Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "gird" in the Bible generally refers to the act of fastening or securing garments with a belt or sash. It is often used metaphorically to describe preparation, readiness, or strengthening for a task or battle. The act of girding oneself is symbolic of being prepared and equipped for service or action.
Old Testament References:In the Old Testament, "gird" is frequently used in the context of preparing for battle or service. For example, in
1 Kings 18:46 , it is written, "The hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." Here, Elijah girds himself to prepare for swift action, demonstrating readiness and divine empowerment.
In
Job 38:3 , God challenges Job, saying, "Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me." The phrase "brace yourself" is translated from the Hebrew word for "gird," indicating a call to prepare oneself for a serious encounter with God.
New Testament References:In the New Testament, the concept of girding is often associated with spiritual readiness and service. In
Ephesians 6:14 , Paul instructs believers to "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed." The "belt of truth" is part of the full armor of God, symbolizing the importance of truth in the believer's life and spiritual warfare.
In
Luke 12:35 , Jesus advises His followers, "Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning." The phrase "be dressed for service" is a call to be girded, emphasizing the need for constant readiness and vigilance in the Christian life.
Symbolic Meaning:Girding oneself is symbolic of preparation and readiness. It signifies a state of alertness and the willingness to act. In a spiritual sense, it represents the believer's readiness to serve God, engage in spiritual warfare, and live a life of truth and righteousness.
Cultural Context:In ancient Near Eastern culture, girding one's loins was a practical action. People wore long robes, and to move quickly or perform laborious tasks, they would gather up their robes and secure them with a belt. This cultural practice is reflected in the biblical usage of the term, where girding is associated with readiness and action.
Theological Implications:The act of girding in the Bible underscores the importance of preparation and readiness in the life of a believer. It serves as a reminder of the need to be spiritually equipped and vigilant, always prepared to respond to God's call and to face the challenges of life with faith and courage.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a pang.
2. (n.) A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer.
3. (v.) To strike; to smite.
4. (v.) To sneer at; to mock; to gibe.
5. (v. i.) To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms.
6. (v. t.) To encircle or bind with any flexible band.
7. (v. t.) To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle, bandage, etc.
8. (v. t.) To surround; to encircle, or encompass.
9. (v. t.) To clothe; to swathe; to invest.
10. (v. t.) To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's self for a contest.
Greek
4024. perizonnumi -- togird... to
gird. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perizonnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(per-id-zone'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I
gird round Definition: I
gird round;
...328. anazonnumi -- togird up
... togird up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anazonnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ad-zone'-noo-mee) Short Definition: Igird up, brace up Definition: Igird up...
1241. diazonnumi -- togird around
... togird around. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diazonnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-az-own'-noo-mee) Short Definition: Igird, tie around Definition: Igird...
2224. zonnumi -- togird
... togird. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zonnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(dzone'-noo-mi) Short Definition: Igird Definition: Igird, put on the girdle...
5269. hupozonnumi -- to undergird
... to undergird. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupozonnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-od-zone'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I under-gird Definition: I under...
1463. egkomboomai -- to put on oneself (as a garment)
... Word Origin from en and komboomai (togird oneself) Definition to put on oneself
(as a garment) NASB Word Usage clothe (1). be clothed with....
Strong's Hebrew
2296. chagar -- togird,gird on,gird oneself... 2295, 2296. chagar. 2297 . to
gird,
gird on,
gird oneself. Transliteration:
chagar Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-gar') Short Definition: girded. Word Origin a prim
...640. aphad -- togird on the ephod
... 639, 640. aphad. 641 . togird on the ephod. Transliteration: aphad Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-fad') Short Definition:gird. Word Origin...
247. azar -- togird, encompass, equip
... 246, 247. azar. 248 . togird, encompass, equip. Transliteration: azar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-zar') Short Definition:gird. Word Origin a prim....
8151. shanas -- togird up
... togird up. Transliteration: shanas Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-nas') Short Definition:
girded.... root Definition togird up NASB Word Usage girded (1).gird up....
3736. karbel -- to be mantled
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition to be mantled NASB Word Usage clothed
(1). togird or clothe. From the same as kebel; togird or clothe:...
631. asar -- to tie, bind, imprison
... bind, fast,gird, harness, hold, keep, make ready, order,. A primitive
root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense...
2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... bind up,gird about, govern, healer, put, saddle, wrap about. A primitive
root; to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or...
7194. qashar -- to bind, league together, conspire
... A primitive root: to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love,
league) -- bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit...
6775. tsamad -- to bind, join
... fasten, frame, join self. A primitive root; to link, ieGird; figuratively, to serve,
(mentally) contrive -- fasten, frame, join (self). 6774, 6775....
2290. chagowr -- a belt, girdle
... Or chagor {khag-ore'}; and (feminine) chagowrah {khag-o-raw'}; or chagorah
{khag-o-raw'}; from chagar; a belt (for the waist) -- apron, armour,gird(-le)....
Library
The Equipment of the Servants
... 'Gird up the loins of your mind,' says the Apostle, echoing the Master's word here....
Why this, if you do notgird your loins your lamp will go out....
A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection...
... saying, "Be strong, having your reins, or your loins girded about." Some men of
war use to have about their loins an apron or girdle of mail,gird fast for the...
Conclusion.
... thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shallgird thee, and...
Ephesians vi. 14
... is used in war, that it may bind and hold together this foundation, as it were,
in our frame; for this reason too it is that when we run wegird ourselves....
Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness...
... Yea, all of yougird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.6 Humble yourselves therefore...
The Slave's Girdle
... The word rendered in the Authorised Version 'be clothed,' or better in the Revised
Version, 'gird yourselves with,' really implies a little more than either of...
The King in his Beauty
... 'Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore
God hath blessed Thee forever.3.Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O mighty one...
The Scriptures
... And the language of Ps.45:4,Gird Thee with Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou most
Mighty, according to Thy worship and renown,' is closely paraphrased in...
The Armour of God
... heart. First, the Christians are togird their loins"to cover the lower
part of their body, which is the most defenceless. That...
Youth and Age, and the Command for Both
... thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shallgird thee, and...
Thesaurus
Gird (44 Occurrences)... 10. (vt) To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to
gird one's self for
a contest. Multi-Version Concordance
Gird (44 Occurrences).
...Sackcloth (47 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 3:31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear
your clothes, andgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner....
Upper (99 Occurrences)
... them. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Acts 12:8 And the angel said to
him,Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so....
Girded (48 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) ofGird.... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). 1 Samuel
25:13 And David said unto his men,Gird ye on every man his sword....
Loins (72 Occurrences)
... On the loins the sword is worn (2 Samuel 20:8). It is a sign of mourning togird
the loins with sackcloth (1 Kings 20:32 Isaiah 32:11 Jeremiah 48:37 Amos 8:10...
Sweat (3 Occurrences)
... shall have linen tires upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their
loins; they shall notgird themselves with anything that causeth sweat...
Thyself (352 Occurrences)
... Luke 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and
gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou...
Bind (68 Occurrences)
... Acts 12:8 And the angel said unto him,Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And
so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me....
Wherewith (182 Occurrences)
... Luke 17:8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and
gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou...
Lament (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 3:31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear
your clothes, andgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner....
Resources
How can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some idioms in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgGird: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
