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Ezekiel 16 contains an account that has led some to ask whether Christians should wear jewelry or have piercings. Ezekiel 16:11–14 is a fascinating narration that compares God to a young man who finds an abandoned infant, helpless and struggling for life. He saves her, cleans her, and provides for all her needs.

When she has grown, she becomes a beautiful young woman with whom he falls in love and marries. In the parable, the man represents Christ, and the woman represents Israel. The story shows how Christ loved Israel and saved her from destruction, providing protection, laws, and guidance so the nation could grow into the greatest of all lands.

Christ was married to Israel at Sinai and loved her, yet the nation was repeatedly unfaithful to the One who had saved it. As the story continues, the young woman is cared for and beautified. Among other things, she is given jewelry, including earrings and a nose ring. The nose ring was a sign of her betrothal to Christ. In fact, she was dressed as a queen. Verse 13 reads accordingly.

Does this contradict Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 2:9, where he advised women to dress modestly and not to overemphasize jewelry? Both women and men should dress in modest ways so as not to deliberately attract attention. Women were instructed to be modest in clothing, not exposing much of the body and not being overly adorned with jewelry. This instruction, however, is not a ban on jewelry.

Ezekiel 16 and other scriptures show that some jewelry is acceptable, including jewelry that signifies marital status, such as rings. In the Old Testament, a nose ring was often a sign of being married or betrothed. Modest earrings are also acceptable.

Extreme piercings of the tongue, cheeks, eyebrows, and other parts of the body are not intended for beauty but for attracting attention. Such practices are not modest. In many cases, they are unhealthy and prone to infection, and a Christian should avoid them.

As for piercings for men, in the biblical period—especially around the time of ancient Israel’s exodus from Egypt—many men did wear earrings, but these were most often a sign of slavery, indicating that they were someone else’s property. This slavery is precisely what Israel was delivered from.

Even today, earrings for men are not culturally associated with modesty, but rather with rebellion against the present social order or with drawing attention to oneself. Such practices are not supported by Scripture.