The term "loin" in the Bible typically refers to the area of the body between the lower ribs and the hips, encompassing the lower back and the groin. In biblical times, this part of the body was often associated with strength, procreation, and the seat of one's physical power. The loin is frequently mentioned in both literal and metaphorical contexts throughout the Scriptures.

Biblical References and Symbolism

1. Physical Strength and Readiness: The loins are often associated with physical strength and preparedness for action. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, girding one's loins was a common expression meaning to prepare oneself for work or battle. This is reflected in several biblical passages. For instance, in 1 Kings 18:46, it is written, "The hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." Here, girding the loins signifies readiness and divine empowerment for the task at hand.

2. Procreation and Lineage: The loins are also symbolically linked to procreation and the continuation of one's lineage. In Genesis 35:11, God tells Jacob, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from your loins." This highlights the loins as the source of future generations and the fulfillment of God's promises through offspring.

3. Metaphorical Use in Spiritual Preparedness: The New Testament uses the imagery of girding the loins in a spiritual sense. In Ephesians 6:14, Paul instructs believers, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place." The "belt of truth" is metaphorically girding the loins, emphasizing the importance of truth and righteousness in the believer's spiritual armor.

4. Judgment and Accountability: The loins are sometimes mentioned in contexts of judgment and accountability. In Job 38:3, God challenges Job, saying, "Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me." The call to brace oneself, or gird the loins, is a call to prepare for a serious encounter with the Almighty, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

5. Symbol of Vulnerability: The loins can also represent vulnerability, as seen in prophetic literature. In Jeremiah 30:6, the prophet describes a time of great distress: "Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, and every face turned pale?" The imagery of men clutching their loins in pain highlights human frailty in the face of divine judgment.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Israelite culture, clothing played a significant role in daily life and religious practice. The act of girding one's loins involved tucking the long garments into a belt to allow for greater mobility, symbolizing readiness and determination. This practice was not only practical but also carried deep spiritual connotations, as seen in the biblical texts.

The loincloth, a garment worn around the loins, is mentioned in several passages, including the account of the prophet Jeremiah, who was instructed to wear and then hide a linen loincloth as a symbolic act (Jeremiah 13:1-11). This act served as a prophetic sign of the impending judgment and the need for repentance.

In summary, the concept of the loin in the Bible encompasses themes of strength, readiness, procreation, and vulnerability. It serves as a powerful symbol in both physical and spiritual contexts, reflecting the multifaceted nature of human existence and divine interaction.(n.) That part of a human being or quadruped, which extends on either side of the spinal column between the hip bone and the false ribs. In human beings the loins are also called the reins.3751. osphus -- the loin
... the loin. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: osphus Phonetic Spelling:
(os-foos') Short Definition: the loins Definition: the loins. ... loin. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3751.htm - 7k

1128. gumnazo -- to exercise naked, to train
... 1128 (from 1131 , "to train, naked or wearing a loin cloth") -- properly, naked
or lightly clad, as with an ancient Greek athlete in a sporting event ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1128.htm - 7k

2783. charats -- loin
... 2782, 2783. charats. 2784 . loin. Transliteration: charats Phonetic Spelling:
(khar-ats') Short Definition: hip. Word ... loin. (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/2783.htm - 6k

2290b. chagorah -- a girdle, loin covering, belt
chagorah or chagorah. 2290a, 2290b. chagorah or chagorah. 2291 . a girdle,
loin covering, belt. Transliteration: chagorah or chagorah Short Definition: belt ...
/hebrew/2290b.htm - 5k

3410. yarkah -- thigh, loin
... 3409, 3410. yarkah. 3411 . thigh, loin. Transliteration: yarkah Phonetic
Spelling: (yar-kaw') Short Definition: thighs. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3410.htm - 6k

3409. yarek -- thigh, loin, side, base
... 3408, 3409. yarek. 3410 . thigh, loin, side, base. Transliteration: yarek
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-rake') Short Definition: thigh. ...
/hebrew/3409.htm - 6k

3689. kesel -- loins, stupidity, confidence
... 1). confidence, flank, folly, hope, loin. From kacal; properly, fatness,
ie By implication (literally) the loin (as the seat of the ...
/hebrew/3689.htm - 6k

He Rejects the Sacred Scriptures as Too Simple, and as not to be ...
... Mais qu'y at-il, dans l'antiquit?? profane, de comparable au tendre J??r??mie, d??plorant
les maux de son peuple; ou ?� Nahum, voyant de loin, en esprit ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter v he rejects the sacred.htm

Fresh Supplies of Power.
... begins with a few strings of water trickling out from under the door-step of the
temple, and rises gradually but steadily ankle-deep, knee-deep, loin-deep, over ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/fresh supplies of power.htm

After the Scripture.
... Dalet hataf qamats Lamed segol Samekh sheva Kaf hiriq Bet dagesh sheva), literally,
"for a' loin to thee." And because the loins are a man's strength, it is ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii after the scripture.htm

Prayers and Praise from a Pure Mind, Ceaselessly Offered, Far ...
... For I no flesh do ever eat. That's sweeter than the thigh." [3550]. And Menander
writes:". "The end of the loin,. The bile, the bones uneatable, they set. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi prayers and praise from.htm

Whether Prophets Always Know the Things which they Prophesy?
... Again, when the Holy Ghost moves a man's mind to do something, sometimes the latter
understands the meaning of it, like Jeremias who hid his loin-cloth in the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether prophets always know the.htm

Of the Persecutions in Persia and of them that were Martyred There ...
... of what was said, but, instead of this, he stripped the noble athlete of his wealth
and rank, and ordered him to go clad in nothing save a loin cloth, and ...
/.../chapter xxxviii of the persecutions in.htm

The Hebdomadarii; System of the Arithmeticians; Pressed into the ...
... vessel, the extremity of which terminates in the genital blood-vessels, whence all
the (animal) seeds proceeding from the brain through the loin are secreted ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter li the hebdomadarii system of.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... We see them on such occasions represented with short-cut hair and naked breast,
the loin-cloth about their waist, advancing foremost in the rank, carrying the ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... of horsemen forming this contingent was as yet small; like the infantry, they wore
casques and cuirasses, but were clothed with a tight-fitting loin-cloth in ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Education.
... Les Grecs poussaient m?�me si loin l'ignorance du ayant ?� dire comment le mot ciel
s'exprime en Latin, l'??crit a peu pres comme il devait l'entendre ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/ii education.htm

Loin (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Loin (2 Occurrences). ... Judges 8:30 and to Gideon there have
been seventy sons, coming out of his loin, for he had many wives; (YLT). ...
/l/loin.htm - 7k

Logs (12 Occurrences)

/l/logs.htm - 9k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... Matthew 22:11; compare Matthew 7:15), plural, though the oldest and most widely
distributed article of human apparel was probably the "loin-cloth" (Hebrew 'ezor ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Nakedness (50 Occurrences)
... The Jews objected vigorously to exposure of the body (even athletes insisting on
a loin-cloth (compare 2 Maccabees 4:12, 13)), and compulsory nudity was the ...
/n/nakedness.htm - 26k

Naked (56 Occurrences)
... The Jews objected vigorously to exposure of the body (even athletes insisting on
a loin-cloth (compare 2 Maccabees 4:12, 13)), and compulsory nudity was the ...
/n/naked.htm - 29k

Loincloth (4 Occurrences)

/l/loincloth.htm - 7k

Purloining (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Purloin. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. PURLOINING. pur-loin'-ing: Lit. "for far ...
/p/purloining.htm - 7k

Spit (15 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) To thrust a spit through; to fix upon a spit; hence, to thrust through
or impale; as, to spit a loin of veal. 5. (n.) To spade; to dig. ...
/s/spit.htm - 13k

Helez (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Strong, or loin (?). (1.) One of Judah's posterity (1
Chronicles 2:39). (2.) One of David's warriors (2 Samuel 23:26). Int. ...
/h/helez.htm - 8k

Images (158 Occurrences)
... (6) Ephod: Ephod ('ephodh).-There is no doubt that this was the name of a vestment
or ritual loin cloth of linen worn by common priests and temple servants and ...
/i/images.htm - 70k

Why did the Old Testament Law command against the eating of pork? | GotQuestions.org

Loin: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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