πλέγ-μα G4117
braided hair; elaborate hairstyles created by plaiting or weaving
Originally denoting anything twisted or woven together—from vine tendrils to wicker-work—this term came to specifically refer to elaborate braided hairstyles in New Testament usage. In 1 Timothy 2:9, Paul discourages women from ostentatious hair arrangements that signal wealth and status. Ancient hairstyles could be extraordinarily complex, requiring hours and sometimes slaves to create, making them visible markers of social standing and disposable wealth.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The elaborate braided hairstyles discouraged in 1 Timothy 2:9 as inappropriate for Christian worship. Paul's concern is not hair itself but the status-display embedded in time-consuming, expensive styling. Multilingual evidence ('braided-hair', 'trenzados') identifies the plaiting technique. These elaborate coiffures advertised wealth and social position, distracting from the inner adornment that truly matters. 1×
AR["ضَفائِرَ"]·ben["কেশবিন্যাসে,"]·DE["Flechten"]·EN["braided-hair"]·FR["πλέγμασιν"]·heb["מַחְלְפוֹת"]·HI["गुथथियोन"]·ID["rambut-yang-dikepang"]·IT["plegmasin"]·jav["nam-naman,"]·KO["땀은-머리들,"]·PT["tranças"]·RU["плетениях"]·ES["trenzados"]·SW["nywele-zilizosokotwa"]·TR["örgülerde"]·urd["گوندھیوں"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πλέγ-μα, ατος, τό, anything twined or twisted, π. ἕλικος the twisting tendril of the vine, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 plaited work, wicker-work, Refs 5th c.BC+: in plural, wreaths, chaplets, Refs 5th c.BC+; also, plaited hair, NT __3 π. δικτυοειδές the rete mirabile Galeni, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II metaphorically, complex, combination of words, Refs 5th c.BC+: generally, complex, Refs 1st c.AD+