Topical Encyclopedia
The term "adorned" in the Bible often refers to the act of decorating or embellishing, whether it be a person, object, or place. This concept is used both literally and metaphorically throughout Scripture, conveying ideas of beauty, preparation, and spiritual readiness.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the concept of adornment is frequently associated with the preparation and beautification of sacred spaces and objects. For instance, the Tabernacle and the Temple were adorned with gold, silver, and precious stones, symbolizing the glory and holiness of God.
Exodus 28:2 speaks of the priestly garments: "Make holy garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and splendor." Here, adornment serves to set apart the priests for their sacred duties.
The prophets also use the imagery of adornment to describe Israel's relationship with God. In
Ezekiel 16:11-13, God describes how He adorned Jerusalem with fine clothing and jewelry, symbolizing His covenant love and blessing upon the city. However, this adornment becomes a point of contention when Israel turns to idolatry, misusing the gifts God provided.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, adornment takes on a more spiritual and ethical dimension. The Apostle Paul and Peter address the concept of adornment in the context of Christian conduct and character. In
1 Timothy 2:9-10, Paul advises women to dress modestly and with good deeds, emphasizing inner beauty over outward appearance: "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God."
Similarly,
1 Peter 3:3-4 encourages women to focus on the "unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight," rather than external adornment. This teaching underscores the value of inner spiritual qualities over physical appearance.
Symbolic and Eschatological AdornmentThe Book of Revelation uses the imagery of adornment to describe the eschatological hope of the Church.
Revelation 21:2 portrays the New Jerusalem as "a bride adorned for her husband," symbolizing the purity and readiness of the Church to meet Christ. This imagery reflects the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, where the Church is presented in splendor, having been purified and made holy.
Adorned in Christian LifeIn the broader Christian life, the concept of being adorned is often associated with the virtues and fruits of the Spirit that believers are called to cultivate.
Colossians 3:12-14 exhorts believers to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience," and to "put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity." Here, adornment is a metaphor for the character and virtues that reflect Christ's likeness.
Overall, the biblical concept of being adorned encompasses both the physical and spiritual realms, urging believers to prioritize inner beauty and godliness while recognizing the symbolic significance of adornment in God's redemptive narrative.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Adorn.
Greek
5554. chrusodaktulios -- with a gold ring... with a gold ring. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chrusodaktulios Phonetic
Spelling: (khroo-sod-ak-too'-lee-os) Short Definition:
adorned with a gold
...5558. chrusoo -- to gild, to cover with gold
... with gold. Word Origin from chrusos Definition to gild, to cover with gold
NASB Word Usageadorned (2). adorn, deck. From chrusos...
5552. chrusous -- golden
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: chrusous Phonetic Spelling: (khroo'-seh-os)
Short Definition: golden Definition: golden, made of gold,adorned with gold....
2885. kosmeo -- to order, arrange
... Word Origin from kosmos Definition to order, arrange NASB Word Usage adorn (4),
adorned (3), put in order (2), trimmed (1). adorn, garnish, trim....
Strong's Hebrew
3085. Yehoaddah -- "the LORD hasadorned," a descendant of Saul... Yehoaddah. 3086 . "the LORD has
adorned," a descendant of Saul. Transliteration:
Yehoaddah Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-ad-daw') Short Definition: Jehoaddah.
...497. Eladah -- "God hasadorned," an Ephraimite
... 496, 497. Eladah. 498 . "God hasadorned," an Ephraimite. Transliteration:
Eladah Phonetic Spelling: (el-aw-daw') Short Definition: Eleadah....
5710b. adah -- to ornament or deck oneself
... 5710a, 5710b. adah. 5711 . to ornament or deck oneself. Transliteration:
adah Short Definition:adorned. Word Origin a prim. root...
5718. Adayah -- "Yah has ornamented Himself," the name of a number...
... Adaiah. Or madayahuw {ad-aw-yaw'-hoo}; from adah and Yahh; Jah hasadorned; Adajah,
the name of eight Israelites -- Adaiah. see HEBREW adah. see HEBREW Yahh....
6823. tsaphah -- to lay out, lay over
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to lay out, lay over NASB Word Usageadorned
(1), overlaid (33), overlay (12), spread (1). cover, overlay....
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... root Definition to be good, well, glad, or pleasing NASB Word Usageadorned (1),
amend (3), better (3), better he made (1), bless (1), celebrating* (1), deals...
Library
The DoctrineAdorned
... V The DoctrineAdorned. 'But shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn
the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.' (Titus 2:10.)....
WomenAdorned with Good Work
... XVII Womenadorned with Good Work. Let women adorn themselves; not with braided
hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but through good works....
The Gifts of virgins,Adorned with which they are Presented to one...
... Discourse IV."Theopatra. Chapter V."The Gifts of Virgins,Adorned with Which
They are Presented to One Husband, Christ. Now, those...
That a Woman Ought not to beAdorned in a Worldly Fashion.
... Third Book. 36. That a woman ought not to beadorned in a worldly fashion.
In the Apocalypse: "And there came one of the seven angels...
Some Few Days After, the Portrait of Constantine,Adorned with...
... Chap. XXV. Some few days after, the portrait of Constantine,adorned with
laurels? Some few days after, the portrait of Constantine...
Behold, Thou Art Fair, My Beloved, and Comely; Our Bed isAdorned...
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 15. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, and comely;
our bed isadorned with flowers. The loving soul seeing...
Showing How a Man Should beAdorned if He is to Receive the Most...
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER L. SHOWING HOW A MAN SHOULD BEADORNED IF HE IS TO
RECEIVE THE MOST INWARD EXERCISE. Now consider diligently...
How Herod Celebrated the Games that were to Return Every Fifth...
... CHAPTER 5. How Herod Celebrated The Games That Were To Return Every Fifth Year Upon
The Building Of Cesarea; And How He Built AndAdorned Many Other Places...
Of a Three-Fold Unity which is in us by Nature
... Now these three unities, as one kingdom and one eternal dwelling-place, areadorned
and inhabited in a supernatural way by the moral virtues through charity...
The Mind Clearer when Cleansed from Sin; the Ornaments of the Mind...
... branches of palm-trees." [2771] This signifies the exercise of divine discipline,
by which the mind that subdues the passions is cleansed andadorned by the...
Thesaurus
Adorned (20 Occurrences)...Adorned (20 Occurrences). Matthew 12:44 Then he says, I will return to my house
whence I came out; and having come, he finds it unoccupied, swept, and
adorned.
...Adorn (13 Occurrences)
... render pleasing or attractive. 2. (n.) Adornment. 3. (a.)Adorned; decorated.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ADORN. a-dorn' (kosmeo...
Jasper (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Revelation 21:19 The foundations
of the city's wall wereadorned with all kinds of precious stones....
Garlands (4 Occurrences)
... (Acts 14:13). In heathen sacrifices the victims wereadorned with fillets and
garlands made of wool, with leaves and flowers interwoven....
Garnish (1 Occurrence)
... tsippah means "to overlay," or "to plate." Thus, he "garnished" the house or "overlaid"
it, "studded" it, with precious stones, and thusadorned and beautified...
Iddo (14 Occurrences)
... (6) (ye`do (Kethibh ye`di), or `iddo, "decked," "adorned"): Seer (chozeh) and prophet
(nabhi), the Chronicler's "source" for the reign of Solomon (2 Chronicles...
Tambourines (13 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 31:4 Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel:
again you shall beadorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the...
Remaliah (13 Occurrences)
...Adorned by the Lord, the father of Pekah, who conspired successfully against Pekahiah
(2 Kings 15:25, 27, 30, 32, 37; Isaiah 7:1, 4, 5, 9; 8:6). Int....
Emerald (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Revelation 21:19 The foundations
of the city's wall wereadorned with all kinds of precious stones....
Sapphire (11 Occurrences)
... sulfur. (See RSV). Revelation 21:19 The foundations of the city's wall
wereadorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first...
Resources
Why are there so many tragedies among celebrities? | GotQuestions.orgShould Christian women wear makeup or jewelry? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is emblematic parallelism in Hebrew poetry? | GotQuestions.orgAdorned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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