Bracelet

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Armlet which encircled the arm, as BRACELETS the wrist. (See  ARMLET.) In  Genesis 38:18;  Genesis 38:25, instead of "bracelets" translate ( pathiyb ) "the ribband" or guard by which Judah's signet was suspended to his neck. In  Isaiah 3:19 wreathed chainwork bracelets are meant, as the root of  sheerah implies. Bracelets of fine twisted gold are still common in Egypt. Men wore them as well as women. The Assyrian kings had "in the center of theirs stars and rosettes, probably inlaid with precious stones" (Layard). In  Exodus 35:22, for "bracelets" ( chach ) translate clasp or ring (literally, "a hook".) The "bracelet on Saul's arm," i.e. armlet, was one of the insignia of royalty found after his death ( 2 Samuel 1:10).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Properly an ornament for the wrist, or for the arm above or below the elbow; but sometimes used also in the Bible to signify an ornament worn of the leg,  Numbers 31:50   Isaiah 3:19 . Armlets were worn by men, sometimes as a badge of royalty,  2 Samuel 1:10 . Bracelets were of great variety of materials and forms; were usually large, and often of great value,  Genesis 24:22 .

The woman of Syria and Arabia at this day wear rings round their legs, to which are fastened many other lesser rings, with make a tinkling noise, like little bells, when they walk. These rings are fixed above the ankle, and are of gold, silver, copper, glass, or even of varnished earth, according to the condition of the wearer. The princesses wear large hollow rings of gold, within which are enclosed little pebbles, that tinkle. See Rings .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

In   Genesis 38:18,25 , the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning "thread," and may denote the ornamental cord with which the signet was suspended from the neck of the wearer.

Bracelets were worn by men as well as by women ( Song of Solomon 5:14 , RSV). They were of many various forms. The weight of those presented by Eliezer to Rebekah was ten shekels ( Genesis 24:22 ).

 Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

 Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Bracelet'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/b/bracelet.html. 1897.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

A bracelet is commonly worn by the oriental princes, as a badge of power and authority. When the calif Cayem Bemrillah granted the investiture of certain dominions to an eastern prince, he sent him letters patent, a crown, a chain, and bracelets. This was probably the reason that the Amalekite brought the bracelet which he found on Saul's arm, along with his crown, to David,  2 Samuel 1:10 . It was a royal ornament, and belonged to the regalia of the kingdom. The bracelet, it must be acknowledged, was worn both by men and women of different ranks: but the original word, in the second book of Samuel, occurs only in two other places, and is quite different from the term which is employed to express the more common ornament known by that name. And beside, this ornament was worn by kings and princes in a different manner from their subjects. It was fastened above the elbow; and was commonly of great value.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

 Bracelet.  See Armlet . Bracelets of fine, twisted, Venetian gold are still common in Egypt. In  Genesis 38:18;  Genesis 38:25, the word rendered "bracelet," means probably a string by which a seal-ring was suspended. Men, as well as women, wore bracelets, as we see from  Song of Solomon 5:14. Layard says of the Assyrian kings, "The arms were encircled by armlets, and the wrists by bracelets."

Morrish Bible Dictionary

There are five Hebrew words thus translated. In  2 Samuel 1:10 the bracelet found on Saul's arm was either an armlet or a 'chain,' as the same word is translated in  Numbers 31:50 . In  Genesis 38:18,25 the Hebrew word signifies 'cord,' and was probably the cord by which the signet was suspended. The Eastern nations were and still are fond of ornaments round their wrists, arms, and feet, many being of elaborate design and skilful workmanship.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 24:22 24:30 24:47 Numbers 31:50 Isaiah 3:19 Ezekiel 16:11 Ezekiel 23:42 2 Samuel 1:10Armlet

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 24:22 (c) This probably is teaching that when the Spirit of GOD takes possession of us for CHRIST, our hands are to become His in useful and beautiful service.

 Ezekiel 16:11 (b) This is descriptive of the beautiful adornment that is given to one who trusts the Saviour and who becomes wonderfully useful in the service of the King.

Webster's Dictionary

 (1): (n.) A piece of defensive armor for the arm.

 (2): (n.) An ornamental band or ring, for the wrist or the arm; in modern times, an ornament encircling the wrist, worn by women or girls.

King James Dictionary

BRA'CELET, n.

1. An ornament for the wrist, worn by ladies. This ornament seems anciently to have been worn by men as well as women. 2. A piece of defensive armor for the arm.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

 Bracelet.  Genesis 24:30. See Garments.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Sept.  χλίδων  ), a name, in strict propriety, as applicable to circlets worn on the upper part of the arm as to those worn on the wrist; but it is practically so exclusively used to denote the ornament of the wrist, that it seems proper to distinguish by  armlet (q.v.) the similar ornament which is worn on the upper arm. (See Anklet). There is also this difference between them, that in the East bracelets are generally worn by women, and armlets only by men, The armlet, however, is in use among men only as one of the insignia of sovereign power. The term " armlet" should also perhaps be regarded as properly designating such as consist of a complete circle, while "bracelet" more appropriately refers to those with an opening or clasp to admit of passing more readily over the hand; but as the other distinction is neglected in the Auth. Vers. (as in common use), so this does not appear to be observed in the ornaments of this description delineated on the ancient monuments, where we find both kinds used almost indifferently both for the wrist and upper part of the arm.

 

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

brās´let (  אצעדה , 'ec‛ādhāh ,  חח , ḥāḥ ,  צמיד , cā̄mı̄dh ,  פתיל , pāthı̄l ,  שׁרות , shērōth ): Used to translate a number of Hebrew words, only one of which means a band for the arm ( 'ec‛ādhāh ), as in  2 Samuel 1:10 , "the bracelet that was on his arm." In  Exodus 35:22 , where both men and women are said to have brought as offerings among other "jewels of gold" "bracelets" (the Revised Version (British and American) "brooches"), another word ( ḥāḥ ) is used, meaning most likely nose-rings (see Ring ). The bracelet asked of Judah by Tamar as a pledge ("Thy signet, and thy b., and thy staff that is in thy hand,"  Genesis 38:18 ,  Genesis 38:25 the King James Version) was probably the cord of softly-twisted wool for the shepherd's headdress ( pāthı̄l  ; the Revised Version (British and American) "cord"). The bracelets ("two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold") which Abraham's servant gave to Rebekah stand for still another word ( cāmı̄dh ). These "bracelets" are always spoken of as "bracelets for the hands," or as "put upon the hands" ( Genesis 24:47 , compare  Ezekiel 16:11;  Ezekiel 23:42 ). Isaiah, predicting the day when Yahweh will smite the haughty daughters of Zion, who "walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet," says, "In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets ... the bracelets " ( Isaiah 3:19 , shērōth ) etc., where some translate "twisted ornaments," leaving it uncertain as to just what is specifically meantú In  2 Samuel 1:10 the bracelet appears with the crown as one of the royal insignia. In   2 Kings 11:12 , according to Wellhausen, W. R. Smith ( OTJC 2, 311n.) and oth ers, we should read, "Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown upon him and gave him bracelets" ( הצערות ). See DB .

Today, as of old, the bracelet is multiform and a favorite ornament in the East. It is made of gold, silver, copper, brass, glass and even enameled earthenware, and in many designs: flat band, plain ring, interlinked rings, as well as of twisted wires, connected squares, solid or perforated, with or without pendants (Mackie).

When owned by women, bracelets had the special the commendation, along with other jewelry, of being inalienable - not to be taken by the husband in case of divorce, nor seized and sold for his debts. "Even now," says Rice ( Orientalisms , etc., 41), "in Moslem lands a woman may be divorced without legal process, at the freak of her husband, but she can carry away undisputed any amount of gold, silver, jewels, precious stones, or apparel that she has loaded on her person; so she usually wears all her treasures on her person, not knowing when the fateful word may be spoken."

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

This name, in strict propriety, is as applicable to circlets worn on the upper part of the arm as to those worn on the wrist; but as it has been found convenient to distinguish the former as Armlets, the term bracelet must be restricted to the latter. These are, and always have been, much in use among Eastern females. Many of them are of the same shapes and patterns as the armlets, and are often of such considerable weight and bulk as to appear more like manacles than ornaments. Many are often worn one above another on the same arm, so as to occupy the greater part of the space between the wrist and the elbow. The materials vary according to the condition of the wearer. Among the higher classes they are of mother-of-pearl, of fine flexible gold, and of silver, the last being the most common. The poorer women use plated steel, horn, brass, copper, beads, and other materials of a cheap description. Some notion of the size and value of the bracelets used both now and in ancient times may be formed from the fact that those which were presented by Eleazer to Rebecca weighed ten shekels ( Genesis 24:22). The bracelets are sometimes flat, but more frequently round or semicircular, except at the point where they open to admit the hand, where they are flattened. They are frequently hollow, giving the show of bulk (which is much desired) without the inconvenience. Bracelets of gold twisted rope-wise are those now most used in Western Asia: but we cannot determine to what extent this fashion may have existed in ancient times.