Nose rings are mentioned in the Bible as far back as the book of Genesis. When Abraham sent his servant in search of a wife for Isaac, the servant prayed that God would reveal to him the right young woman (Genesis 24:12–14). Rebekah came in answer to his prayer, and when she agreed to give him lodging in her father’s home, he gave her some gifts from his master, Abraham. Among those gifts was “a gold nose ring” (Genesis 24:22). This reveals that nose rings were in fashion during that era and they represented wealth and status when given as gifts. They were also considered female attire. The only time men wore anything through their noses was when they were taken as slaves (2 Chronicles 33:10–11).
In Ezekiel 16, God describes the affection He had showered upon Israel in terms of a man showering his bride with gifts: “I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head” (verse 12). The Lord often used figurative speech and familiar objects and customs in order to communicate unfamiliar truths to His people. The lavish adornment, including the nose ring, described in this passage was the way a wealthy, loving husband would have provided for his beloved.
Nose rings are worn for different reasons in different cultures. In some Hindu communities, piercing a woman’s nose marks her as either married or ready for marriage. It is also believed by some that piercing the nose relieves pain during childbirth. In more primitive cultures, nostril or septum piercing is common and has carried a variety of meanings depending upon the region, tribe, or historical era.
What Does The Bible Say About Body Piercings?
In the recent past, nose rings were not considered mainstream in Western culture. The presence of a nose ring indicated rebellion or solidarity with counterculturalism. However, in most Western cultures today, nose rings are simply a matter of personal style and preference. They are usually worn as tiny diamond studs or small rings fastened on one nostril. Wearing a nose ring is neither good nor bad but reflects one’s personal taste. However, if a nose ring represents something evil, then it is wrong to wear one. For example, a teenage girl may get her nose pierced as an act of rebellion against her family’s conservative values. She wants a nose ring simply because no one else in her circle has one and because it will spark controversy. Her parents have told her “no, ” but she gets her nose pierced anyway. For that girl, wearing a nose ring is wrong because it is an open, visible statement of rebellion.
For a Christian, the one principle that should define all choices is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” The mention of eating and drinking drives home the point that every choice a believer makes can have significance. What we do, where we go, and how we dress all reflect our relationship with Jesus. We can either bring Him glory by our choices or bring dishonor to His name. In the decision of whether or not to wear a nose ring, we can ask ourselves a few questions:
1. In my circle of influence, will wearing a nose ring be likely to cause offense and draw negative attention to me rather than draw positive attention to Christ?
Brother Eric: I Am Asking For Your Thoughts And Perspective On Tattoos, Body Piercings, And Dying Hair Unnatural Colors. Does The Bible Speak.
4. Will my nose ring be so distracting that it becomes the focus for other people rather than my eyes or my words?
Keeping 1 Corinthians 10:31 as our guideline for every decision—whether it be the style of clothing we wear, the way we fix our hair, or the piercings we get—we also keep our motives pure. When our life goal is to magnify the purity and beauty of Christ in our lives, He helps us stay away from the sensational and seek modesty and humility (1 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 5:13). With those qualities in place, we have freedom to express the beauty of Christ in a variety of ways, including wearing nose rings.Body modification, including piercing, tattooing, scarring, branding, cutting, and outright mutilation, has been an increasing trend in recent years. Body piercing—the insertion of jewelry in various body parts—has graduated from the traditional ear lobe piercing to the piercing of noses, navels, nipples, tongues, eyebrows, cheeks, genitalia, and more. Many Christians have a piercing or two, and some have many more than two; no matter what the issue, it’s good to stop and consider what the Bible says.
We’ll begin with by acknowledging that the Bible does not specifically address body piercings as a sin, so dogmatism on the issue is unwarranted. If all body piercing is sinful, as some say, then even a diamond stud in a girl’s ear lobe is taboo. Such a stance goes too far, considering that earrings (and even nose rings) were accessories for Hebrew women: in an extended metaphor, God reminds Jerusalem of the lavish blessings He had bestowed on the people: “I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears” (Ezekiel 16:12). It’s unlikely that God would have used earrings (and nose rings) as a symbol of beauty and blessing if such jewelry were inherently sinful. See also Song of Solomon 1:10–11.
Spiritual Meaning Of Nose Piercing On Right Side & Left Side
Also, we should consider what the Old Testament Law had to say about the related issue of cutting the flesh and marking the body. The command to Israel was “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). It seems the common practice among the nations surrounding Israel was to cut, lance, or somehow scar the body “for the dead”; that is, cutting oneself was part of a pagan mourning ritual or possibly a superstitious rite to aid the spirits of the departed. We see this type of behavior in action in Elijah’s day, as Baal-worshipers “slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed” (1 Kings 18:28). It is safe to say that, if a certain body piercing hints at paganism or honors a false philosophy, then it is sinful.
Forming a biblically informed opinion on body piercings requires us to examine the principles of the Word of God and ask ourselves some pertinent questions:
Our motives are important in any decision we make (Proverbs 16:2), especially something as permanent and potentially life-changing as a body piercing.
Nostril Piercings: An Expression Of Identity Or Just Another Trend?
Body piercing has given rise to a definite subculture, and many people try to “find themselves” by joining the bodymod community. While joining a particular cultural group might help in evangelizing that group, to join simply to “find oneself” is not biblical. As believers, our identity is in Christ: “You died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, NLT).
Doing anything out of a desire to please one’s peers is spiritually hazardous. We are to follow the Lord Jesus (see John 21:21–22). Those who follow peer pressure in getting a body piercing find themselves in the ironic position of having proclaimed their uniqueness through conformity.
The Bible clearly emphasizes the inner spiritual qualities of a person and downplays the “outward adornment” (1 Peter 3:3–4). The majority of our effort should be directed at increasing in godliness, not grooming a particular look.
G Rose Gold Nose Ring Hoop
Any item of clothing, accessory, or jewelry worn simply as a fashion statement runs the risk of feeding pride in that it draws attention to the wearer. Bringing public focus to certain body parts, pushing boundaries, or creating a flashy display is not a godly reason for a body piercing, especially when we have this command in Scripture: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5).
It’s conceivable that, in some situations, having a body piercing will aid a believer in his witness to others. And, if the piercing is decorated with Christian-themed jewelry, it could be a conversation-starter that leads to spiritual themes. But, for others, certain types of body piercings may hinder attempts to share the gospel. We are Christ’s ambassadors, delivering God’s message to the world (2 Corinthians 5:20). We must consider what message the body piercing sends and whether it will aid or detract from representing Christ and sharing the gospel.
According to Guinness World Records, the record for total body piercings is 453 (male) and 462 (female). Those considering multiple piercings should be able to answer the question “how much is too much?” with specificity. At what point does body modification become extreme? How far can Christians go and still “honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20)? Beyond piercings, questions should be asked about scarification, branding, facial flesh tunnels, skin implants, split tongues, pointed ears, sharpened teeth, and other things promoted within the modern bodymod community.
Spiritual Meaning Of Nose Piercing In Africa
Of course, we could also ask where we draw the line on other, more socially acceptable body modifications such as breast implants, tummy tucks, face lifts, and such. Some of the same questions about motivation and appearance need honest answers if we are to do “all for the glory
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