THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And adorned your face with an earring, or placed one on your nostrils. The Hebrew term nezem, except for Symmachus who rendered it as ἐπιῤῥίνιον (nose-ring), is consistently translated as earring. This is not because earrings are typically placed in the nostrils, as those worn in the ears are designated as earrings, but rather due to the similarity in form to rings. Historically, many gold ornaments, including rings, are often hung near the face, reaching the nose. We perceive these in a spiritual dimension when we echo the words of the apostle: "We are the fragrance of Christ among those being saved and those who are perishing. To the latter, we present a scent of death, and to the former, a fragrance of life" (2 Cor. 2:15).
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When we are alive, it may be declared of us, "The dead do not praise You, O Lord, but we who are alive" (Psalm 113:23-26), and thus the Lord perceives the aroma of our fragrant offerings, bestowing upon us a golden ring of understanding and divine revelation in our nostrils. Conversely, if we remain lifeless and wallow in the mire of wickedness, then we wear the metaphorical earring described by Solomon: "As a gold ring is in a pig's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion" (Proverbs 11:22). And regarding the rings on your ears, the LXX states: "And rings for your ears." He who shuts his ears to the cries of the bloodshed and shields them from the envious and slanderous is warned by the scriptures: "Do not associate with those who speak ill, for their destruction will come suddenly; and regarding the downfall of both he who speaks evil and he who enjoys hearing it" (Proverbs 24:21-22). Thus, he bears rings and wheels in his ears—not those wheels followed by cherubim, reserved for angelic powers—but rather the humble wheels defined by human frailty. Therefore, the psalmist further acknowledges, "The voice of Thy thunder is in the wheels" (Psalms 76:19). In those who transcend earthly pursuits, leaving only a faint trace upon the earth, it is proclaimed, "A stone is holy lying on the ground" (Zechariah 9:16); within them, the sound of the Lord's thunder and noble teachings resonates. Those easily swayed by human deception and tossed about by every breeze of doctrine (Eph. 4) are cast out from the firm foundation of paradise and dwell in the region of Naid (Gen. 4), signifying instability, and thus justly face consequences for the deceitful tongue that ignites the embers of our being (James 3:6). And a crown of splendor is upon your head. The LXX expresses this as "a crown of praise upon your head." For clarity of meaning, we have translated splendor in accordance with Symmachus. The Hebrew term thopherth is interpreted as "praise" by other translators. The various ornaments refer to the individual parts, yet the ornament of the head symbolizes the entirety of the body. The crown specifically represents the feminine diadem that adorns all the hair. To understand what this glorious crown signifies on the head of Jerusalem, we must reference the book of Exodus, which states: "And he made a golden plate, inscribing on it the words engraved on a seal, 'Holiness belongs to the Lord,' and placed it on Aaron’s head" (Ex. 39:30). The emblem of the Lord's holiness is the name of the Almighty, represented in four Hebrew characters (יהוה) that are deemed ineffable, for His name is beyond utterance. Even Gentiles have not overlooked His majesty, as demonstrated by the altar erected by the Athenians, proclaiming "To the Unknown God." The apostle noted, "Whom you do not recognize, Him I proclaim to you" (Acts 17:23). This is, I believe, the crown the psalmist refers to when he says, "The light of Your countenance shines upon us, O Lord" (Ps. 4:7), and as the apostle affirms: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the righteous Judge will award me on that day" (2 Tim. 4:7-8), and to believers elsewhere he states: "My joy and my crown" (Phil. 4:1). For children are indeed the glory of their parents. Solomon also remarks: "The crown of gray hair is a glorious thing" (Proverbs 16:31), referring to those who, having matured into elder wisdom, honor the names of their ancestors, to whom John refers when addressing the young and the youthful (1 John 2), and who can declare: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I reasoned as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).