Engraving Pesukim on a Ring
Question
Is it permitted to engrave pesukim on a ring?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
It is forbidden to engrave verses on a ring or other mundane object that will either be thrown away or be taken into a bathroom.
Let’s take a look at some of the sources.
Yoreh Deah 284:3 says, “It is forbidden to embroider pesukim on a Tallit.” The Shach explains that the main problem here is that the Tallit (or any other garment) will be brought into a bathroom which is unbecoming the holiness of pesukim.
In fact, the Rambam (Teshuvos 268) discusses this issue at length at writes that the portion of the Tallit that has a passuk on it must be removed from the Tallit and placed in genizah and that if the owner refuses to do so, he should be placed in cherem!
The ban applies even when engraving less than an entire passuk. As long as the wording is recognizable as a passuk then it is forbidden. This is true even if the name of Hashem is not included. The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 276) says that even the letter “hay” used to convey Hashem’s name must not be treated disrespectfully and therefore some are stringent to place it in geniza.
It is worth mentioning that verses should not be written on wedding invitations as is, unfortunately, very common. This is because wedding invitations are soon put in the garbage. The passuk would have to be changed somewhat significantly to be permitted to be printed on an invitation.
As such, it is clear the pesukim should not be engraved on a ring as it will be frequently brought into the bathroom or otherwise used in a mundane routine manner as jewelry is.