Lexical Summary
chagar: To gird, to bind, to put on
Original Word:חָגַר
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:chagar
Pronunciation:khaw-GAR
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-gar')
KJV: be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, X on every side
NASB:girded, gird, put, armed, girds, wearing, gird yourselves
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, on every side
A primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.) -- be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, X on every side.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto gird, gird on, gird oneself
NASB Translationarmed (3), bound (1), come trembling (1), dressed* (1), gird (11), gird yourselves (2), girded (15), girds (3), put (4), wearing (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (Late Hebrew
id., Aramaic ; Arabic
hinder, restrain, so Syriac
; Assyrian
agâru,
surround, in derivatives, Dl
W 105 ff.; Sabean (compare Arabic
,
enclosed space, district, etc.), DHM in MV; also proper name, of deity and location , SabDenkm
3. 81. 93 CIS
iv. 1, No. 49 etc.) —
Perfect3feminine singularProverbs 31:17; 2masculine singularExodus 29:9; 3pluralIsaiah 15:3;Lamentations 2:10; consecutiveEzekiel 7:18;Ezekiel 27:31;Imperfect3masculine singularLeviticus 16:4,Leviticus 8:7 (twice in verse) + 4 t.; suffixPsalm 109:19; 2masculine singularPsalm 76:11 (but on text see below); 3 masculine pluralEzekiel 44:18;2 Samuel 22:46 (but on text of both see below),1 Samuel 25:13;1 Kings 20:32; 3feminine pluralPsalm 65:13; 2masculine pluralDeuteronomy 1:41;Imperative masculine singular2 Kings 4:29;2 Kings 9:1,Psalm 45:4; feminine singularJeremiah 6:26; masculine plural1 Samuel 25:13 3t.; feminine pluralJeremiah 49:3, compareIsaiah 32:11 (see below);Infinitive cstr.Isaiah 22:12;Participle act.1 Kings 20:11;2 Kings 3:21;passive masculineJudges 18:11 5t.; feminine constructJoel 1:8; pluralExodus 12:11;Judges 18:16;Daniel 10:5; —
transitive,gird some one, with girdle; with 2 accusativeExodus 29:9;Leviticus 8:13 (both P); passive,girded with ephod (accusative)1 Samuel 2:18;2 Samuel 6:14; followed byDaniel 10:5, with accusative and , figurativeProverbs 31:17,Leviticus 8:7 (twice in verse) (P), with accusativegird up thy loins, i.e. make ready to go2 Kings 4:29;2 Kings 9:1, passiveExodus 12:11 (P); compare probably alsoIsaiah 32:11gird upon the loins (2nd accusative omitted); on verb. form as Imperative feminine plural see AE Ki Ew§ 226 a Di Du; > as masculine singular Ol§ 234 a Ges§ 48. 5 Sta§ 591 d Kö§ 20. 12.
gird on, bind on (= gird oneself with), a girdlePsalm 109:19 (in simile); so especially with accusative , of mourningIsaiah 15:3;Isaiah 22:12;Lamentations 2:10;Ezekiel 7:18;Ezekiel 27:31;2 Samuel 3:31;Jeremiah 4:8;Jeremiah 6:26;Jeremiah 49:3; also1 Kings 20:32 (with accusative + before ); passive, followed by before object of mourningJoel 1:8 (simile); absolute ( omitted)Joel 1:13 ("" ); followed by1 Samuel 25:13 (3 t. in verse);Deuteronomy 1:41;Psalm 45:4 , soJudges 3:16;1 Samuel 17:39 (followed by accusative + ); with accusative of congnate meaning with verb2 Kings 3:21; absolute1 Kings 20:11; passiveJudges 18:11,16,17;2 Samuel 20:8b (where read Klo Dr — not We),2 Samuel 21:16; read perhaps also for2 Samuel 20:8 c, so Klo Dr.
intransitivegird oneself, followed by of thingLeviticus 16:4 (P), sothey shall not gird themselves with sweat (?), but strike out Co Sgfr; with accusative of thing (figurative)Psalm 65:13with rejoicing the hills gird themselves; comparePsalm 76:11with a remnant (residue) of wraths thou girdest thyself, so Hi Hup De VB; but very doubtful; Bö Ew read for ; Bae Ka omit line as corrupt; compare further Che and critical note —2 Samuel 22:46 is text error for , compare ""Psalm 18:46; so Now Hup Kit and others
Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Range of UseThe verb points to binding a belt, sash, or armor around the waist, hips, or loins in order to secure clothing, tools, or weapons. Its roughly forty-four Old Testament occurrences cluster around four spheres: ordinary activity, priestly service, warfare, and prophetic symbolism. Each sphere deepens the biblical motif of purposeful readiness before God.
Everyday Readiness
•Exodus 12:11 shows Israel eating the first Passover “with your cloak tucked into your belt” so that an entire nation stands poised for immediate obedience.
•1 Kings 18:46 portrays Elijah sprinting ahead of Ahab only after “he tucked his cloak into his belt,” a detail that turns simple attire into a picture of Spirit-empowered zeal.
• Similar moments of hurried activity appear in2 Kings 4:29; 9:1;Proverbs 31:17, reminding readers that ordinary tasks become acts of faith when performed in a posture of preparedness.
Priestly and Liturgical Dress
The priestly consecration rite (Exodus 29:5–9;Leviticus 8:7, 13) requires Aaron and his sons to be “girded with sashes,” underscoring that holy service is never casual. InPsalm 30:11 the Lord “loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,” exchanging garments of grief for celebration and thus transforming worshippers from mourning to joyful praise.
Military Preparation and Divine Empowering
In battle narratives soldiers “gird on” swords or body armor (1 Samuel 17:39;2 Samuel 20:8;2 Kings 3:21). Yet victory rests not on human preparation alone:
• “You armed me with strength for battle” (Psalm 18:39).
• “The LORD…is robed and armed with strength” (Psalm 93:1).
• “He girds me with strength and makes my way blameless” (2 Samuel 22:40).
These texts unite human responsibility (strapping on weapons) with divine sovereignty (God Himself girding His people).
Prophetic Calls to Mourning
Prophets demand that nations and covenant people “gird yourselves with sackcloth” (Jeremiah 4:8; 49:3;Joel 1:13). The same verb that readies warriors now readies mourners to face judgment. Genuine repentance is pictured as deliberately tying rough fabric around the waist, an outward act that signals inward contrition.
Moral and Spiritual Readiness
God twice challenges Job, “Now brace yourself like a man” (Job 38:3; 40:7). Personal questioning by the Creator requires the posture of one who has cinched his belt, standing alert and teachable.Proverbs 31:17 commends the virtuous woman who “girds herself with strength,” illustrating that spiritual diligence belongs to both sexes and every vocation.
Messianic and Eschatological Resonance
Isaiah 11:5 prophesies of the Branch from Jesse: “Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.” The perfect King is forever cinched with moral integrity. New Testament writers echo the imagery: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14), calling believers to share the Messiah’s readiness.
Summary for Ministry
1. Readiness—physical, moral, or spiritual—is an intentional act; no one is accidentally girded.
2. Whether preparing for worship, work, warfare, or repentance, the faithful disciple consciously secures his life to act in immediate obedience.
3. The Lord both models and imparts true girding: He equips His people with strength, yet also requires them to tighten their own belts in trust.
4. Prophetic and messianic uses elevate the everyday action into a picture of holiness and hope, urging the church to live alert in light of Christ’s return.
Forms and Transliterations
הֶחָג֖וּר החגור וְחִגְר֣וּ וְחָגְר֖וּ וְחָגְר֣וּ וְחָגַרְתָּ֩ וְיַחְגְּר֖וּ וְלַחֲגֹ֥ר וַֽיַּחְגְּרוּ֙ וַֽתַּחְגְּר֗וּ וַחֲג֖וֹרָה וַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩ וַיַּחְגֹּ֣ר וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר וַיַּחְגֹּ֥ר וחגורה וחגרו וחגרת ויחגר ויחגרו ולחגר ותחגרו חֲגֹ֣ר חֲגֹ֣רְנָה חֲגֻֽרַת־ חֲגֻרִ֔ים חֲגֻרִ֖ים חֲגֽוֹר־ חֲגוּרִים֙ חִגְר֣וּ ׀ חִגְר֥וּ חִגְר֨וּ חִגְרִי־ חָ֣גְרוּ חָֽגְרָ֣ה חָג֖וּר חָג֣וּר חָג֣וּר ׀ חָגְר֖וּ חֹגֵ֖ר חֹגֵ֤ר חגור חגור־ חגורים חגר חגרה חגרו חגרי־ חגרים חגרנה חגרת־ יַחְגְּר֖וּ יַחְגְּרֶֽהָ׃ יַחְגֹּ֔ר יחגר יחגרה׃ יחגרו תַּחְגֹּֽרְנָה׃ תַּחְגֹּֽר׃ תחגר׃ תחגרנה׃ chageRah Chageru chaGor chaGorenah chagoyr chaGur chagurat chaguRim chigri chigRu choGer ḥā·ḡə·rāh ḥā·ḡə·rū ḥă·ḡō·rə·nāh ḥă·ḡō·wr- ḥă·ḡōr ḥă·ḡu·raṯ- ḥă·ḡu·rîm ḥă·ḡū·rîm ḥā·ḡūr ḥāḡərāh ḥāḡərū ḥăḡōr ḥăḡōrənāh ḥăḡōwr- ḥāḡūr ḥăḡuraṯ- ḥăḡurîm ḥăḡūrîm he·ḥā·ḡūr hechaGur heḥāḡūr ḥiḡ·rî- ḥiḡ·rū ḥiḡrî- ḥiḡrū ḥō·ḡêr ḥōḡêr tachGor tachGorenah taḥ·gō·rə·nāh taḥ·gōr taḥgōr taḥgōrənāh vachaGorah vaiyachgeRu vaiyachGor vattachgeRu vechagarTa vechageRu vechigRu velachaGor veyachgeRu wa·ḥă·ḡō·w·rāh waḥăḡōwrāh wat·taḥ·gə·rū wattaḥgərū way·yaḥ·gə·rū way·yaḥ·gōr wayyaḥgərū wayyaḥgōr wə·ḥā·ḡar·tā wə·ḥā·ḡə·rū wə·ḥiḡ·rū wə·la·ḥă·ḡōr wə·yaḥ·gə·rū wəḥāḡartā wəḥāḡərū wəḥiḡrū wəlaḥăḡōr wəyaḥgərū yachgeReha yachgeRu yachGor yaḥ·gə·re·hā yaḥ·gə·rū yaḥ·gōr yaḥgərehā yaḥgərū yaḥgōr
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