Topical Encyclopedia
Plating, in the context of the Bible, refers to the practice of adorning oneself with elaborate hairstyles or the use of gold and other precious materials to enhance one's appearance. This concept is addressed in the New Testament, where it is often discussed in relation to modesty and the inner qualities of a Christian, particularly women.
Biblical References:1.
1 Timothy 2:9 : "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." In this passage, the Apostle Paul instructs women in the early church to focus on modesty and self-control rather than external adornments. The mention of "braided hair" and "gold" suggests that plating was a common practice in the Greco-Roman world, where women often styled their hair elaborately and adorned it with gold and jewels.
2.
1 Peter 3:3-4 : "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight." Here, Peter echoes Paul's sentiments, emphasizing that true beauty in the eyes of God is found in one's character and spirit rather than in external appearances. The reference to "braided hair" and "gold jewelry" again highlights the cultural practices of the time.
Cultural Context:In the ancient world, particularly within the Roman Empire, elaborate hairstyles and the use of gold and other precious materials were symbols of wealth and status. Women of higher social standing often engaged in plating as a way to display their affluence and social position. This practice was not only a personal choice but also a reflection of societal values that equated external beauty with worth.
Theological Implications:The biblical admonitions against plating are not a blanket prohibition against personal adornment but rather a call to prioritize inner virtues over outward appearances. The emphasis is on cultivating qualities such as modesty, self-control, and a gentle spirit, which are deemed more valuable in the Christian life. These passages encourage believers to reflect on their motivations for adornment and to ensure that their focus remains on developing a character that honors God.
Practical Application:For contemporary Christians, the teachings on plating serve as a reminder to evaluate the cultural pressures and personal motivations behind their choices in appearance. While fashion and personal style are not inherently wrong, the biblical perspective encourages believers to consider how their outward appearance aligns with their faith and values. The call is to seek a balance that reflects both personal expression and a commitment to the virtues esteemed by Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Plate.
2. (n.) The art or process of covering anything with a plate or plates, or with metal, particularly of overlaying a base or dull metal with a thin plate of precious or bright metal, as by mechanical means or by electro-magnetic deposition.
3. (n.) A thin coating of metal laid upon another metal.
4. (n.) A coating or defensive armor of metal (usually steel) plates.
Greek
5553. chrusion -- a piece of gold, gold... gold. Diminutive of chrusos; a golden article, ie Gold
plating, ornament, or
coin -- gold. see GREEK chrusos. (chrusion) -- 4 Occurrences.
...Strong's Hebrew
6826. tsippuy -- (metal)plating... 6825, 6826. tsippuy. 6827 . (metal)
plating. Transliteration: tsippuy Phonetic
Spelling: (tsip-poo'-ee) Short Definition: overlaying.
...642. aphuddah -- an ephod
... ephod, ornament. Feminine of 'ephowd; a girding on (of the ephod); hence, generally,
aplating (of metal) -- ephod, ornament. see HEBREW 'ephowd. 641, 642....
Library
The Forgotten Preacher.
... It is silver-plated sometimes; just common tin under theplating. There's
some fine engraving on the silver-plating, noble sentiment...
Thou Shalt not Steal.
... and robbery, but against all stinting in temporal goods which men may practise toward
one another: such as greed, usury, overcharging andplating wares that...
Christ's Peace
... It is shallow; a very thinplating over a depth of restlessness, like some skin
of turf on a volcano, where a foot below the surface sulphurous fumes roll, and...
Christian Cemeteries.
... Specimens of filling are even more rare than those of goldplating.... The gold socket
orplating of three molar teeth is still in excellent condition....
The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... And ye shall defile the over-laying of thy graven images of silver, and theplating
of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing...
Thesaurus
Plating (13 Occurrences)... plates. Multi-Version Concordance
Plating (13 Occurrences). Exodus 25:13 And
make rods of the same wood,
plating them with gold. (BBE).
...Rods (76 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:13 And make rods of the same wood,plating them with gold. (BBE).... (BBE).
Exodus 30:5 And make these rods of the same wood,plating them with gold....
Angles (20 Occurrences)
... the two angles. (BBE). Exodus 27:2 Put horns at the four angles of it, made
of the same,plating it all with brass. (BBE). Exodus 27...
Plated (29 Occurrences)
... 6:20 And the inmost room was twenty cubits square and twenty cubits high, plated
over with clear gold, and he made an altar of cedar-wood,plating it with gold...
Platform (9 Occurrences)
Edge (150 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 37:2Plating it inside and
out with the best gold, and putting an edge of gold all round it. (BBE)....
Best (252 Occurrences)
... and red; (BBE). Exodus 37:2Plating it inside and out with the best gold,
and putting an edge of gold all round it. (BBE). Exodus 37...
Overlaying (4 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 30:22 You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of
silver, and theplating of your molten images of gold. You...
Goldsmith (6 Occurrences)
... b) making graven images (2 Chronicles 34:3, 4 Jeremiah 10:14 Nahum 1:14), (c) the
making of beaten or turned work (Exodus 25:18), (d)plating or overlaying...
Inmost (49 Occurrences)
... 6:20 And the inmost room was twenty cubits square and twenty cubits high, plated
over with clear gold, and he made an altar of cedar-wood,plating it with gold...
Resources
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