The origin of the wedding ring

When we married, Chris and I chose to each wear a wedding ring. Mine is a small rounded band yellow gold ring whilst Chris's is half rounded and wide in yellow gold. We do love wearing them and would feel lost without them.

When we were both single after long-term marriages, being remarried was on both our hearts. When finally we met, we discovered that we both had looked at people's wedding fingers, searching for rings, wondering if the person was attached. And we both recall feeling a sense of envy and longing when we saw a wedding ring worn on that special finger.

To be honest, I think most married people can attest to the pride that they felt as they showed their rings to their guests at their wedding reception, and most can still feel a sense of pride and contentment in wearing theirs. Although wedding rings are not mentioned in Scripture and therefore do not constitute a marriage per se, they are indicative of the covenant and a pledge of love between our husbands and ourselves that should speak to us each time we reflect on why we wear them.

I decided to do a little research on wedding rings to find out just why they are important to our culture and  their origin, here is what I have found:

Wedding rings originated in Ancient Egypt more than 4,800years ago. They were originally created with hemp, rushes or braided grass and worn only by women.

The circular shape of the Wedding Ring symbolises the never-ending love between husband and wife. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand. This tradition began as the vein in this finger is believed to be the ‘vena amoris’ or ‘vein of love’ which leads directly to the heart.

After the Egyptians, the Romans continued the Wedding Ring tradition introducing a more permanent metal – Iron. During the middle ages in Europe, Gold became the most popular choice for Wedding Rings. During this time, precious gems, such as Rubies, Sapphires and Diamonds, also started to be used in the creation of Wedding Rings.

A token of love, a symbol of forever. Whether a plain metal band or an exquisite work of craftsmanship, the wedding ring has played a central role in marriage ceremonies throughout history.

Ancient Times

According to Penny Proddow and Marion Fasel, co-authors of "With This Ring," the exact origins of the wedding ring are unknown. However, it was tradition in ancient Rome for brides to wear a simple iron band. In the third century, "key engagement rings" were given to a betrothed woman to celebrate entering her husband's home.

1400s

During the 15th century, precious gems set inside gold rings became fashionable. Each stone had a special meaning and was usually cut into a pyramid.

1500s

Jewish wedding rings in Italy and Germany became elaborate with miniature temples designed on a band adorned with messages and stories.

1600s

By the 17th century, gimmel rings with hidden messages and secret openings were created for couples. The ring was split apart at engagement for both the man and woman to wear. During the wedding, the whole ring was slid back on the bride's finger to symbolize unity.

1700s and 1800s

The claddagh design -- two hands holding a heart with a crown -- originated in Italy and eventually became tradition among Irish brides. The first mention of the wedding ring as an option in a marriage ceremony, occurs in the 1872 manual of the Methodist Church, known as Discipline: "If the parties desire it, the man shall here hand a ring to the minister, who shall return it to him and direct him to place it on the third finger of the woman’s left hand. And the man shall say to the woman, repeating after the minister, ‘With this ring I thee wed, and with my worldly goods I thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’"

In early Judaism to present

In a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, Jewish wedding rings play a very important role. In Jewish law, a verbal declaration is not enough to be married.  According to Jewish law, a formal, physical consecration must be made. Usually this is done with the giving of a Jewish wedding ring, however in ancient times, it was merely something of value–with the minimum value of what is now a penny.  The ring must be of solid uninterrupted gold with no holes breaking the circle. The continuity of the rings represents the hope for an everlasting marriage.

In most ceremonies, the bridegroom repeats a Hebrew vow after the Rabbi, with the giving of the ring. The bridegroom would declare, “Behold, thou art consecrated to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.”

1900s to Present

Margaret Brinig, a researcher at George Mason University, traces the demand for diamonds used in wedding rings for the wealthy back to 1840, but it wasn't until after the Great Depression that they became a popular American tradition.

Men didn’t start wearing Wedding Bands until much later – around the time of the Second World War. Being separated from their wives for long periods of time, Soldiers wore Wedding Bands as a symbolic reminder of their loved one back home.

In this picture at the top of the post, Sarah also wears a gold wedding band, typical of early Hebrew wedding rings. The wedding band is known to have been used in ancient Egypt and was worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, just as it is today.  painting:  Is anything too hard for the LORD? by Elspeth Young

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

In Hebrew, this phrase is Hare at mekudeshet li betaba’ at zo k’dat Moshe v’ Yisrael.  the Talmud  “Behold, thou art consecrated to me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.”