The Hebrew noun nezem means a ring, specifically a nose ring or earring. It refers to a piece of jewelry worn as personal adornment, often made of gold. Rings served as markers of wealth, status, and beauty in the ancient Near East and played significant roles in betrothal customs.
The nezem appears in both positive and negative contexts. Abraham's servant gave Rebekah a golden nose ring as a sign of betrothal — a beautiful picture of God's provision. But in Exodus 32, the golden earrings of the people were melted down to form the golden calf. Proverbs uses the image of a gold ring in a pig's snout to depict beauty without discretion. The ring thus represents how material gifts can serve either worship or idolatry.