Lexical Summary machagoreth: Belt, Girdle Original Word: מַחֲגֹרֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance girding From chagar; a girdle -- girding. see HEBREW chagar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chagar Definition girding, cincture NASB Translation donning (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחֲגֹ֫רֶת noun feminine a girding, cincture, only construct; תַּחַת מְּתִיגִּיל מַחֲגֹרֶת שָׂ֑ק Isaiah 3:24 instead of a mantle a girding of sackcloth. Topical Lexicon Machagoreth — the Girdle of Costly AdornmentDefinition and Singular Occurrence Machagoreth denotes the elegant waist-sash worn by well-to-do women of Jerusalem. It appears once, in Isaiah 3:24, where the prophet announces that “instead of a belt, a rope” will bind them. The sudden exchange of a finely woven accessory for coarse cord captures the humiliation that accompanies divine judgment. Everyday and Ceremonial Use of the Girdle In the ancient Near East a belt did far more than hold loose robes together. It carried money pouches, perfume vials, daggers, or seals, and it gathered flowing garments so the wearer could move quickly for labor or battle (Exodus 12:11). Ornamental girdles of linen, silk, or embroidered wool indicated social standing, and their artistry expressed feminine grace (Song of Solomon 7:2). For priests, the sash was part of holy vestments (Exodus 28:4), reminding worshipers that service before God required ordered dignity. Prophetic Reversal in Isaiah 3 Isaiah 3:16-26 catalogs the finery of the “daughters of Zion”—anklets, veils, perfume bottles, signet rings, and finally the machagoreth. The Lord removes each item, exposing pride and replacing beauty with disgrace. The rope hints at captivity: prisoners were commonly bound by cords (2 Kings 25:7), so the image foreshadows exile. The judgment is not vindictive but corrective; by stripping away outward show, God calls His people back to inner righteousness. Symbolism of the Belt in the Wider Canon 1. Readiness for obedience: in the Passover night Israel must eat with “your cloak tucked into your belt” (Exodus 12:11). Machagoreth therefore participates in a larger biblical motif: what encircles the waist speaks of character, authority, and preparedness. When the sash is righteous and true, blessing follows; when it is flaunted in vanity, God removes it. Christological Fulfillment The humiliation threatened in Isaiah anticipates a greater exchange. On the cross, the sinless Son willingly accepted shame (“They divide My garments among them,” Psalm 22:18) so that His people might be clothed with salvation. Where Zion lost her machagoreth, the Church gains “fine linen, bright and clean” (Revelation 19:8). The contrast magnifies grace: the rope of judgment becomes the golden sash of redemption. Ministry Applications • Cultivate inner adornment: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment” (1 Peter 3:3-4). Key References Isaiah 3:24; Exodus 12:11; Isaiah 11:5; Ephesians 6:14; Revelation 1:13; Revelation 19:8. Forms and Transliterations מַחֲגֹ֣רֶת מחגרת ma·ḥă·ḡō·reṯ machaGoret maḥăḡōreṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 3:24 HEB: וְתַ֥חַת פְּתִיגִ֖יל מַחֲגֹ֣רֶת שָׂ֑ק כִּי־ NAS: of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; KJV: and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; INT: Instead of fine A donning of sackcloth and branding 1 Occurrence |
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