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Bible Dictionaries
Girdle
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or 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.'
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Girdle'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/g/girdle.html. 1897.
