2 Nephi 13:18-24

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 13:18-24

18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon;

19 The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers;

20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings;

21 The rings, and nose jewels;

22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins;

23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and hoods, and the veils.

24 And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; burning instead of beauty.

Quotes for Discussion

"In that day”

Since Jerusalem has been invaded so many times, it is difficult to identify which destruction best fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy. Since the warning of destruction is prefaced in verse 18 with the phrase “in that day,” Isaiah could be pointing to a fulfillment in the last days. Some students of Jewish history observe parallels in the Nazi Holocaust. Also, it seems that the last verses of Isaiah 3 might even describe the effects of a nuclear holocaust. (Recent statements by the First Presidency indicate an inspired concern about the dangers of nuclear proliferation; see Bruce R. McConkie, CR, Apr. 1979, 133.) Of course, other disasters, such as disease, plague, or famine, could fulfill these conditions in the last days.

Victor L. Ludlow, Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet, [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982], 108

Fashion—

Definitely a conservative society, the Hebrews resisted change in clothing styles—at least among the lower classes. They chose wool as their fabric, which they could produce from the backs of the sheep that they raised….Men, women and children wore long tunics, extending from the neck almost to the ankles. Women and older girls also had long capes that covered their heads and reached to the bottom of their tunics….We know they often wore [girdles or belts] if for no other reason than to provide a place to tuck the bottom of their tunics when working, or to keep their clothing from billowing in a breeze….Much of the time they were [barefoot] both inside and out of their houses. Sometimes they did wear sandals….

Isaiah severely criticized the well-to-do women of Jerusalem for their ostentation….(Isa. 3:18-24).

Here we see, among other things, that like the Assyrians the Judeans wore gold or silver bands around their ankles, bracelets for the wrist, armlets for the upper arm, earrings (crescents), turbans or head bands, veils, fabric of linen, pendants of precious or semi-precious stones, amulets (to ward off evil or as good luck charms), and had their hair elaborately dressed. In addition, they even wore nose rings.

Howard F. Vos, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999], 295

Bravery of Tinkling Ornaments….Bravery means “display, show, ostentation, and splendour.”…The Hebrew word used by Isaiah has nothing to do with a modern day reference to a “brave” person….The Hebrew term…translated tinkling ornaments has reference to “a band circling the flesh, particularly, an ornament of women loving display.”…

Cauls….A covering of the head worn by women like a net or fine mesh of parallel threads intersecting at right angles worn on the head and probably secured by a headband….

Round Tires Like The Moon….Ornaments worn on the necks of men, women, and even camels. See Judges 8:21, 26….The reason for the King James use of the word “tires” comes from the fact that originally that word “tyre” meant “an ornamentation, dress, or apparel.” The word “attire” comes of the same origin and the modern reference to an automobile tire, etc., comes from the original sense that the tire was the “attire”, “clothing”, or covering of the wheel.

Chains…..The usual English understanding of this word describes a type of earring, especially when made with pearls or drops….

Bracelets….This term comes from the root word “to twist or to twine,” from the idea of “turning, twisting, or going in a circle or being wreathed.” This particular word is the feminine plural form and, hence, bracelets….

Mufflers….”A woman’s veil.”…

Bonnets….An ornamental head covering and the term was used in Exodus 39:28 to describe the linen cap worn by the sons of Aaron as part of the priestly robes worn in the Temple.

Ornaments of The Legs….This may refer to a stepping chain which was worn by women fastened to the ankle band of each leg so that the wearer was forced to walk elegantly with short steps. Bells were often attached to this chain to make a sound….

Head-bands….It has nothing to do with a band or anything else worn about the head. It is a good example of how reading an ancient language translated into old English may be misleading. The term in Hebrew meant “a band or sash worn around the waist.”…

As to the meaning of the term “head-band” in English, in 1611 when the King James translation was made one definition meant “a sash at the top of or head of the trousers.”

Tablets….As to the origin of the English word “tablet” the King James translators may have used that word to designate “an ornament of precious metal or jewelry of a flat form, worn about the person.”…

Others translators have interpreted the terms to refer to “receptacles or places for intimate things.” Some have thought that the term means “smelling bottles or perfume bottles.”…The phrase translated “tablets” may be reference to amulets or special small boxes containing items, “tablets” or scrolls, upon which sacred or intimate things were written. This conclusion would also be consistent with the fact that there developed a practice among the Jews of wearing small boxes or containers usually on the left arm and forehead secured to the body by connected leather ties….Some Jews used this as a manner of exhibiting their own greatness, wisdom, piety and devotion; while at the same time demeaning others. The practice was condemned in Matthew 23:5….

Ear-rings….This term…stands for amulets, or superstitious ornaments, commonly gems and precious stones, or plates of gold and silver, on which magical formula were inscribed….A mention of the earrings having religious significance related to the worship of idols is made in Genesis 35:4, in which all the household of Jacob were commanded to give up all their idols….

Rings….A signet ring or seal ring which is pressed into a soft substance to affix a seal or signet….

Nose-jewels….This was an item similar to an earring except that it was worn in the nose.

Changeable Suits of Apparel….”Splendid or costly garments which at home are put off or not worn.”…

Mantels….A spreading garment or cloak worn over other clothing. It was like a large tunic reaching to hands and feet….

Wimples….A spreading garment of a woman….

Crisping-pins….”Something turned or curved, especially a conical pouch or purse.”…

Glasses….Mirrors or thin plates made of polished metal….

Fine Linen….A wide garment made of linen, worn on a naked body, under the outer clothes.

Hoods….”A head-piece or band wound around the head of a man.”…

[Veils]. The word veil, spelled with an “e” denotes a piece of linen or other material forming part of a head-dress and worn so as to fall over the head and shoulders and down each side of the face.

Loren D. Martin, Isaiah: An Ensign to the Nations [salt Lake City: Valiant Publications, 1982], 165-74

“Hair and Baldness”

The hair, which was considered a chief point of beauty, was the object of special care. Young people wore it long; but in men this would have been regarded as a token of effeminacy (1 Cor. 11:14)….Peasant girls tied their hair in a simple knot; but the fashionable Jewesses curled and plaited theirs, adorning the tresses with gold ornaments and pearls. The favourite colour was a king of auburn, to produce which the hair was either dyed or sprinkled with gold-dust.

Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life [Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994], 200

Self-imposed baldness,…sitting on the ground,…and sackcloth…are all symbols of mourning,…mourning caused by God’s judgments on Judah and Jerusalem as well as upon the world in the last days.

Parry, Parry, and Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 44

Edited November 2, 2009 by pam