אֵזוֹר
something girt; a belt, also a band
Definition
The Hebrew word אֵזוֹר refers to a belt or sash, typically made of leather or cloth, worn around the waist. It primarily denotes a functional garment used to secure clothing, as seen in the description of Elijah's attire in 2 Kings 1:8. In a figurative sense, it symbolizes strength, readiness, or authority, such as in Job 12:18 where God 'looses the belt of the mighty.' The word also carries symbolic weight in prophetic actions, notably in Jeremiah 13, where a linen אֵזוֹר represents the corrupted relationship between God and Judah.
Biblical Usage
אֵזוֹר appears 12 times across historical, poetic, and prophetic books. It describes literal belts (2 Kings 1:8; Isaiah 5:27) and is used metaphorically for divine attributes, like the 'belt of righteousness' in Isaiah 11:5. Its most prominent usage is in Jeremiah 13:1-11, where it serves as a prophetic object lesson. The word is evenly distributed, with no single book dominating, but its symbolic application is most developed in the prophets.
Etymology
Derived from the root אזר (ʼzr), meaning 'to gird' or 'to bind.' It is related to H246 (אֲזִקִּים, 'fetters' or 'chains'), sharing a core idea of binding or encircling. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Aramaic, also refer to belts or girdles, indicating a common cultural item across the ancient Near East.
Semantic Range
אֵזוֹר is theologically significant as it often symbolizes spiritual conditions. In Isaiah 11:5, righteousness is God's belt, depicting messianic character. In Jeremiah 13, the ruined belt illustrates Judah's moral decay and broken covenant with God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how physical objects conveyed deep spiritual truths about readiness, judgment, and divine attributes.
In ancient Israel, an אֵזוֹר was a practical garment for holding tools or securing loose robes, but it also signified status or preparedness. Unlike modern belts, it could be made of expensive materials like linen for priests or leather for prophets. Its use in prophetic acts, as in Jeremiah, would have been visually striking to an audience familiar with its everyday function, amplifying the message's impact.
חֲגוֹר (chagôwr, H2290) — a more general term for belt or girdle, often military; אַבְנֵט (ʼavnêṭ, H73) — specifically the priestly sash or girdle; מֵזַח (mêzach, H4206) — a belt or girdle, poetic usage.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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