Pro 11:22 | KingComments | STEP | An outwardly “beautiful woman who lacks discretion” is similar to a beautiful “ring of gold” put in “a swine’s snout”. The Israelite women had a nose ring as an ornament, among other things ( ; ). It is nonsensical to think that wearing a nose ring would make an animal that is constantly filthy beautiful. It corresponds to our (Dutch) proverb: it is a flag on a mud. The comparison is that a beautiful ornament is attached to an unworthy body. A swine does not know the value of it. You can want to adorn that animal with jewelry and thus try to make it attractive, but the animal continues to stink and finds pleasure in living in the mud and stench. The ring loses its beauty because of it. Jezebel was such a woman. Between her behavior and her dolled-up appearance, there was no correspondence. Her outward beautification paled in the light of her depraved interior ( ). We can also apply this to the beautiful appearance of the roman-catholic church which, however, is full of corruption inside ( ). The true adornment of a woman is within, in her heart, in her mind ( ). Of Abigail it is noted first that she was “intelligent” and then that she was “beautiful in appearance” ( ). A woman is attractive when she exhibits the mind and characteristics of Christ. The bride, the wife of the Lamb, will possess those characteristics in full glory ( ).

‏ Proverbs 11:22

A Beautiful Woman Who Lacks Discretion

An outwardly “beautiful woman who lacks discretion” is similar to a beautiful “ring of gold” put in “a swine’s snout”. The Israelite women had a nose ring as an ornament, among other things (Gen 24:22 ; 30 ; 47; Isa 3:21). It is nonsensical to think that wearing a nose ring would make an animal that is constantly filthy beautiful. It corresponds to our (Dutch) proverb: it is a flag on a mud.

The comparison is that a beautiful ornament is attached to an unworthy body. A swine does not know the value of it. You can want to adorn that animal with jewelry and thus try to make it attractive, but the animal continues to stink and finds pleasure in living in the mud and stench. The ring loses its beauty because of it. Jezebel was such a woman. Between her behavior and her dolled-up appearance, there was no correspondence. Her outward beautification paled in the light of her depraved interior (2Kgs 9:30). We can also apply this to the beautiful appearance of the roman-catholic church which, however, is full of corruption inside (Rev 17:4-6).

The true adornment of a woman is within, in her heart, in her mind (1Pet 3:3-4). Of Abigail it is noted first that she was “intelligent” and then that she was “beautiful in appearance” (1Sam 25:3). A woman is attractive when she exhibits the mind and characteristics of Christ. The bride, the wife of the Lamb, will possess those characteristics in full glory (Rev 21:9-10).