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noÌ„z-jū´elz, -joÌ„ō´elz (× ×–×, nezem (probably from × ×–×, naÌ„zam, “muzzleâ€) a “nose-ring,†or “nose-jewel,†so rendered in ; “jewel in a swine's snout,†, the King James Version margin “ringâ€; “jewel on thy forehead,†, “ring upon thy noseâ€): In , the King James Version rendered incorrectly “earringâ€; compare . Indeed, the word had also a more generic meaning of “ring†or “jewelry,†whether worn in the nose or not. See ; , where the ornament was worn in the ear. There are several cases without specification, uniformly rendered, without good reason, however, “earring†in the King James Version (; , ; (“ringâ€); ; (15)).
The nose-jewel was made of gold or of silver, usually, and worn by many women of the East. It was a ring of from an inch to about three inches (in extreme cases) in diameter, and was passed through the right nostril. Usually there were pendant from the metal ring jewels, beads or coral. Such ornaments are still worn in some parts of the East. See also AMULET; JEWEL.