Ark of the Covenant - Bible History Online
Bible History

Naves Topical Bible Dictionary

forehead Summary and Overview

Bible Dictionaries at a GlanceBible Dictionaries at a Glance

forehead in Easton's Bible Dictionary

The practice common among Oriental nations of colouring the forehead or impressing on it some distinctive mark as a sign of devotion to some deity is alluded to in Rev. 13:16, 17; 14:9; 17:5; 20:4. The "jewel on thy forehead" mentioned in Ezek. 16:12 (R.V., "a ring upon thy nose") was in all probability the "nose-ring" (Isa. 3:21). In Ezek. 3:7 the word "impudent" is rightly rendered in the Revised Version "an hard forehead." (See also ver. 8, 9.)

forehead in Smith's Bible Dictionary

The practice of veiling the face (forehead) in public for women of the high classes, especially married women, in the East, sufficiently stigmatizes with reproach the unveiled face of women of bad character. #Ge 24:64; Jer 3:3| The custom among many Oriental nations both of coloring the face and forehead and of impressing on the body marks indicative of devotion to some special deity or religious sect is mentioned elsewhere. The "jewels for the forehead," mentioned by Ezekiel, #Eze 16:12| and in margin of Authorized Version, #Ge 24:22| were in all probability nose-rings. #Isa 3:21|

forehead in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

FORE'HEAD . Inasmuch as modest women kept the forehead covered with a veil, not to do so was indicative of shamelessness. Jer 3:3. Jewels for the forehead, Eze 16:12, were nose jewels, although at the present day in the East women wear jewels and strings of coins across their foreheads. To mark the forehead with the device of a god denoted the consecration of the intellect unto it. Thus, the mark of the beast was upon the forehead. Rev 13:16. So God's name is upon the saint's forehead. Rev 22:4.

forehead in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

As the women veiled their faces, not to do so was a mark of shamelessness; "thou hadst a whore's forehead" (Jeremiah 3:3). The forehead is made the seat of boldness of speech and act (Ezekiel 3:7-9): "the house of Israel are stiff of forehead ... against their foreheads as an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead." Votaries of idols branded themselves with the idol's symbol. So Antiochus Epiphanes branded the Jews with the ivy leaf, Bacchus' symbol (2 Maccabees 6:7; 3 Maccabees 2:29). God's seal and name are in the foreheads of His servants, the conspicuous, noblest part of man's body, the seat of the understanding, whereon the helmet, "the hope of salvation," is worn (Ezekiel 9:4). At the Exodus the mark was on the houses, for then it was families; here it is on the foreheads, for it is individuals whose safety is guaranteed by the Lord's mark. The mark on "the right hand and forehead" of the worshippers of the beast (Revelation 13:16) implies prostration of body and intellect to him. "In the forehead for possession, in the hand for work and service." God's name shall be "in the saints' foreheads." Their sonship shall no longer be a personal secret between them and God (Revelation 3:17), but shall be openly (Revelation 22:4) visible to all citizens of New Jerusalem's that the free flow of mutual love among Christ's family will not be checked by suspicion as here. Upon the harlot's (the apostate church) forehead was written "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." What a contrast to the inscription on the mitre on the high priest's forehead, "HOLINESS TO THE LORD" (Revelation 17:5; Exodus 28:36). In Ezekiel 16:12, "a jewel on thy forehead," rather "a ring in thy nose" (Isaiah 3:21). However, Persian and Egyptian women often wear jewels and strings of coins across the forehead.