Girdle(headbands, sashes, baldric)
Summary
An essential article of dress in the ancient Near East worn by both men and women, used to secure flowing garments and carrying various implements, with rich symbolic meaning in Scripture.
☩Types and Materials
Several Hebrew words describe different types of girdles. The common girdle was made of leather, like that worn by Elijah and John the Baptist. Finer girdles were made of linen, often embroidered with silk, gold, or silver thread and studded with precious stones. The military girdle was worn about the waist for carrying weapons. Women's girdles were generally looser than men's and worn about the hips; the manufacture of girdles formed part of women's employment. The Hebrew kishshurim, rendered 'headbands' in the KJV but properly sashes for the waist, were ornamental women's girdles listed among the finery stripped away in Isaiah's judgment on Jerusalem. The same word appears in Jeremiah 2:32, translated 'attire,' describing a bride's decorative sash.
☩Priestly Girdles
The priests wore special girdles as part of their sacred vestments. The common priests' girdle (abnet) was made of fine linen embroidered with colored wool, about four fingers wide and wrapped several times around the body. The 'curious girdle' (chesheb) of the ephod was made of the same materials as the ephod itself—gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest wore a plain white linen girdle symbolizing purity.
☩Practical Uses
The girdle served multiple practical functions. It secured the flowing robes to allow freedom of movement; hence 'girding up the loins' became a metaphor for preparation for action or battle. Girdles served as purses, with money carried in a fold of the belt. Weapons such as swords and daggers were suspended from military girdles. Scribes carried their inkhorns tucked into their girdles.
☩Symbolic Significance
The girdle became a powerful biblical symbol. Strength and authority are represented by the girdle: 'righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins' describes the Messiah. Christians are exhorted to have their loins 'girt about with truth.' The transfer of authority was symbolized by investing one with the sash of office, as when God declared of Eliakim, 'I will strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand.' Loosening the girdle symbolized rest or humiliation, while girdles of sackcloth expressed mourning. Costly girdles were given as honorable gifts, and the glorified Christ appears 'clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about with a golden girdle,' an image of priestly and royal majesty.
Related Verses42 mentions
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Girdle," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Girdle," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Girdle," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Girdle," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 5.Matthew George Easton, "Head-bands," in Easton's Bible Dictionary (T. Nelson and Sons, 1897).