A famous and misunderstood phrase
In the days of the Bible, before a warrior went into battle he would put on his helmet, and his breastplate and take up his sword. But he would also do something odd known as “girding up the loins”. For example, the Lord twice commands Job “gird up your loins like a man” (Job 38:4, 40:7). In modern English we use this phrase to mean “be strong” but what did it originally refer to?
The secret battle tactic
Literally, “girding up the loins” refers to the practice of gathering the excess fabric from one’s long robe and tucking it into one’s belt so that one’s knees were left exposed. This was done so that the soldier could run efficiently without tripping over his robe. In Hebrew the verb “to gird” is azar (אזר) which does not just mean to fasten, but to encircle and make safe. It comes from the root asar (אסר) that means to lock up, as in a city that is encircled by a wall. The biblical soldier, therefore, girds himself not just to be able to run faster but to lock up his very being.
Gird yourself with the armor of knowledge
Have you always dreamed of putting on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11)? In troubled times, people often turn to the Holy Scriptures for comfort. There is no better way of preparing yourself for spiritual battle than by learning to read the Bible in the original Hebrew. You will be amazed at how safeguarded you feel once you are no longer dependent on translations. Enroll today in our live online biblical Hebrew course.
