Girdle

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

The girdle is an indispensable article in the dress of an oriental: it has various uses; but the principal one is to tuck up their long flowing vestments, that they may not incommode them in their work, or on a journey. The Jews, according to some writers, wore a double girdle, one of greater breadth, with which they girded their tunic when they prepared for active exertions: the other they wore under their shirt, around their loins. This under girdle they reckon necessary to distinguish between the heart and the less honourable parts of the human frame. The upper girdle was sometimes made of leather, the material of which the girdle of John the Baptist was made; but it was more commonly fabricated of worsted, often very artfully woven into a variety of figures, and made to fold several times about the body; one end of which being doubled back, and sewn along the edges, serves them for a purse, agreeably to the acceptation of ζωνη , in the Scriptures, which is translated purse, in several places of the New Testament,   Matthew 10:9;  Mark 6:8 . The ancient Romans, in this, as in many other things, imitated the orientals; for their soldiers, and probably all classes of the citizens, used to carry their money in their girdles. Whence, in Horace, qui zonam perdidit, means one who had lost his purse; and in Aulus Gellius, C. Gracthus is introduced, saying, "Those girdles which I carried out full of money when I went from Rome, I have, at my return from the province, brought again empty." The Turks make a farther use of these girdles, by fixing their knives and poinards in them; while the writers and secretaries suspend in them their ink-horns; a custom as old as the Prophet Ezekiel, who mentions "a person clothed in white linen, with an ink-horn upon his loins,"   Ezekiel 9:2 . That part of the ink-holder which passes between the girdle and the tunic, and receives their pens, is long and flat; but the vessel for the ink, which rests upon the girdle, is square, with a lid to clasp over it.

2. To loose the girdle and give it to another was, among the orientals, a token of great confidence and affection. Thus, to ratify the covenant which Jonathan made with David, and to express his cordial regard for his friend, among other things, he gave him his girdle. A girdle curiously and richly wrought was among the ancient Hebrews a mark of honour, and sometimes bestowed as a reward of merit: for this was the recompense which Joab declared he meant to bestow on the man who put Absalom to death: "Why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle,"   2 Samuel 18:11 . The reward was certainly meant to correspond with the importance of the service which he expected him to perform, and the dignity of his own station as commander in chief: we may, therefore, suppose that the girdle promised was not a common one of leather, or plain worsted, but of costly materials and richly adorned; for people of rank and fashion in the east wear very broad girdles, all of silk, and superbly ornamented with gold and silver, and precious stones, of which they are extremely proud, regarding them as the tokens of their superior station and the proof of their riches. "To gird up the loins" is to bring the flowing robe within the girdle, and so to prepare for a journey, or for some vigorous exercise.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

The references to girdle (ζώνη), the article itself being either expressed or implied, admit of a three-fold classification: (1) The girdle in everyday use, which ( a ) was put on before one vent forth ( Acts 12:8), and ( b ) was laid aside indoors ( Acts 21:11). From the fact that such a girdle could be used to bind hands and feet, we may infer that it was of soft material, such as linen. (2) The girdle as an article of military wear, which enters into the metaphor of  Ephesians 6:13 ff. This transfers us to quite another environment, and to a girdle whose materials were stiffer, e.g. leather or metal, or a combination of these. Presumably (1) and (2) were worn upon the loins, and their use was such as to give rise to the figure of speech which is found in  1 Peter 1:13 (cf.  Luke 12:35), viz. girding up the loins (of the mind). (3) The girdle in its ornamental aspect, as appearing in  Revelation 1:13;  Revelation 15:6. The epithet ‘golden’ is to be taken as applicable to cloth and not metal, i.e. the gold was inwrought in a girdle of linen material (cf.  Daniel 10:5, a similar passage, where ‘pure gold of Uphaz’ [Heb.] is rendered βυσσίνῳ in Septuagint). A noteworthy difference emerges in the location of the girdle, loins (Dan.) being replaced by breasts in Rev. (πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς [ Revelation 1:13], περὶ τὰ στήθη [ Revelation 15:6]). The girdle is thus an ‘upper’ girdle, and is suggestive of Greek and Roman custom. See also the description in Josephus, Ant . iii. vii. 2. Cf. articleApron.

W. Cruickshank.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

An article of dress always worn in the East, both by the rich and the poor, and needed there because of their flowing robes. For the poor they were of the plainest material, but for the rich they were more or less costly, and were highly ornamented. They were thus suitable articles for presents.  1 Samuel 18:4;  2 Samuel 18:11 . John the Baptist wore a leathern girdle, or one of skin.  Matthew 3:4;  Mark 1:6 : cf.  2 Kings 1:8 . In the Revelation the Lord has on a golden girdle, and the seven angels who come out of the temple have the same.  Revelation 1:13;  Revelation 15:6 . The priests wore girdles, and one for Aaron was a 'linen' girdle,  Leviticus 16:4 , and with the breastplate was the CURIOUS(i.e. embroidered) GIRDLEof the ephod, made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen.  Exodus 28:8 .

The girdle is typical of strength, and 'girding up the loins' denotes active service. When the Gentiles are gathered by God to discipline Israel, the girdle of their loins shall not be loosed.  Isaiah 5:27 . Of the Lord when He comes to reign it is said, "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."  Isaiah 11:5 . In the present warfare the Christian is exhorted to have his loins 'girt about' with truth,  Ephesians 6:14 — the 'truth' being the very thing that Satan will most oppose, and about which the mass are liable to be indifferent.

Girdles were also used for purses,  Matthew 10:9;  Mark 6:8 , where the word signifies a 'belt.'

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Heb. hesheb, the "curious girdle" ( Exodus 28:8; RSV, "cunningly woven band") was attached to the ephod, and was made of the same material.

The common girdle was made of leather ( 2 Kings 1:8;  Matthew 3:4 ); a finer sort of linen ( Jeremiah 13:1;  Ezekiel 16:10;  Daniel 10:5 ). Girdles of sackcloth were worn in token of sorrow ( Isaiah 3:24;  22:12 ). They were variously fastened to the wearer ( Mark 1:6;  Jeremiah 13:1;  Ezekiel 16:10 ).

The girdle was a symbol of strength and power ( Job 12:18,21;  30:11;  Isaiah 22:21;  45:5 ). "Righteousness and faithfulness" are the girdle of the Messiah ( Isaiah 11:5 ).

Girdles were used as purses or pockets ( Matthew 10:9 . A. V., "purses;" RSV, marg., "girdles." Also  Mark 6:8 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Girdle'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/girdle.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Worn by men and women. The Meezach was worn by men alone ( Job 12:21, margin). The common girdle was of leather, as the Bedouins now wear a red leather girdle with a long crooked knife and a pistol stuck in. The finer girdle was of linen ( Jeremiah 13:1), often embroidered with gold ( Daniel 10:5;  Revelation 1:13). Girded up, so as to confine the otherwise flowing robes, when active exertion was needed; from whence "gird up the hands" means "be in readiness for action" ( Luke 12:35;  1 Peter 1:13;  Ephesians 6:14). Fastened by a clasp, or tied in a knot, so that the ends hung in front. A costly present ( 1 Samuel 18:4). One end being folded back made a purse ( Matthew 10:9).

The Abneeyt was the priest's girdle of linen embroidered with wool; the high priest's girdle on the day of atonement was of white linen only. The "needlework" on it was figuring on one side only, "cunning work" on two sides ( Exodus 28:39; the Mishna); or the "needlework" had the figures on both sides the same girdle, the "cunning work" different (Jarchi).  Exodus 26:31, "needlework" was of the embroiderer, "cunning work" of the skilled weaver. The "curious girdle" was made, as the ephod, of "gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen" ( Exodus 28:8), it was the band for fastening the ephod, which is upon it, and of the same work, of one piece with it.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

There are several sorts of girdles spoken of in Scripture. The Jews, in general, wore girdles. Soldiers wore belts for their swords; ( Nehemiah 4:18) and the priests had their girdles also. ( Exodus 20:4-8) The holy Scriptures, by a beautiful allusion to this strengthener of a man's loins by the girdle, conveys to the church a most lively and striking idea of God's strengthening himself in his faithfulness to his people. "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." ( Isaiah 11:5) The meaning is, that as the labourer goeth forth in the morning of the day to his labour, and strengthens himself for the work by bracing up his loins with his girdle; so the Lord, speaking after the manner of men, takes his righteousness for the girdle of his administration, which cleaves to him as the girdle to the loins of a man; and his faithfulness becomes the bandage of his word and truth to all his covenant promises, as the rectitude of his reins. And to carry on the figure—As the Lord is thus clad with both, and they surround him like a girdle, so his people are called upon to take hold of both, or either, as occasion requires, whether before or behind, and hang upon the gracious assurances of a gracious faithful covenant God in Christ. "Wherefore (saith one of the apostles,) gird up the loins of your mind; be sober, and hope to the end; for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." ( 1 Peter 1:13)

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 28:4 28:40 Isaiah 3:24 Exodus 28:8 28:27-28 1 Samuel 18:4 2 Samuel 20:8 Isaiah 5:27 2 Kings 1:8 Matthew 3:4 Job 12:18 Jeremiah 13:1-11

To gird up one's loins means literally to tuck the loose ends of one's outer garment into one's belt. Loins were girded in preparation for running ( 1 Kings 18:46 ), for battle ( Isaiah 5:27 ), or for service for a master ( Luke 12:35 ). The call to “gird up the loins of your minds” ( 1 Peter 1:13 ) means to be spiritually alert and prepared. See Clothing Cloth .

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ζώνη (Strong'S #2223 — Noun Feminine — zone — dzo'-nay )

Eng., "zone," denotes "a belt or girdle,"  Matthew 3:4;  Mark 1:6;  Acts 21:11;  Revelation 1:13;  15:6; it was often hollow, and hence served as a purse,  Matthew 10:9;  Mark 6:8 .

King James Dictionary

GIRD'LE, n.

1. A band or belt something drawn round the waist of a person, and tied or buckled as a girdle of fine lines a leathern girdle. 2. Inclosure circumference. 3. The zodiac. 4. A round iron plate for baking. 5. Among jewelers,the line which encompasses the stone, parallel to the horizon.

GIRD'LE, To bind with a belt or sash to gird.

1. To inclose to enrivon to shut in. 2. In America, to make a circular incision, like a belt, through the bark and alburnum of a tree to kill it.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Girdle'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/girdle.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.