Dress, Adornment, and the Body in the Hebrew Bible

This book offers a groundbreaking analysis of dress and adornment in biblical literature, revealing deeper insights into identity and social values. Dress, Adornment, and the Body in the Hebrew Bible is essential reading.

The monograph Dress, Adornment, and the Body in the Hebrew Bible represents a pioneering exploration of dress and adornment within biblical literature, marking its significance in English scholarship. Rather than merely cataloging these elements of ancient life, it delves deeper into how they inform interpersonal relationships and concepts of personhood. Laura Quick presents a multifaceted examination of body adornment, utilizing a diverse methodological approach that includes material culture, philology, textual exegesis, and sociological frameworks.

In this insightful work, Quick synthesizes evidence from various texts across the eastern Mediterranean, reconstructing the social meanings and implications tied to the dressed body as portrayed in biblical narratives. The book illustrates how body adornment serves as a lens through which we can gain a richer understanding of ancient self-conception. The author argues that the body is central to the expression of complex ideologies relating to identity, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and social status.

Furthermore, Dress, Adornment, and the Body in the Hebrew Bible posits that adornment functions as a powerful form of non-verbal communication, shaped and constrained by prevailing social norms. By examining these themes, Quick uncovers valuable insights into the social values of the ancient world, providing an essential context for understanding the cultural environment that influenced the Hebrew Bible.