BDB4899 [H4975]

1. a. place of wearing girdle 1Kgs 2:5; 2Kgs 1:8; Jer 13:1; Jer 13:2; Jer 13:4; Jer 13:11; Ezek 23:15 figurative Isa 11:5 righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins.
\ \ b. hence place of things attached to girdle: — sword girded on (חגר על, אסר 2Sam 20:8; Neh 4:12 opposed to, וּמָתְנֵי מְלָכִים אֲפַתֵּחַ Isa 45:1 and the loins of kings I will loosen, i e. will disarm them (׳י before Cyrus; compare Che); ink-horn Ezek 9:2; Ezek 9:3; Ezek 9:11.
\ \ c. girding up loins = make ready for action, וַיְשַׁנֵּס מָתְנָיו 1Kgs 18:46 more often ׳חָגַר מ 2Kgs 4:29; 2Kgs 9:1; Exod 12:11 (P), Dan 10:5 ׳אָזַר מ Jer 1:17.
\ \ d. ׳זַרְזִיר מ Prov 30:31 that which is girt in the loins, i.e. probably either a greyhound Ew Bö De (contracted, as if by a belt), or a war-horse, charger, Bo Ges Hi Str Wild (with a saddle); compare also זרזיר, p. 267 above; text perhaps corrupt (Wild).
\ \ e. girded with sackcloth (in mourning) Gen 37:34 (J), Amos 8:10; Isa 20:2; 1Kgs 20:31; 1Kgs 20:32; Jer 48:37. feminine linen breeches of priests were to extend מִמָּתְנַיִם וְעַד יְרֵכַיִם Exod 28:42 (P); to be ׳עַלמָֿת Ezek 44:18 loins of slaves are girt with waistcloth, compare Job 12:18 (see also אֵזוֺר).
\ \ g. in general of the middle of the body, ׳מֵי מָת Ezek 47:4 (i.e. water reaching to the loins); so of the appearance of ׳י in Ezekiel's visions Ezek 1:27 (twice in verse); Ezek 8:2 (twice in verse).

2. a. loins as seat of strength, Deut 33:11; 1Kgs 12:10 = 2Chr 10:10 חַזֵּק מָתְנַיִם Nah 2:2 (|| אַמֵּץ כֹּחַ); כֹּחוֺ בְּמָתְנָיו Job 40:16 (of hippopotamus); in combination with 1 a (figurative) חָֽגְרָה ׳בְּעוֺז מ Prov 31:17 she girdeth her loins with strength, she puts on energy with her girdle; compare also ׳בְּשִׁבְרוֺן מ Ezek 21:11 sigh with breaking of loins, i.e. in entire collapse of strength; so תָּמִיד ׳הַמְעַ֑ד וּמ Ps 69:24 and make their loins continually to shake, make them totter; compare Ezek 29:7 (where read וְהִמְעַדְתָּ for וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ, see מָעַד).
\ \ b. as seat of keenest pain, due to grief or dread Nah 2:11; Isa 21:3 (as in travail); so probably also Ps 66:11 (compare Bae; and see מוּעָקָה below עוק).