Original Word: חָגוֹר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chagowr
Pronunciation: khaw-gore'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-gore')
KJV: girded with
NASB: girded
Word Origin: [from H2296 (חָגַר - girded)]

1. belted

girded with

From chagar; belted -- girded with.

see HEBREW chagar

Word Origin
from chagar
Definition
girded
NASB Translation
girded (1).

[חָגוֺר] adjective girt, girded, only plural construct; חֲגוֺרֵי אֵזוֺר Ezekiel 23:15 girded with a waist-cloth.

Meaning and Physical Function

The term designates the decorated or utilitarian belt or sash worn around the waist in the Ancient Near East. Besides keeping the long outer garment gathered for ease of movement, such belts served as places to secure tools, money-pouches, or weapons. Materials ranged from simple woven cloth to embroidered linen and embossed leather; the quality and ornamentation signaled the wearer’s station.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Proverbs 31:24 – presented as a finished product of the virtuous woman’s cottage industry.
2. Ezekiel 23:15 – part of the impressive military dress that captivated wayward Jerusalem and Samaria.

Although the word itself appears only twice, both contexts echo wider biblical themes of girding for work, battle, or worship.

Cultural and Historical Background

Archaeology and pictorial reliefs from Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon show belts fastened over tunics, often supporting daggers or tools. In peacetime the sash might bear an ornate clasp or be dyed with expensive colors, functioning as jewelry. Among merchants, a fine belt could double as negotiable property; among soldiers, the item was integral to armor. Priests, too, wore distinctive girdles when ministering (Exodus 28:39-40).

The Belt as a Symbol of Industry and Enterprise (Proverbs 31:24)

“She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.” (Proverbs 31:24)

Here the belt stands for marketable craftsmanship. Linen—light, cool, and labor-intensive to produce—was a luxury textile. Turning such fabric into belts reveals entrepreneurship, strategic trade relationships, and skillful stewardship of resources. The reference also implies that godly industry blesses not only the household but the wider economy, demonstrating love of neighbor through honest commerce.

The Belt as a Symbol of Status and Power (Ezekiel 23:15)

“Girded with belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers, like the Babylonians of Chaldea…” (Ezekiel 23:15)

The prophet portrays idolatrous fascination with foreign might. The belt here accentuates rank—the wearers appear as elite cavalrymen or court officials. Israel’s longing for such pageantry illustrates the perennial temptation to trust human power rather than the Lord. The same object that conveys nobility can become an idol when it eclipses covenant loyalty.

Spiritual and Theological Significance

1. Readiness for Action: Ancient soldiers “girded” themselves before battle. New Covenant believers are likewise urged, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” (Ephesians 6:14)
2. Integrity and Faithfulness: Righteousness is pictured as a belt for the promised Messiah (Isaiah 11:5). The Savior embodies what every symbolic belt implies—perfect preparedness and moral strength.
3. Service and Humility: Jesus “took a towel and wrapped it around His waist” before washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5). The utilitarian girding becomes the garment of a servant, redefining greatness in the Kingdom.

Connections with Other Biblical Imagery of Girding

• Elijah and John the Baptist, both prophetic reformers, are remembered for simple leather belts, signaling separation from worldly excess (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4).
• Priestly sashes, woven with blue, purple, and scarlet, underscore holiness and beauty in worship (Exodus 28:39-40).
• The exalted Son of Man appears “with a golden sash around His chest” in Revelation 1:13, affirming royal priesthood and eternal authority.

Implications for Discipleship and Ministry Today

• Industry: Faithful believers provide goods and services of real value, following the example of the Proverbs 31 woman by integrating skill, diligence, and generosity.
• Discernment: Like Ezekiel’s audience, modern disciples must evaluate cultural symbols—fashion, status markers, technology—and avoid misplaced admiration that breeds compromise.
• Readiness: The habitual practice of “girding up the loins of the mind” (1 Peter 1:13) calls for disciplined thought and biblical conviction, enabling believers to respond swiftly to the Spirit’s leading.
• Identification with Christ: Wearing the “belt of truth” daily signifies union with the One whose faithfulness never fails, empowering the Church to stand firm against deception.

Conclusion

Though mentioned only twice, the biblical belt illustrates a rich tapestry of themes: productive labor, societal prestige, moral preparedness, and covenant fidelity. In every age the Lord’s people are summoned to be girded—physically, mentally, and spiritually—for a life of worshipful work and steadfast witness.

וַ֝חֲג֗וֹר וחגור חֲגוֹרֵ֨י חגורי chagoRei ḥă·ḡō·w·rê ḥăḡōwrê vachaGor wa·ḥă·ḡō·wr waḥăḡōwrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts