PART II
Exodus 28:2
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.(The priestly garment was for glory. Clothing for beauty. So wearing drab clothing purposely for glory is missing a point. Even though the clothing was holy - for temple purposes - it was still o.k. to call it 'beautiful'.)
Exodus 28:40
And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
(Same thing.)
(Same thing.)
2 Chronicles 3:6
And he decorated the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold from Parvaim.
(So decorating a house to beautify it is not shown to be wrong here.)
(So decorating a house to beautify it is not shown to be wrong here.)
Esther 2:3
...and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.
(So here you have them being called 'beautiful' before any beauty treatments, yet they were still given treatments. Esther was given treatments. Yet she had faith and was used by God.)
(So here you have them being called 'beautiful' before any beauty treatments, yet they were still given treatments. Esther was given treatments. Yet she had faith and was used by God.)
Proverbs 6:25
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
(Here, as in many verses, we will see that men often look for beauty in a woman, but can lust after it as well. We see a woman here causing the lust with her eyelids. 'Let her' = She was doing it on purpose. 'With her eyelids' = her eyelids were the tool she was using. Note that it does not say 'eyes', but eyelids - this is specific. It appears to be not just a look she gave him, but eye makeup that was purposefully exaggerated for the purpose of causing lust. So, yes, makeup can be alluring...we need to be careful. )
(Here, as in many verses, we will see that men often look for beauty in a woman, but can lust after it as well. We see a woman here causing the lust with her eyelids. 'Let her' = She was doing it on purpose. 'With her eyelids' = her eyelids were the tool she was using. Note that it does not say 'eyes', but eyelids - this is specific. It appears to be not just a look she gave him, but eye makeup that was purposefully exaggerated for the purpose of causing lust. So, yes, makeup can be alluring...we need to be careful. )
Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
(Don't get caught up into trying to keep it. It is temporary.)
(This verse is talking to wives. When it talked about plaiting the hair, it was a custom to painstakingly weave the hair with pearls and such. Note that many translations add to this verse, but the words above are the only ones written. For instance, some versions say, 'putting on of fine apparel'. But the scripture only says 'putting on of apparel'. This is important because it is not saying a certain kind of apparel, so when we read this, if we translate it to mean no gold, no ornamentation in hair, then we must also translate it to mean no clothes! It says 'the putting on of clothes'. In other words, paying so much heed to what we look like and trying to draw attention to our outward beauty is not what we ought to be aiming our beauty to be! Does this mean no makeup or jewelry? Then it means no putting on of clothes either. Read the other verses here about God giving the Israelites outward adornment, fine clothes, gold, and such, and how the Bride of Christ is even 'adorned'. Temperance is the key! Not legalism. Balance scripture with scripture, and don't leave some verses out for the sake of keeping others forefront.)
(Don't get caught up into trying to keep it. It is temporary.)
1 Peter 3:3-4
Whose adorning let it not be that outward of plaiting the hair, wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, which is incorruptible, ...of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God a great price.(This verse is talking to wives. When it talked about plaiting the hair, it was a custom to painstakingly weave the hair with pearls and such. Note that many translations add to this verse, but the words above are the only ones written. For instance, some versions say, 'putting on of fine apparel'. But the scripture only says 'putting on of apparel'. This is important because it is not saying a certain kind of apparel, so when we read this, if we translate it to mean no gold, no ornamentation in hair, then we must also translate it to mean no clothes! It says 'the putting on of clothes'. In other words, paying so much heed to what we look like and trying to draw attention to our outward beauty is not what we ought to be aiming our beauty to be! Does this mean no makeup or jewelry? Then it means no putting on of clothes either. Read the other verses here about God giving the Israelites outward adornment, fine clothes, gold, and such, and how the Bride of Christ is even 'adorned'. Temperance is the key! Not legalism. Balance scripture with scripture, and don't leave some verses out for the sake of keeping others forefront.)
Genesis 6:2
... that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
(This shows that a woman's beauty, again, attracts men. Yet God is the one who created beautiful women. They can accredit Him with their beauty. Was it wrong for God to create particular women very beautiful? If not, then why would it be wrong for a woman to take or accept beautifying treatments? )
(Now we see that this woman was not noted only for her outward appearance, but also for her inward beauty: 'good understanding'. )
(This shows that a woman's beauty, again, attracts men. Yet God is the one who created beautiful women. They can accredit Him with their beauty. Was it wrong for God to create particular women very beautiful? If not, then why would it be wrong for a woman to take or accept beautifying treatments? )
Genesis 12:11
And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, "Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon."
(Here again - a man talking about the outward beauty of a woman. It caused him to fear her being taken from him - he knows how men are! After all, he had noticed at one point in time and was drawn to her outward beauty. The ironic thing is, though, that if you read many of the verses about beauty here, you will see time and time again that men and even God mention the outward beauty of a woman and not always what her character was. It appears that sometimes a woman's beauty preceeds her character and there is nothing she could have done to prevent that, and it was not a negative thing - like she should have put a bag over her head so no one would see what she looked like. You don't exactly know whether or not a beautiful woman across the street has a gentle or quiet spirit at first. )
(Here again - a man talking about the outward beauty of a woman. It caused him to fear her being taken from him - he knows how men are! After all, he had noticed at one point in time and was drawn to her outward beauty. The ironic thing is, though, that if you read many of the verses about beauty here, you will see time and time again that men and even God mention the outward beauty of a woman and not always what her character was. It appears that sometimes a woman's beauty preceeds her character and there is nothing she could have done to prevent that, and it was not a negative thing - like she should have put a bag over her head so no one would see what she looked like. You don't exactly know whether or not a beautiful woman across the street has a gentle or quiet spirit at first. )
Genesis 12:14
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
(Abraham's fears were founded. Yes, the Egyptians also noticed and were drawn to her outward beauty.)
(Abraham's fears were founded. Yes, the Egyptians also noticed and were drawn to her outward beauty.)
Genesis 24:16
And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
(Here, again, a woman's beauty was known and mentioned.)
(Here, again, a woman's beauty was known and mentioned.)
Genesis 26:7
And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
(Here, again, a woman's beauty was known and mentioned.)
(Here, again, a woman's beauty was known and mentioned.)
Genesis 29:17
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
(Ouch! This one hurts, but either we believe all scripture is inspired by God or we don't. We learn several things here. First of all, Jacob was not attracted to Leah. He was attracted to Rachel. Why? Because of her beauty. The second thing we learn is that, no, not all women are thought to be 'beautiful' on the outside. There is no other way to say it - just look at the word 'but' here. Leah was the opposite of Rachel, not 'beautiful or well-favoured'. She may have been considered 'homely'. Keep in mind, Jacob was not the only one who considered her to be 'unbeautiful', as Jacob was not the writer of Genesis. Leah's 'weak/tender eyes' are listed as a fact. The writer did not write, 'Well, Jacob did not personally think Leah was beautiful' which he could have. He just wrote it as a matter of fact. Just reading the text, here.)
(Ouch! This one hurts, but either we believe all scripture is inspired by God or we don't. We learn several things here. First of all, Jacob was not attracted to Leah. He was attracted to Rachel. Why? Because of her beauty. The second thing we learn is that, no, not all women are thought to be 'beautiful' on the outside. There is no other way to say it - just look at the word 'but' here. Leah was the opposite of Rachel, not 'beautiful or well-favoured'. She may have been considered 'homely'. Keep in mind, Jacob was not the only one who considered her to be 'unbeautiful', as Jacob was not the writer of Genesis. Leah's 'weak/tender eyes' are listed as a fact. The writer did not write, 'Well, Jacob did not personally think Leah was beautiful' which he could have. He just wrote it as a matter of fact. Just reading the text, here.)
Deuteronomy 21:10-13
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife, then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails. She shall put off the clothes of her captivity, remain in your house, and mourn her father and her mother a full month; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.
(Very interesting! God Himself not only recognizes that men are visually attracted, but allows this attraction to outward beauty to be fulfilled. So, if a woman's outward appearance were to be downplayed and/or even purposefully diminished, God would have said something opposite, like, "You carnal men, don't look at the outward appearance of women! It should mean nothing to you." Just read through this verse and meditate on it. This is God Himself speaking, the same God who inspired Paul and Peter to tell the ladies not to let their outward beauty be that of adorning. These pagan women were often adorned. He did, however, say that the husbands must make sure that she 'puts off the clothes of her captivity'. So, we must rightly divide God's word and not go too far to the left, nor too far to the right. All scriptures must be considered.
Consider this: God Himself, in many other scriptures, tells the Israelites emphatically not to marry non-Israelite women. Yet in this particular instance He is saying they are allowed for some reason. The same thing happens with adornment for women. God Himself gave the Israelites jewelry and fine clothes, and yet later Paul and Peter warn against making that our beauty instead of focusing on our inward beauty. Paul and Peter could not be completely forbidding it then, as they would certainly not be calling God 'carnal' for allowing it and giving it to women. They must be meaning 'don't make that your beauty' and 'don't exaggerate and draw undo attention'. In other words, our focus is not to be on adorning our outward, we are not to exaggerate it, and we are not to neglect our inward. Where does your beauty lie? Is it outward only? Over adornment?)
1 Samuel 25:3
The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
(Now we see that this woman was not noted only for her outward appearance, but also for her inward beauty: 'good understanding'. )
2 Samuel 11:2
Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
(What was she doing bathing where she would obviously be very visible?! Here we see that the naked body is also beautiful and attractive to a man, and we women need to cover up! David so desired her nakedness that he comitted murder and adultery. We need to keep our nakedness covered! NO CLEAVAGE! Not even a HINT.)
(What was she doing bathing where she would obviously be very visible?! Here we see that the naked body is also beautiful and attractive to a man, and we women need to cover up! David so desired her nakedness that he comitted murder and adultery. We need to keep our nakedness covered! NO CLEAVAGE! Not even a HINT.)
2 Samuel 14:27
To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
(This was the king's daughter. Was her noted 'beautiful appearance' without adornment? A king's daughter? I'll have to look into this further....)
(God used this beauty to arm the Israelites from their enemies.)
(This was the king's daughter. Was her noted 'beautiful appearance' without adornment? A king's daughter? I'll have to look into this further....)
Esther 2:7
And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
(God used this beauty to arm the Israelites from their enemies.)
Job 42:15
In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
(Here again we see a distinction - a difference in the outward appearance between women. They were judged to be more beautiful than other women. It is simply stated as fact. Why? Why even mention what the outward appearance was of these women if outward appearance is just fleshly, not to be noticed, and not to be talked about? Hmmm. Food for thought. I am still pondering how often the outward beauty is mentioned, even inspired by the Lord. I am still learning myself.)
(Here again we see a distinction - a difference in the outward appearance between women. They were judged to be more beautiful than other women. It is simply stated as fact. Why? Why even mention what the outward appearance was of these women if outward appearance is just fleshly, not to be noticed, and not to be talked about? Hmmm. Food for thought. I am still pondering how often the outward beauty is mentioned, even inspired by the Lord. I am still learning myself.)
Song of Solomon 7:1
How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O prince’s daughter!
The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
(Beautiful feet? Even different parts of the body can be noticed. The curves of the thighs is noted. In another verse we see the 'uncovering of the thigh' as equivelant to 'uncovering one's nakedness'. Be careful what you expose. Read all of Song of Solomon. This lady was definitely adorned. Some will say this is only spiritual..... No, this was also, if a spiritual picture, a reality of Solomon and a real woman.
If any and all adornment - even in the slightest bit - were completely carnal and not to be done, why have this as a positive? For those who say this is only a spiritual picture, then why - if adorning is so carnal - use it to describe a spiritual bride/picture?!)
O prince’s daughter!
The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
(Beautiful feet? Even different parts of the body can be noticed. The curves of the thighs is noted. In another verse we see the 'uncovering of the thigh' as equivelant to 'uncovering one's nakedness'. Be careful what you expose. Read all of Song of Solomon. This lady was definitely adorned. Some will say this is only spiritual..... No, this was also, if a spiritual picture, a reality of Solomon and a real woman.
If any and all adornment - even in the slightest bit - were completely carnal and not to be done, why have this as a positive? For those who say this is only a spiritual picture, then why - if adorning is so carnal - use it to describe a spiritual bride/picture?!)
Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake!
Put on your strength, O Zion;
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city!
For the uncircumcised and the unclean
Shall no longer come to you.
(Clothing specified to be beautiful. Not in a negative way.)
Put on your strength, O Zion;
Put on your beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city!
For the uncircumcised and the unclean
Shall no longer come to you.
(Clothing specified to be beautiful. Not in a negative way.)
Ezekiel 16:7
I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.
(This is GOD speaking.)
(This is GOD speaking.)
Ezekiel 16:12-13
And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty.
(God speaking. Note that He says He gave them these adornments and they were beautiful. He did not say, "I gave you this adornment, but I don't know why I should, because you were beautiful without it, and jewelry and adornment don't make anyone really beautiful and it is only worldly." Nor did He say, "I won't give you any fine clothes or adornment, because I know it will cause you to be puffed up with pride and forsake Me." Let's not say what God did not say. Some may say that this is not literal. That is wrong if you search other passages. He did give them all kinds of adornments and fine clothes at different times.)
(God speaking again. Note this: God Himself calls the jewelry 'beautiful'. He does not call it carnal. He also takes credit for giving it to them. It is not the jewelry adornment that is sinful, it is the heart of man and what he does with what God gives him. Note also: God knows all things ahead of time, and knew that they would take the things that He gave them and use them for bad, yet He still chose to give it to them.)
(God speaking. Note that He says He gave them these adornments and they were beautiful. He did not say, "I gave you this adornment, but I don't know why I should, because you were beautiful without it, and jewelry and adornment don't make anyone really beautiful and it is only worldly." Nor did He say, "I won't give you any fine clothes or adornment, because I know it will cause you to be puffed up with pride and forsake Me." Let's not say what God did not say. Some may say that this is not literal. That is wrong if you search other passages. He did give them all kinds of adornments and fine clothes at different times.)
Ezekiel 16:17
You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them.
(God speaking again. Note this: God Himself calls the jewelry 'beautiful'. He does not call it carnal. He also takes credit for giving it to them. It is not the jewelry adornment that is sinful, it is the heart of man and what he does with what God gives him. Note also: God knows all things ahead of time, and knew that they would take the things that He gave them and use them for bad, yet He still chose to give it to them.)
Ezekiel 16:39
I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break down your high places. They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.
(They chose to use it wrongly, He chose to take it away. See also Ezek. 23:26)
(They chose to use it wrongly, He chose to take it away. See also Ezek. 23:26)
Ezekiel 23:40-42
“Furthermore you sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and there they came. And you washed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments. You sat on a stately couch, with a table prepared before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil.
The sound of a carefree multitude was with her, and Sabeans were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.
(Here 'common' people put bracelets and beautiful crowns on their heads. Almost the same thing God did. Yet here we have this sort of adornment, along with painting the eyes, done for allurement, and for Godlessness.)
Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said...
The sound of a carefree multitude was with her, and Sabeans were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.
(Here 'common' people put bracelets and beautiful crowns on their heads. Almost the same thing God did. Yet here we have this sort of adornment, along with painting the eyes, done for allurement, and for Godlessness.)
Jeremiah 4:30
“ And when you are plundered,
What will you do?
Though you clothe yourself with crimson,
Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,
In vain you will make yourself fair;
Yourlovers will despise you;
They will seek your life.
(Another example of worldly-hearted adornment.)
What will you do?
Though you clothe yourself with crimson,
Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,
In vain you will make yourself fair;
Yourlovers will despise you;
They will seek your life.
(Another example of worldly-hearted adornment.)
Matthew 13:45
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls..
(Heaven is likened to seeking beautiful pearls.)
Matthew 23:27
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
(This is the main point that Paul and Peter are making! If we women can realize this. It goes along with the Proverbs 11:22 'like a gold ring in a pig's snout, so is a woman who lacks discretion'!)
(This is the main point that Paul and Peter are making! If we women can realize this. It goes along with the Proverbs 11:22 'like a gold ring in a pig's snout, so is a woman who lacks discretion'!)
Luke 21:5
Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said...
(The temple was adorned.)
Song of Solomon 1:10
Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with chains of gold.
(I wonder what 'ornaments' means. Blush? Color? Still, Solomon says that these things make his wife beautiful.)
(I wonder what 'ornaments' means. Blush? Color? Still, Solomon says that these things make his wife beautiful.)
Here are a few more for you to look up on your own:
Song of Solomon 2:14
Song of Solomon 4:3
Song of Solomon 6:4
Song of Solomon 4:10 (perfume)
Song of Solomon 7:6
