What Does The Bible Say About Adornment? (35 Bible Verses)
Adornment, or how we choose to present ourselves, is a topic the Bible addresses with both direct and subtle guidance. Whether it’s about modesty, beauty, or the inner qualities we cultivate, Scripture offers valuable insights. Let’s uncover what the Bible says about adornment and how we can reflect our faith through our outward appearance.
What Does The Bible Say About Adornment
1 Timothy 2:9 – Modest Adornment
“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,”
1 Peter 3:3-4 – Inner Beauty
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
Proverbs 31:30 – True Beauty
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
Matthew 6:28-30 – God’s Provision
“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Our Bodies as Temples
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Romans 8:8-9 – Pleasing God
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
1 Samuel 16:7 – God Looks at the Heart
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Matthew 5:16 – Let Your Light Shine
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Do All for the Glory of God
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17 – Representing Christ
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 – All Things are Lawful, but Not Helpful
“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”
1 Samuel 16:7 – Focus on the Heart
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
Psalm 139:14 – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Glorify God
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Honor God with Your Body
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Colossians 3:23-24 – Work as for the Lord
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Proverbs 31:30-31 – Praise Her for Her Deeds
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:25 – Strength and Dignity
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.”
James 4:6 – God Opposes the Proud
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Philippians 2:3 – Count Others More Significant
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Proverbs 31:26 – Speak with Wisdom
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Matthew 23:12 – Humble Oneself
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
1 Peter 5:5 – Clothe Yourselves with Humility
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”
Psalms 34:5 – Those Who Look to Him
“Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
Colossians 3:12 – Put on Compassionate Hearts
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”
Proverbs 3:15-18 – Wisdom is More Precious
“She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”
1 Timothy 2:10 – Good Works
“But with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”
1 Peter 3:1-6 – Wives’ Adornment
“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives— when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 – Put Off the Old Self
“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Proverbs 11:22 – Beauty without Good Sense
“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.”
Romans 12:2 – Renewing of Your Mind
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Peter 5:6 – Humble Yourselves
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”
1 Corinthians 3:16 – God’s Temple
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Proverbs 31:27 – Cares for Her Household
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
Philippians 4:8 – Think on Good Things
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Romans 13:14 – Put on Christ
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Proverbs 4:23 – Guard Your Heart
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whatever You Do
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is Patient
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Psalm 119:105 – God’s Word
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do Not Be Anxious
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalms 8:3-4 – Mankind’s Significance
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
Philippians 2:5 – Have the Mind of Christ
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
Proverbs 31:10-11 – A Noble Wife
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.”
Colossians 3:5 – Put to Death What is Earthly
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Psalm 139:14 – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 – Inner Beauty
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
Matthew 6:28-30 – God’s Provision
“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Our Bodies as Temples
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Proverbs 31:30 – True Beauty
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
