or an instrument for holy service, depending on the worshiper’s intent.

Judges and the Early Monarchy

Judges 8:24-26 chronicles Gideon’s request for Ishmaelite spoil—“each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” The narrator records a weight of seventeen hundred shekels of gold, highlighting the immense wealth embodied in these tiny items. Yet the narrative also warns: Gideon later makes an ephod from this gold, and “all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there” (Judges 8:27). The נֶזֶם becomes a cautionary emblem of prosperity turning hearts from the LORD.

Wisdom Literature

Proverbs exploits the cultural familiarity of the נֶזֶם for vivid comparisons. Proverbs 11:22 warns: “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” External beauty cannot mask moral ugliness. Proverbs 25:12 commends wise counsel: “Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to a listening ear.” True adornment is ethical, not merely aesthetic—a principle echoed in 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Prophetic Imagery

Isaiah 3:21 lists nose rings among the luxuries stripped from haughty Jerusalem. Ezekiel 16:12 depicts the LORD graciously adorning His covenant bride: “I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.” Hosea 2:13 reverses the image; Israel misuses her jewelry in pursuit of Baal, incurring divine judgment. The prophets thus employ the נֶזֶם to dramatize covenant fidelity or infidelity.

Job’s Restoration

In Job 42:11, friends bring “a piece of silver and a gold ring” to the sufferer now vindicated by God. The gift signals renewed fellowship and communal acknowledgment of divine favor. Notably, Job receives rings, whereas earlier Israel surrendered them; in both cases the gesture underscores relational reconciliation—horizontal and vertical.

Theological and Ministerial Application

1. Adornment reflects the heart. Scripture never condemns jewelry per se, yet repeatedly warns that outward beauty, wealth, or religious tokens can become idols if not subordinated to covenant loyalty (Exodus 32; Hosea 2).
2. Consecrated gifts serve worship. The same rings that produced a calf later supplied the Tabernacle. Stewardship turns ordinary objects into instruments of devotion (Exodus 35; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
3. Spiritual leadership must guard prosperity. Gideon’s mishandling of earrings illustrates how leaders may unintentionally foster idolatry by misusing communal resources (Judges 8).
4. Christ’s Bride is rightly adorned. The prophetic imagery of Ezekiel and Revelation finds fulfillment in the Church, clothed in righteousness prepared by God (Ezekiel 16; Revelation 19:8). Material ornaments thus point to a higher, spiritual beautification wrought by grace.

Typological Considerations

The nose ring given to Rebekah prefigures the Church’s betrothal to Christ—the Servant bearing gifts from the Father seeks a bride for the Son (Genesis 24; 2 Corinthians 11:2). The acceptance of the נֶזֶם signifies submission and anticipation of the Bridegroom’s return.

Practical Lessons for the Church

• Cultivate inner adornment—humility, discretion, a receptive ear to wise rebuke (Proverbs 25:12; 1 Peter 3:3-4).
• Surrender objects of possible idolatry, dedicating them to God’s service (Exodus 35; Romans 12:1).
• Remember that gifts from God can bless or corrupt depending on stewardship (James 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Thus the humble נֶזֶם traces a narrative arc from betrothal promise to idolatrous danger, from prophetic indictment to bridal adornment—calling believers to wholehearted devotion and wise stewardship of every good gift.

הַנְּזָמִ֖ים הַנֶּ֗זֶם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ הנזם הנזמים וְנִזְמֵ֥י וָנֶ֜זֶם ונזם ונזמי נִזְמֵ֣י נִזְמֵ֤י נִזְמֵ֥י נִזְמָהּ֙ נֶ֙זֶם֙ נֶ֣זֶם נֶ֥זֶם נזם נזמה נזמי han·nə·zā·mîm han·ne·zem hannezaMim hannəzāmîm hannezem ne·zem nezem niz·māh niz·mê nizMah nizmāh nizmê nizMei vaNezem venizMei wā·ne·zem wānezem wə·niz·mê wənizmêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts