Loins
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [1]
Exodus 12:11 (c) By this figure the Lord was instructing His people to be ready to go, packed up, all ties broken off, and the journey begun for an unknown land. It is a splendid picture of "readiness."
1 Kings 12:10 (a) Here we see a comparison between the oppression with which Rehoboam would afflict the people, as compared with the much lesser affliction which Solomon brought upon the people. (See also2Ch 10:10).
Psalm 66:11 (b) The loins are used in the Scripture as a picture of strength, power, vigor and maturity. In this passage GOD weakened the strength of His people and made them incapacitated as a nation.
Isaiah 11:5 (b) This picture is given us to describe a godly life, an upright character and an honest heart in business. It is also used to describe the character of GOD, all of whose power and work would be absolutely righteous in character.
Isaiah 45:1 (b) The Lord is informing Cyrus that He will weaken the strength of kings and nations who oppose him in order that he may conquer and subdue every enemy.
Jeremiah 30:6 (b) This represents a condition of despair, weakness, helplessness and hopelessness throughout Israel because of their sins, and because of the wrath of GOD.
Ezekiel 47:4 (b) Look under "ANKLES" for a rather full description of this parable. The loins represent vigor and power of a man controlled by the Spirit of GOD, and therefore brought into useful channels that are profitable in the sight of the Lord.
Daniel 10:5 (b) In this vision the heavenly messenger had divine strength, power and ability that was pure as the gold, and beautiful in appearance. He was GOD's messenger with GOD's message, for GOD's servant.
Luke 12:35 (a) Here we find an exhortation to every believer to bring all his powers, talents and gifts into the service of the King, with a ready heart, and a willing mind.
Ephesians 6:14 (a) If we know GOD's truth from His Word, we can and will be bold and aggressive in the battle of faith, and in the service of the King.
1 Peter 1:13 (a) It is quite evident from this figure that the Lord is referring to our powers to think, analyze and consider by our mental processes the things of time and eternity. The Lord expects us to think through in regard to His work and service, to be resourceful, energetic and vigorous in preaching the Word and in carrying out His plans as He reveals them to us.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [2]
is used (a) in the natural sense in Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6; (b) as "the seat of generative power," Hebrews 7:5,10; metaphorically in Acts 2:30; (c) metaphorically, (1) of girding the "loins" in readiness for active service for the Lord, Luke 12:35; (2) the same, with truth, Ephesians 6:14 , i.e., bracing up oneself so as to maintain perfect sincerity and reality as the counteractive in Christian character against hypocrisy and falsehood; (3) of girding the "loins" of the mind, 1—Peter 1:13 , RV, "girding," suggestive of the alertness necessary for sobriety and for setting one's hope perfectly on "the grace to be brought ... at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (the present participle, "girding," is introductory to the rest of the verse).
Holman Bible Dictionary [3]
Exodus 28:42 2 Kings 1:8 Isaiah 11:5 Jeremiah 13:1 Matthew 3:4 Exodus 12:11 1 Kings 18:46 2 Kings 9:1 Luke 12:35 Ephesians 6:14 1 Peter 1:13 Nahum 2:1 Psalm 69:23 Isaiah 45:1 Genesis 35:11 1 Kings 8:19 Acts 2:30 Hebrews 7:5 7:10
Morrish Bible Dictionary [4]
The part of man that is used to prefigure the seat of strength. Descendants are represented as coming out of the loins of a man. Genesis 35:11; Hebrews 7:10 . The loins were girded up for action and activity. God said to Job, "Gird up now thy loins like a man." Job 38:3 . In the Christian's conflict with wicked spirits in the heavenlies he is exhorted to have his loins girt about with truth. Ephesians 6:14 .
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [5]
See Girdle
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
loinz ( חלץ , ḥālāc , Aramaic חרץ , ḥărac , מתן , mōthen , כּסל , keṣel , ירך , yārēkh ; ὀσφύς , osphús ): This variety of Hebrew synonyms seems to be used rather promiscuously for the loins, though there is no little difference in the secondary meanings of these words. They represent various modes of expressing the loins as the seat of strength and vigor ( Job 40:16 , Hebrew mōthen , here used of Behemoth), the center of procreative power, the portion of the body which is girded about, and is considered as specially needful of covering, even under primitive conditions of life ( Job 31:20 ), and where painful disease most effectually unfits a man for work and warfare.
Jacob receives the Divine promise that "kings shall come out of (his) loins" ( ḥālāc , Genesis 35:11 ), and we read of 66 souls "that came out of his loins" ( yārēkh ) which went into Egypt ( Genesis 46:26 ). The Epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the Levites as having come out of the loins of Abraham ( Hebrews 7:5 ).
As the seat of strength (compare Leg; Thigh ), the loins are girded with belts of leather ( 2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4 ), or cloth, often beautifully embroidered ( Exodus 28:39 ), or of costly material ( Exodus 39:29; Jeremiah 13:1 f). Girded loins are a sign of readiness for service or endeavor ( Exodus 12:11; 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 4:29; Job 38:3; Proverbs 31:17; Luke 12:35; 1 Peter 1:13 ). Of God it is said that "he looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle," i.e. strengthens them ( Job 12:18 ). On the loins the sword is worn ( 2 Samuel 20:8 ). It is a sign of mourning to gird the loins with sackcloth ( 1 Kings 20:32; Isaiah 32:11; Jeremiah 48:37; Amos 8:10; see also the First Papyrus of Elephantine, l. 20). A man whose strength is in his attachment to truth, in other words is faithful, is spoken of as having his loins girt about with truth ( Ephesians 6:14 ). Thus, the Messiah is described: "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins" ( Isaiah 11:5 ). One of the most primitive modes of clothing consisted of a fleece tied around the loins ( Job 31:20 ).
The condition of unfitness for service is described in that the loins ( keṣel ) are filled with a burning ( Psalm 38:7 , the King James Version "loathsome disease"), or that "a sore burden" is laid upon the "loins" ( mōthen , Psalm 66:11 ). Thus the loins are made "continually to shake" ( Psalm 69:23 ), "the joints of (the) loins" ( ḥărac ) are loosed ( Daniel 5:6 ), the "loins are filled with anguish" ( Isaiah 21:3 ). It is very likely that originally a disabling lumbago or the painful affections of the gall or the bladder ( calculus , etc.) are meant, but very soon the expression becomes merely metaphorical to express personal helplessness, especially that which can but rely upon assistance and help from God.
