Ring in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
(Anglo-Saxon, Hring, "ring"): The word renders (the American
Standard Revised Version) two Hebrew words (in the King
James Version and the English Revised Version three) and two
Greek words. Tabba`ath, the principal Hebrew word, is from
Tabha`, "sink," either because the ring is something "cast"
or molded, or, more probably, since the principal use of the
ring was as a seal, because it "sank" into the wax or clay
that received the impression. In Exodus, Tabba`ath, "ring,"
is a detail of furniture or equipment, as the rings of the
ark through which the staves were thrust (Ex 25:12, etc.),
rings for curtains, in the high priest's ephod (Ex 28:28;
39:21), etc. Its other use was perhaps the original, to
describe the article of personal adornment worn on the
finger, apparently in the Old Testament always a signet-
ring, and as such an indispensable article of masculine
attire. Such a ring Pharaoh gave Joseph as a symbol of
authority (Gen 41:42); and Ahasuerus gave Haman (Est 3:10);
with it the royal missive was sealed (Est 3:12; 8:8
twice,10). It was also a feminine ornament in Isaiah's list
of the fashionable feminine paraphernalia, "the rings and
the nose-jewels" (quite likely rings also) (Isa 3:21).
Either as ornaments or for their intrinsic value, or both,
rings were used as gifts for sacred purposes from both men
and women: "brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings"
(margin "nose-rings") (Ex 35:22); "bracelets, rings (the
American Standard Revised Version "signet-rings"), ear-
rings" (Nu 31:50 the King James Version). chotham, "signet,"
mentioned in Gen 38:18,25; Ex 28:11,21,36; Ex 39:6,14,30;
Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23, etc., was probably usually a seal ring,
but in Gen 38 and elsewhere the seal may have been swung on
wire, and suspended by a cord from the neck. It was not only
an identification, but served as a stamp for signature.
galil, "circle" (compare "Galilee," "Circle" of the
Gentiles), rendered "ring" in Est 1:6; Song 5:14, may rather
mean "cylinder" or "rod" of metal. Earring (which see) in
the King James Version is from totally different words:
nezem, whose etymology is unknown, aghil, "round," or
lachash, "amulet"; so the Revised Version (British and
American). The "rings" of the wheels in Ezek 1:18 (the King
James Version) are gabh, "curved," and mean "rims" (American
Standard Revised Version), "felloes." Egyptians especially
wore a great profusion of rings, principally of silver or
gold, engraved with scarabaei, or other devices. In the New
Testament the ring, daktulios, "finger-ring," is a token of
means, position, standing: "put a ring on his hand" (Lk
15:22). Perhaps also it included the right to give orders in
his father's name. To be chrusodaktulios, "golden-ringed,"
perhaps with more than one, indicated wealth and social
rank: "a man with a gold ring" (Jas 2:2).
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