FILIGREE. Ornamental work in fine wire. Archeological finds have demonstrated that filigree work was produced throughout the ancient Near E. Egyptian funerary jewelry provides some of the best examples with intricate wire reproductions of divine symbols inlaid with glazed beads and semi-precious stones.

Although the evidence is less than conclusive, Biblical scholars generally agree that some of the gold settings (מִשְׁבְּצֹ֖ת זָהָֽב; e.g. Exod 28:13) of the high priest’s garments were of gold filigree (e.g. IDB). These are the settings for the two onyx stones of the shoulder pieces of the Ephod (Exod 28:11; 39:6), the two settings on the shoulder pieces for the chains which connected the shoulder pieces with the breast piece (28:13, 14, 25; 39:16-18), and the settings for the twelve precious stones of the breast piece (28:20; 39:13); the former uses a slightly different Heb. form: מְשֻׁבָּצִ֥ים.

If the above interpretation is correct, Psalm 45:13b might better be tr. “adorned with golden filigree” instead of “decked...with gold-woven robes” (RSV).

Bibliography F. C. Toombs, “Filigree,” IDB (1962).