Bracelet

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, 2Sa 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.

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 (Gen 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.

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, Num 31:50 Isa 3:19 . Armlets were worn by men, sometimes as a badge of royalty, 2Sa 1:10 . Bracelets were of great variety of materials and forms; were usually large, and often of great value, Gen 24:22 .\par 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.\par

Bracelet. See Armlet. Bracelets of fine, twisted, Venetian gold are still common in Egypt. In Gen 38:18; Gen 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 Son 5:14. Layard says of the Assyrian kings, "The arms were encircled by armlets, and the wrists by bracelets."

Armlet which encircled the arm, as BRACELETS the wrist. (See ARMLET.) In Gen 38:18; Gen 38:25, instead of "bracelets" translate (pathiyb) "the ribband" or guard by which Judah’s signet was suspended to his neck. In Isa 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 Exo 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 (2Sa 1:10).

(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.

There are five different Hebrew words which the English Bible renders by bracelet, besides the Greek term χλιδών, which is thus rendered twice in the Apocrypha (Jdt 10:4; Sir 21:21). These are,

(1.) אֶצְעָדָה, etsadah’ (properly a step-chain or anklet), which occurs in Num 31:50; 2Sa 1:10, and with reference to men only.

(2.) צָמַיד, tsamid’ (literally a fastener), which is found in Gen 24:22; Gen 24:30; Gen 24:47; Num 31:50; Eze 16:11; Eze 23:42. Where these two words occur together (as in Num 31:50), the first is rendered by "chain," and the second by "bracelet."

(3.) שֵׁרוֹת, sheroth’, chains (so called from being wreathed), which occurs only in Isa 3:19; but compare the expression "wreathen chains" in Exo 28:14; Exo 28:22. Bracelets of fine twisted Venetian gold are still common in Egypt (Lane, ii, 368, Append. A and plates). The first we take to mean armlets worn by men; the second, bracelets worn by women and sometimes by men; and the third, a peculiar bracelet of chain-work worn only by women. It is observable that the first two occur in Num 31:50, which we suppose to mean that the men offered their own armlets and the bracelets of their wives. In the only other passage in which the first word occurs it denotes the royal ornament which the Amalekite took from the arm of the dead Saul, and brought with the other regalia to David. There is little question that this was such a distinguishing band of jewelled metal as we still find worn as a mark of royalty from the Tigris to the Ganges. The Egyptian kings are represented with armlets, which were also worn by the Egyptian women. These, however, are not jewelled, but of plain enamelled metal, as was in all likelihood the case among the Hebrews.

(4.) חָה (chah, properly a hok or ring), rendered "bracelet" in Exo 35:22, elsewhere "hook" or " chain," is thought by some to designate in that passage a clasp for fastening the dress of females by others more probably a nose-ring or jewel. SEE EAR-RING.

(5.) פָּתַיל (pathil’, a thread), rendered "bracelet" in the account of Judah’si nterview with Tamar (Gen 38:18; Gen 38:25; elsewhere rendered " lace, "line," etc.), probably denotes the ornamental cord or safe-chain with which the signet was suspended in the bosom of the wearer. SEE SIGNET. Men as well as women wore bracelets, as we see from Son 5:14, which may be rendered, "His wrists are circlets of gold full set with topazes." Layard says of the Assyrian kings, "The arms were encircled by armlets, and the wrists by bracelets, all equally remarkable for the taste and beauty of the design and workmanship. In the centre of the bracelets were stars and rosettes, which were probably inlaid with precious stones" (Nineveh, ii, 323). The ancient ladies of Rome were likewise accustomed to wear bracelets, partly as amulets (q.v.) and partly for ornament; the latter chiefly by women of considerable rank, whose jewels of this kind were often of immense value, being enriched with the most costly gems. Bracelets were also occasionally given among the Romans to soldiers as a reward of extraordinary prowess’(see Smith’s Dict. of Class. Ant. s.v. Armilla).

Bracelets 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 the other 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, but it seems to be the rule that bracelets of the meanest materials are better than none. 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 Eliezer to Rebekah weighed ten shekels (Gen 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. SEE ATTIRE.

Bracelet. Gen 24:30. See Garments.

There are five Hebrew words thus translated. In 2Sa 1:10 the bracelet found on Saul’s arm was either an armlet or a ’chain,’ as the same word is translated in Num 31:50. In Gen 38:18; Gen 38:25 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.

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 2Sa 1:10, “the bracelet that was on his arm.” In Exo 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,” Gen 38:18, Gen 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” (Gen 24:47, compare Eze 16:11; Eze 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” (Isa 3:19, shērōth) etc., where some translate “twisted ornaments,” leaving it uncertain as to just what is specifically meantú In 2Sa 1:10 the bracelet appears with the crown as one of the royal insignia. In 2Ki 11:12, according to Wellhausen, W. R. Smith (OTJC², 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 for “testimony” חערות). 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.”

Gen 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.

Eze 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.