the Fifth Week after Easter
Bible Encyclopedias
Loins
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Jacob receives the Divine promise that "kings shall come out of (his) loins" (
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 (
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Loins'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​l/loins.html. 1915.