Ring

Rings in Scripture served as personal ornaments, signet seals, and symbols of authority. The signet ring was particularly significant: a king's ring impressed with his seal authenticated royal decrees, making it the ancient equivalent of an official signature. Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring as a sign of authority over Egypt (Genesis 41:42); Ahasuerus gave his ring to Haman and later to Mordecai for sealing royal edicts (Esther 3:10; 8:2). The prodigal son's father put a ring on his returning son's finger as a symbol of restored status in the household (Luke 15:22). The parable of the ten virgins and James's warning against showing favoritism to the man with "a gold ring" in the assembly (James 2:2) reflect the social status that rings conveyed.

Rings also functioned as personal adornment. Isaiah 3:21 lists rings among the ornaments God would remove from Jerusalem's daughters in judgment. Golden rings were part of the donations for the tabernacle (Exodus 35:22), and the rings used to carry the ark of the covenant and the table of showbread were integral structural elements of the sacred furniture (Exodus 25:12–15; 26–27).