Comeliness, in biblical terms, refers to beauty, attractiveness, or gracefulness, often in a moral or spiritual sense rather than merely physical appearance. The concept of comeliness is woven throughout Scripture, highlighting both the external and internal qualities that are pleasing to God and others.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, comeliness is frequently associated with physical beauty and the favor it brings. For instance, in the Song of Solomon, a book celebrating love and beauty, the term is used to describe the beloved: "You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you" (Song of Solomon 4:7). This reflects the admiration and delight found in the beloved's appearance, symbolizing the deeper spiritual beauty of love and devotion.

Isaiah also uses the term in a prophetic context, contrasting the comeliness of the Messiah with His suffering: "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2). Here, the lack of physical comeliness underscores the humility and sacrificial nature of Christ, emphasizing that true beauty is found in His redemptive work rather than outward appearance.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, comeliness takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often speaks to the inner beauty and character that should adorn believers. In 1 Corinthians 12:23, Paul uses the concept of comeliness to describe the honor and care given to the less visible members of the body of Christ: "And the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty" . This highlights the value and dignity of every member of the Christian community, regardless of outward appearance.

Peter also addresses the idea of comeliness in the context of Christian conduct, particularly for women: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight" (1 Peter 3:3-4). This passage emphasizes the importance of inner beauty and character over external adornment, aligning with the biblical theme that true comeliness is found in a heart aligned with God's will.

Spiritual and Moral Dimensions

Throughout Scripture, comeliness is often linked with righteousness, holiness, and the moral beauty that comes from a life lived in accordance with God's commandments. Psalm 29:2 exhorts believers to "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness" . Here, the splendor or comeliness of holiness is presented as an attribute of God that believers are called to reflect in their worship and daily lives.

The Proverbs also speak to the comeliness of wisdom and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 31:30: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised" . This verse underscores the transient nature of physical beauty compared to the enduring comeliness of a life rooted in the fear of the Lord.

In summary, the biblical concept of comeliness encompasses both physical beauty and the deeper, more enduring beauty of a life characterized by righteousness, humility, and devotion to God. It calls believers to seek the inner beauty that reflects God's character and to value the spiritual over the superficial.(n.) The quality or state of being comely.COMELINESS; COMELY

kum'-li-nes, kum'-li: Cognate with "becoming," namely, what is suitable, graceful, handsome. The servant of Yahweh in Isaiah 53:2 is without "comeliness" (hadhar, "honor"), i.e. there is in his appearance nothing attractive, while he is bowed beneath man's sin. "Praise is comely" (na'wah,ff. of na'weh; Psalm 33:1; Psalm 147:1), i.e. suitable or befitting "for the righteous," and, therefore, an honor and glory; "uncomely parts," aschemona (1 Corinthians 12:23), namely, less honorable. See also 1 Samuel 16:18, "a comely person"; Songs 6:4, "comely as Jerusalem." etc.

2157. euschemosune -- comeliness
... comeliness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: euschemosune Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-skhay-mos-oo'-nay) Short Definition: decorum, becomingness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2157.htm - 6k

2143. euprepeia -- goodly appearance
... Feminine Transliteration: euprepeia Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-prep'-i-ah) Short
Definition: beauty, gracefulness Definition: beauty, gracefulness, comeliness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2143.htm - 6k

1926. hadar -- an ornament, honor, splendor
... splendor (8). beauty, comeliness, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty.
From hadar; magnificence, ie Ornament or splendor -- beauty ...
/hebrew/1926.htm - 6k

1935. hod -- splendor, majesty, vigor
... beauty, comeliness, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty. From an unused
root; grandeur (ie An imposing form and appearance) -- beauty ...
/hebrew/1935.htm - 6k

4758. mareh -- sight, appearance, vision
... From ra'ah; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether
(real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks ...
/hebrew/4758.htm - 6k

2898. tub -- good things, goods, goodness
... Word Origin from tob Definition good things, goods, goodness NASB Word Usage best
(3), best things (1), bounty (2), comeliness (1), fair (1), glad (2), good (2 ...
/hebrew/2898.htm - 6k

The Comeliness of virginity Never Existed Amongst the Heathen...
... Three Books Concerning Virgins. To Marcellina, His Sister. Book I. Chapter IV.
The comeliness of virginity never existed amongst the heathen? ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iv the comeliness of.htm

The Beauty and Excellency of this World Consists, not Only in the ...
... A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE. John xiii. 35. Chapter I. The beauty and excellency
of this world consists, not only in the perfection and comeliness? ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter i the beauty and.htm

Whether Venial Sin Causes a Stain on the Soul?
... I answer that as stated above (Q[86], A[1]), a stain denotes a loss of comeliness
due to contact with something, as may be seen in corporeal matters, from ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether venial sin causes a.htm

Concerning Things Performed in the Muron, and Concerning Things ...
... For the hidden comeliness of God is unsullied, and is sweet beyond conception, and
manifested for spiritual contemplation to the intellectual alone, through a ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput iv i concerning things.htm

Whether Sin Causes a Stain on the Soul?
... I answer that, A stain is properly ascribed to corporeal things, when a comely body
loses its comeliness through contact with another body, eg a garment, gold ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sin causes a stain.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John x. 14, "I am the Good Shepherd ...
... "For we saw Him," it is said, "and He had neither beauty nor comeliness." [4137]
Such He appeared on the Cross, such when crowned with thorns did He exhibit ...
/.../sermon lxxxviii on the words.htm

The Resurrection.
... lightning. Then shall death be swallowed up of victory. Glory is the sweetness,
comeliness, purity, and perfection of a thing. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxv the resurrection.htm

How, Upon Saul's Transgression of the Prophet's Commands, Samuel ...
... he called Jesse and his sons to partake of those sacrifices; and when he saw his
eldest son to be a tall and handsome man, he guessed by his comeliness that he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon sauls.htm

John Chapter viii. 26, 27
... What also of comely and comeliness? Comeliness is more than comely; for comeliness
gives existence to the comely, not the comely to comeliness. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxxix john chapter viii.htm

Letter iii. (AD 387. )
... Of soul and body." "Which of these is the nobler?" "Doubtless the soul." "What do
men praise in the body?" "Nothing that I see but comeliness." "And what is ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter iii a d 387.htm

Comeliness (9 Occurrences)
... (n.) The quality or state of being comely. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMELINESS;
COMELY. ... Multi-Version Concordance Comeliness (9 Occurrences). ...
/c/comeliness.htm - 10k

Comely (32 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMELINESS; COMELY. kum'-li-nes, kum'-li: Cognate
with "becoming," namely, what is suitable, graceful, handsome. ...
/c/comely.htm - 16k

Form (153 Occurrences)
... mere form. 6. (n.) Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness;
elegance; beauty. 7. (n.) A shape; an image; a phantom. 8 ...
/f/form.htm - 45k

Goodliness (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Beauty of form; grace; elegance; comeliness.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GOODLINESS. good'-li ...
/g/goodliness.htm - 7k

Void (64 Occurrences)
... of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with
more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; (DBY ...
/v/void.htm - 26k

Uncomely (2 Occurrences)
... those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow
more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness...
/u/uncomely.htm - 7k

Gazing (11 Occurrences)
... Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no
strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I ...
/g/gazing.htm - 9k

Fearfully (4 Occurrences)
... Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no
strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I ...
/f/fearfully.htm - 7k

Retained (10 Occurrences)
... Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no
strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I ...
/r/retained.htm - 9k

Esteem (25 Occurrences)
... of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with
more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; (DBY ...
/e/esteem.htm - 17k

Why is Jesus often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth? | GotQuestions.org

Comeliness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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