Ring

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. t.) To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots.

(2): ( n.) A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena.

(3): ( v. i.) To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one.

(4): ( n.) An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting.

(5): ( v. t.) To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.

(6): ( v. i.) To rise in the air spirally.

(7): ( v. t.) To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout.

(8): ( v. t.) To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle.

(9): ( n.) A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc.

(10): ( n.) An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium.

(11): ( n.) An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite.

(12): ( n.) The solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or other figure, about an exterior straight line (as an axis) lying in the same plane as the circle or other figure.

(13): ( n.) The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles.

(14): ( n.) A circular group of persons.

(15): ( v. t.) To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound.

(16): ( v. i.) To practice making music with bells.

(17): ( n.) Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring.

(18): ( n.) A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop.

(19): ( n.) A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.

(20): ( n.) Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated.

(21): ( n.) A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell.

(22): ( v. i.) To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame.

(23): ( v. i.) To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound.

(24): ( v. i.) To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with a ringing or reverberating sound.

(25): ( v. t.) To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Tabaath , "to impress with a seal." (See Earring .) Used as "a signet" ( Genesis 38:18, Chothem ), worn on the hand, or suspended, as the Arabs do, by a cord from the neck. Pharaoh's transfer of his ring from his finger to Joseph betokened his investing him with royal authority ( Genesis 41:42; a device, as the beetle or the owner's name, was engraven on it,  Exodus 28:11). So Ahasuerus in the case of Haman ( Esther 3:8-10), and Mordecai ( Esther 8:2). In  Luke 15:22 it is the father's token of favor, dignity, and sonship to the prodigal; Roman slaves wore no gold rings. We are no longer slaves, but God's free sons when we believe, and receive the Holy Spirit as the pledge of sonship and earnest of sharing the Father's glory ( Galatians 4:3-7). Rich men (Especially Romans Of The Equestrian Order, Whose Badge The Ring Was) wore many rings on the left hand ( James 2:2). Greek "golden-ringed," not merely with one ring.

Christians derived the usage of the wedding ring from the Jews. The ring was treasured much, and so symbolizes what is most precious to us (  Jeremiah 22:24 , Jehoiachin'S Popularity Is Alluded To) ; the signet ring was worn on the right hand (contrast  Haggai 2:23). A costly sacrifice to the Lord ( Exodus 35:22).  Song of Solomon 5:14, "his hands" bent are compared to "rings" in which "beryls" are set, as the nails in the fingers; compare as to our names being "sealed" upon His heart,  Song of Solomon 8:6, and palms,  Isaiah 49:16. The bride desires herself to be a signet ring on His arm. God in turn seals us with His signet ( Revelation 7:2-4), "I will make thee as a signet" ( Haggai 2:23), i.e. an object of constant regard, as the ring is ever before the eye. Christ the Antitype is always in the Father's presence, ever pleasing in His sight; so we, through Him our representative. The signet represents legally the owner; so Christ wields the Father's delegated authority ( Matthew 28:18;  John 5:22-23).

King James Dictionary

RING, n.

1. A circle, or a circular line, or any thing in the form of a circular line or hoop. Thus we say of men, they formed themselves into a ring, to see a wrestling match. Rings of gold were made for the ark.  Exodus 25 . Rings of gold or other material are worn on the fingers and sometimes in the ears, as ornaments. 2. A circular course.

Place me, O place me in the dusty ring, where youthful charioteers contend for glory.

RING, n. from the verb.

1. A sound particularly, the sound of metals as the ring of a bell. 2. Any loud sound, or the sounds of numerous voices or sound continued, repeated or reverberated as the ring of acclamations. 3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.

RING, pret. and pp. rung.

To cause to sound, particularly by striking a metallic body as, to ring a bell. This word expresses appropriately the sounding of metals.

RING, from the noun.

1. To encircle. 2. To fit with rings, as the fingers, or as a swine's snout. Farmers ring swine to prevent their rooting.

And ring these fingers with thy household worms.

RING,

1. To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one. 2. To practice the art of making music with bells. 3. To sound to resound.

With sweeter notes each rising temple rung.

4. To utter, as a bell to sound.

The shardborn beetle with his drowsy hums, hath rung night's yawning peal.

5. To tinkle to have the sensation of sound continued.

My ears still ring with noise.

6. To be filled with report or talk. The whole town rings with his fame.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Song of Solomon 5:14 (a) This is a type of the pure and perfect care which our Lord exercises over His bride because of the intimate relationship between them. It tells of an eternal devotion, which will never be broken. It tells of divine care, which is always sufficient. It tells of the beautiful love that is indescribable, and constant, without end.

 Ezekiel 1:18 (a) It seems that the rings are synonymous with the wheels. They are a picture of GOD in action, progress, motivations from Heaven. The eyes indicate the Holy Spirit, who is Himself always intimately associated with all the works of GOD the Father and of GOD the Son. Their height indicates the magnificence and the greatness of the unsearchable ways of GOD. When we see the might and the majesty of His work in creation, and of His power in keeping the universe in order, this strikes us with awe.

 Luke 15:22 (b) Here we see a token of the relationship between the Father and His child. It is a public acknowledgment from GOD that this one is His Child and His Son. It is a mark of identification in regard to relationship, as well as authority.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Rings on the fingers were among the ornaments worn by Jews, both by men ( Genesis 38:18;  Genesis 38:25;  Genesis 41:42,  Luke 15:22) and by women ( Isaiah 3:21). A warning against the wearing of rings by Christians is given in Apost. Const. i. 3. That it was needed we can see from the fact that in  James 2:2 the Christian congregations are warned against paying undue respect to the man who comes into their assembly ‘with a gold ring’ (lit.[Note: literally, literature.]‘golden-ringed’; his hands might be adorned with a number of rings). Clement of Alexandria, while forbidding to Christians such ornaments as are mere luxuries, makes an exception of the ring because of its use for the purpose of sealing.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Δακτύλιος (Strong'S #1146 — Noun Masculine — daktulios — dak-too'-lee-os )

"a finger ring," occurs in  Luke 15:22 .

 James 2:2

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ring. The ring was regarded as an indispensable article of a Hebrew's attire, inasmuch as it contained his signet. It was, hence, the symbol of authority.  Genesis 41:42;  Esther 3:10. Rings were worn, not only by men, but by women.  Isaiah 3:21. We may conclude from  Exodus 28:11 that the rings contained a stone engraven with a device, or with the owner's name. The custom appears also to have prevailed among the Jews of the apostolic age.  James 2:2.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 38:18 Genesis 41:42 Esther 3:8-10 8:2 Luke 15:22 James 2:2

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

RING . See Ornaments, 2, 4 . In   Song of Solomon 5:14 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘ cylinder ’ is preferable to EV [Note: English Version.] ‘ring,’ the comparison being probably with the fingers of the hand.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

See Signet

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(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. טבּעת , ṭabba‛ath , the principal Hebrew word, is from טבע , ṭābha‛ , "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, ṭabba‛ath , "ring," is a detail of furniture or equipment, as the rings of the ark through which the staves were thrust (  Exodus 25:12 , etc.), rings for curtains, in the high priest's ephod ( Exodus 28:28;  Exodus 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 ( Genesis 41:42 ); and Ahasuerus gave Haman ( Esther 3:10 ); with it the royal missive was sealed ( Esther 3:12;  Esther 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) (  Isaiah 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") ( Exodus 35:22 ); "bracelets, rings (the American Standard Revised Version "signet-rings"), ear-rings" ( Numbers 31:50 the King James Version). חותם , ḥōthām , "signet," mentioned in  Genesis 38:18 ,  Genesis 38:25;  Exodus 28:11 ,  Exodus 28:21 ,  Exodus 28:36;  Exodus 39:6 ,  Exodus 39:14 ,  Exodus 39:30;  Jeremiah 22:24;  Haggai 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. גּליל , gālı̄l , "circle" (compare "Galilee," "Circle" of the Gentiles), rendered "ring" in  Esther 1:6;  Song of Solomon 5:14 , may rather mean "cylinder" or "rod" of metal. Earring (which see) in the King James Version is from totally different words: נזם , nezem , whose etymology is unknown, עגיל , ‛āghı̄l , "round," or לחשׁ , laḥash , "amulet"; so the Revised Version (British and American). The "rings" of the wheels in  Ezekiel 1:18 (the King James Version) are גּב , 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, δακτύλιος , daktúlios , "finger-ring," is a token of means, position, standing: "put a ring on his hand" ( Luke 15:22 ). Perhaps also it included the right to give orders in his father's name. To be χρυσοδακτύλιος , chrusodaktúlios , "golden-ringed," perhaps with more than one, indicated wealth and social rank: "a man with a gold ring" ( James 2:2 ). See also Earring; Signet; Seal .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Ring'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/r/ring.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.