עֶ֫כֶס (e.khes)
e.khes
anklet
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ekes refers to an anklet or bangle, a piece of jewelry worn around the ankle or wrist. In the biblical text, it appears only twice, both times within poetic descriptions of adornment that highlight wealth and beauty.
These brief occurrences in Proverbs 25:12 and Isaiah 3:20 place the word among other items like chains, bracelets, and veils. The sources identify it specifically as an anklet, though some translations render it broadly as a bangle. Its presence in these lists serves to paint a vivid picture of the elaborate dress expected of women in ancient Israelite society.
The rarity of the word makes its specific usage notable. Rather than appearing in legal or historical narratives, ekes is reserved for poetic imagery that details personal ornamentation. This limited context suggests it was a recognized item of luxury, valued for its aesthetic contribution to one’s appearance rather than any functional purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekes refers to an anklet, a delicate piece of jewelry worn around the ankle. In ancient Israel, such adornments were signs of beauty and social standing. When Isaiah lists these items among what God would remove, he highlights how deeply people tied their identity to outward appearance. This reminder invites us to look beyond surface-level value.
For your daily life, this word offers a gentle check on where we place our worth. It is easy to find comfort in external markers of success or attractiveness. Yet true dignity comes from who you are before God, not the ornaments you wear. Let this rare term encourage you to seek inner beauty that remains steady through changing seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ anklets1×
- and/ like/ an anklet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ֝/כְ/עֶ֗כֶס1×
- הָ/עֲכָסִ֛ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:18
In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
This verse lists ekes as one of the specific adornments God promises to remove, showing how external beauty will vanish in times of judgment.