Paint

The practice of painting the face and eyes was known in ancient Israel, though Scripture consistently associates it with vanity or moral reproach. Jezebel painted her face before confronting Jehu (2 Kings 9:30), and the prophets Jeremiah (4:30) and Ezekiel (23:40) use the image of eye-painting to characterize the seductive unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah toward foreign alliances, comparing the nation to a harlot adorning herself for lovers.

The Hebrew term pukh (antimony or stibium) refers to a dark powder applied around the eyes to make them appear larger and more lustrous — a cosmetic widely attested in Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. Wall painting, a distinct usage, also appears in Scripture: Jehoiakim's ill-advised decoration of his cedar palace with vermilion is condemned by the prophet Jeremiah (22:14) as a symbol of hollow prosperity without justice.