What does the Bible say about braided hair and wearing pearls or gold?
1 Timothy 2:9-10 “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”
The Good News Translation (not a word-for-word translation but rather a grouping of the main idea) says: “I also want the women to be modest and sensible about their clothes and to dress properly; not with fancy hair styles or with gold ornaments or pearls or expensive dresses.”
A godly woman professing to follow Jesus should dress modestly. We should dress to honor God, not to impress ourselves or others. Women are to “adorn themselves with good works” and not be distracting to others or themselves. This avoids tempting us with vanity, or unspoken competition with other women that would cause them to sin through jealousy, gossip or backbiting. We also want to avoid inappropriate attention from men, trying to arouse sexual interest.
Wearing expensive clothes, jewelry, fancy makeup, etc. can easily approach the line of what would be appropriate and could cause us or others to think or act sinfully. In the Apostle Paul’s day, elaborate hairstyles – perhaps braided with gold – and expensive dress was part of the culture that was improper in the church setting. We take the principle of modesty and moderation and apply it to the Christian woman today.
To learn more about this question and other potential “sins” listen to, “Is It a Sin If I…”
