נֶ֫זֶם
ne.zem
ring
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word 'ne.zem' (H5141) has a single, straightforward meaning: ring. This simple yet versatile term is found 17 times throughout the Hebrew Bible, demonstrating its significance in ancient Jewish culture. The word 'ne.zem' likely refers to an ornamental ring worn for adornment or display of wealth. Its usage encompasses a variety of contexts, including references to jewelry, decorations, and even currency (such as shekels) that may have taken the form of ornate rings. Additionally, it may be used metaphorically to symbolize value, worth, or power. The 17 occurrences of 'ne.zem' in the Hebrew Bible show its importance in understanding the material culture and economic systems of the time. Its various applications highlight the significance of adornment, value, and social status in ancient Jewish society.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
17 total occurrences across the text
Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that Yahweh had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.
Proverbs 11:22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 25:12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
Isaiah 3:21the signet rings, the nose rings,
Ezekiel 16:12I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
Hosea 2:13I will visit on her the days of the Baals, to which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgot me,” says Yahweh.
Genesis 24:22As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,
Genesis 24:30When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “This is what the man said to me,” he came to the man. Behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
Genesis 24:47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands.
Genesis 35:4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Exodus 32:2Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”
Exodus 32:3All the people took off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
Exodus 35:22They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to Yahweh.
Judges 8:24Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Judges 8:24Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Judges 8:25They answered, “We will willingly give them.” They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his plunder into it.
Judges 8:26The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, in addition to the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that were about their camels’ necks.