Shayla: Can a man wear ear rings?

 

Meforshim:

On that terrible day, when the people of Israel decided to give themselves an external focal point, a figure head if you will, we are told that it was fabricated from the jewelry that they were wearing.

  • Exodus 32:2-3 HCSB  Then Aaron replied to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me."  3  So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron.

If you will notice, the passage says that the sons were wearing gold ear rings. Consider the fact that they were wearing these before Moses went up to the mountain to receive the Law and were never rebuked for it. They were not rebuked for wearing this jewelry after the fact either.

In fact, later on, they were again wearing rings, necklaces and all kinds of gold jewelry and it was considered an honorable thing to offer these things in worship to the Lord.

  • Exodus 35:21-22 HCSB  Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD to construct the tent of meeting for every use, and to make the holy garments.  22  Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry--everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the LORD.

Take note of the fact that it was both men and women who came bearing this personal jewelry. To argue that the men were simply helping the women carry their jewelry seems fatuous to us. If we take the passage as it literally stands, it is perfectly acceptable for men to wear such jewelry.

This was born out later when the military men decided to make an offering out of their gratitude for having survived their battles with the Midianites. The men considered armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces to be valuable plunder and it was considered an acceptable offering to the Lord once it had been properly purified through either fire or water to make sure no Midianite uncleanness remained.

  • Numbers 31:50-54 HCSB  So we have presented to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man found--armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces--to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."  51  Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them all the articles made out of gold.  52  All the gold of the contribution they offered to the LORD, from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, was 420 pounds.  53  Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself.  54  Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.

The only limitations to a man wearing jewelry would then be the same as those pertaining to women, namely:

1. That it not cause offense or become an occasion for stumbling for others;

  • Romans 14:13-14 HCSB  Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another, but instead decide not to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother's way.  14  (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.)
  • Romans 14:19 HCSB  So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 HCSB  "Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.  24  No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

 

2. That he not become focused on his outward appearance but remain primarily concerned with his relationship with both God and man (see principle 1).

  • 1 Timothy 2:9-10 HCSB  Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense; not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel,  10  but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.
  • 1 Peter 3:3-4 HCSB  Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes;  4  instead, it should consist of the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes.

 

The only difference between the two is that men must not be effeminate.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9 HCSB  Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,

Note: The word the HCSB translates as “male prostitute” is the Greek word malakos whose primary meaning is “effeminate.” The definition of “male prostitute” is four levels down in possibility. Besides, “effeminate” makes far more sense to us when the following passage is taken into consideration.

  • Deuteronomy 22:5 HCSB  "A woman is not to wear male clothing, and a man is not to put on a woman's garment, for everyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD your God.