What does the Bible say about woman wearing make up?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible does not give a universal prohibition on women wearing makeup, but it consistently calls God’s people to modesty, purity, humility, and an emphasis on inward godliness rather than outward display. Jeremiah 4:30 and Ezekiel 23:40 use cosmetics in prophetic images of futile or immoral self-presentation, while 2 Kings 9:30 mentions Jezebel’s makeup without making it itself the central sin. Proverbs 7:10-12 warns against dress and conduct that entice toward sexual sin. Peter teaches that a woman’s true beauty is the gentle, godly character of the heart (1 Peter 3:3), and Paul urges modest, respectable dress joined to good works (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Makeup may be used with discretion, but never to cultivate vanity, seduction, or identity apart from Christ.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Jeremiah 4:30 17 votes
You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with makeup, you make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers despise you. They seek your life.
- 1 Peter 3:3 17 votes
Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,
- 1 Timothy 2:9 16 votes
In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing,
- 1 Timothy 2:8-10 14 votes
I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting. In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing, but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.
- Proverbs 7:10-12 13 votes
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house. Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
- Ezekiel 23:40 12 votes
“Furthermore you sisters have sent for men who come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decorated yourself with ornaments,
- 2 Kings 9:30 11 votes
When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out at the window.
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