Gird Up Your Loins, Girl! Part 2

I sure hope you read yesterday's post.  If not, go back and read it before this one.  In our household lately, we have been admonishing family members to "gird up their loins"-- meaning to strengthen their nerve to do something they dread.  This expression popped out my mouth the other day without even thinking about where it came from.  I knew it was Biblical, so I looked it up on old faithful BibleGateway.com, my favorite go-to online concordance.  Of course, I selected the King James Version, because I couldn't imagine my usual Today's New International Version to be using such words as "gird" and "loins."

But, let's detour for a moment.  What does "gird" mean?  Well, let's proceed to Dictionary.com to find out.   Gird:
1.  to put a belt, girdle, etc, around (the waist or hips)
2.  to bind or secure with or as if with a belt: to gird on one's armour
3.  to surround, encircle
4.  to prepare (oneself) for action (esp in the phrase gird up one's loins)

Ah ha!  I love it when I use a strange expression and it's actually correct! 

Now, what are loins, hm?  Back to the dictionary.  "Loins:  the parts of the body between the hips and the lower ribs, especially regarded as the seat of physical strength and generative power."

Also idiom:  "gird up one's loins, to prepare oneself for something requiring readiness, strength, or endurance:  He girded his loins to face his competitor."  So, apparently when you gird up your loins, you are wrapping a belt or sash around your waist.

I do admit that I have omitted some alternate definitions of loins which are not pertinent to our current discussion.  Just keepin' it clean here, folks.

Speaking of the Bible, lets get back to that.  I was shocked to find that people were girding themselves all through the Old and New Testaments!  And they were girding themselves with all kinds of things and for all kinds of purposes.  They girded on swords, sackcloth, strength, joy, gladness, righteousness, gold, leather and a towel.  Yes, Jesus Himself girded on a towel before he washed the feet of his disciples.

Here are just a few of the myriad Biblical references to girding.  All the scriptures are taken from the King James Version.  Alternate wording from the NIV is provided in some cases.  The Square Pink Marshmallows Bible Commentary follows each entry.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.  Ex. 12:11

(with your cloak tucked into your belt—NIV)

 1.  Make sure your loins are always firmly girded in case you need to make a quick get-away.

And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  2 Sam 20:8

 2.  When you gird up your loins with a sword, please gird carefully.  How embarrassing to have your sword fall off! 

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.  2 Sam. 22:40

 3.  Don't worry if your own girding doesn't seem like enough:  God Himself will gird you with strength.

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  1 Kings 18:46

(…tucking his cloak into his belt…--NIV)

 4.  Again, always gird up your loins before you run, or you might trip over your cloak.  Very important.

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.  Job 38:3 & 40:7

(brace yourself like a man—NIV)

5.  Men, don't be wimpy.  Gird up your loins!

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  Prov. 31:17

(She sets about her work vigorously…--NIV)

 6.  Women, don't be wimpy.  Gird up your loins!  If it was good enough for the Proverbs 31 woman, it's good enough for us!

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

7.  Yep, the Proverbs 31 woman even MADE girdles for other people to gird up their loins.  So make sure all your family and friends are properly girt, my friends.

They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.  Ezekiel 44:18

8.  Only gird up your loins with natural fibers.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  1 Peter 1:13

(with minds that are alert and sober—NIV)

9.  Bet you didn't know that your mind has loins.  Well now you do, so you better gird them up too!

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;  Psalm 30:11

 10.  Last, but not least, why not gird yourself with joy.

I'm stopping with ten, but please... feel free to gird up your loins and delve into this subject for yourself.  

Speaking of girding up loins, I'm still sitting here totally ungirded in my jammies.  This phrase still sounds rather scandalous in spite of all the above explanation... but anyway... I'm going to go gird up my loins with jeans and a belt so I will be ready for anything.