מַחֲגֹרֶת
a girdle
Definition
A מַחֲגֹרֶת is a belt or girdle, a garment worn around the waist to secure clothing or hold weapons. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 3:24, it is part of a list of luxury items that will be taken away from the proud women of Jerusalem as a sign of God's judgment. The word specifically denotes a finely made sash or ornamental belt, contrasting with a simple functional rope or cord. This term emphasizes adornment and status rather than mere utility.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:24. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Judah, specifically within a list describing how the elite women's finery will be replaced by symbols of mourning and destitution ('instead of a girdle, a rope'). Its usage is entirely contextual to this theme of reversal and divine punishment for social pride and injustice.
Etymology
Derived from the root חָגַר (ḥāgar, H2296), meaning 'to gird, bind, or put on a belt.' This root is common for describing the act of preparing for action, as in girding one's loins. מַחֲגֹרֶת is the noun form indicating the girdle or belt itself, the product of the girding action. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings related to binding or encircling.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word carries theological weight in its context. It symbolizes human pride, luxury, and self-reliance that God opposes. In Isaiah 3:16-24, the removal of the מַחֲגֹרֶת and other adornments signifies God's stripping away of false security and societal status, forcing a confrontation with spiritual bankruptcy. It underscores the biblical theme that God judges not only actions but also the heart attitudes displayed in culture and fashion, reversing human glory to highlight divine sovereignty.
In ancient Israelite culture, a girdle or belt was a common part of dress, but a מַחֲגֹרֶת likely referred to a more decorative sash worn by women of means. It was a marker of social status and wealth, part of the elaborate attire described in Isaiah 3. Its replacement with a 'rope' (a sign of bondage or beggary) would be a culturally stark and humiliating image, powerfully communicating the completeness of God's coming judgment.
אַבְנֵט (ʾaḇnēṭ, H73) — a priestly sash or girdle, specifically for sacred service (Exodus 28:4). חֲגוֹר (ḥăḡôr, H2290) — a belt or girdle, often for men and for holding a sword (1 Samuel 18:4).
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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