Jeremiah 13:2

KJV

So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put [it] on my loins.

KJV (with Strong's)

So I got {H7069} a girdle {H232} according to the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, and put {H7760} it on my loins {H4975}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So I bought a loincloth, as ADONAI had said, and put it on.

Berean Standard Bible

So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had instructed me, and I put it around my waist.

American Standard Version

So I bought a girdle according to the word of Jehovah, and put it upon my loins.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:2 records the prophet Jeremiah's immediate and unwavering obedience to a specific divine command: to acquire and wear a linen girdle. This seemingly straightforward act initiates a profound visual parable, setting the stage for a powerful object lesson intended by God to communicate a message of impending judgment, defilement, and exile to the rebellious people of Judah, illustrating the shame and degradation that would befall them due to their spiritual unfaithfulness and pride.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 13:2 follows directly from the explicit divine instruction given in [Jeremiah 13:1](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Command to Acquire a Linen Girdle"), where the Lord commands Jeremiah, "Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put no water upon it." This immediate and unqualified obedience establishes Jeremiah's role as a faithful and submissive messenger, willing to perform even unusual or demanding prophetic acts. The subsequent verses in [Jeremiah 13](/jeremiah/13 "Jeremiah 13 - The Parable of the Linen Girdle") detail the girdle's journey—its burial by the Euphrates and its eventual discovery as ruined and useless—which serves as the core of the symbolic message concerning Judah's pride, corruption, and impending exile. The entire chapter functions as a vivid, unfolding parable designed to confront Judah's spiritual adultery and warn of the dire consequences of their covenant unfaithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah's ministry unfolded during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, characterized by rampant idolatry, moral decay, and political instability, ultimately leading to the devastating Babylonian exile. The girdle, or `ʼêzôwr` (H232), was a common and essential item of clothing in ancient Israel, typically a belt or loincloth worn around the waist to secure outer garments, facilitate movement, and symbolize readiness, strength, and preparedness for action or service. The specific instruction for it to be made of *linen* (mentioned in [Jeremiah 13:1](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Linen Girdle")) is highly significant. Linen was often associated with purity, holiness, and the garments of priests ([Exodus 28:42](/exodus/28-42 "Exodus 28:42 - Linen Breeches for Priests")), symbolizing consecration to God. This choice of material heightens the symbolic impact of its later defilement, representing the spiritual corruption of God's chosen people who were meant to be pure, consecrated, and intimately bound to Him.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah's prompt acquisition and wearing of the girdle, as commanded, powerfully underscore his unwavering submission to divine instruction, highlighting the central theme of **Obedience to God's Word**. The phrase "according to the word of the LORD" emphasizes **Divine Initiative** and **Authority**, revealing God as the active communicator of His will and warnings to His people through His chosen prophet. This seemingly simple act is the beginning of a vivid object lesson, illustrating **Prophetic Symbolism**. The girdle's journey and eventual degradation (described in subsequent verses of [Jeremiah 13](/jeremiah/13 "Jeremiah 13 - The Parable of the Linen Girdle")) would serve as a powerful metaphor for Judah's spiritual corruption, their separation from God, and the shame of their impending judgment and exile. God frequently employed such tangible actions to make His messages more impactful, as seen in other prophets like [Ezekiel's symbolic siege tableau](/ezekiel/4-1 "Ezekiel 4:1 - Ezekiel's Symbolic Siege of Jerusalem") or [Isaiah walking naked and barefoot](/isaiah/20-3 "Isaiah 20:3 - Isaiah's Symbolic Nakedness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **qânâh (Hebrew, _qânâh'_):** Used here as "got" (H7069), this primitive root signifies "to erect," "to create," "to procure," or "to acquire," often by purchase. In this context, it emphasizes Jeremiah's active and deliberate acquisition of the girdle, demonstrating his immediate and intentional compliance with the divine command. It highlights that his obedience was not passive but a purposeful act of procurement, underscoring his readiness to perform God's will.
* **ʼêzôwr (Hebrew, _ʼêzôwr'_):** Translated as "girdle" (H232), this noun refers to a belt, waistcloth, or loincloth. Its significance lies in its common use for securing garments and enabling freedom of movement, symbolizing readiness for service or action, strength, and preparedness. As specified in [Jeremiah 13:1](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Linen Girdle"), it was made of linen, a material often associated with purity and priestly garments, which profoundly amplifies the symbolic defilement that occurs later in the parable.
* **dâbâr (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** Translated as "word" (H1697), this versatile term encompasses not just a spoken word but also a matter, thing, affair, or decree. Here, "according to the word of the LORD" profoundly emphasizes that Jeremiah's action is not arbitrary or self-initiated but a direct, authoritative response to a divine mandate. It underscores the performative and binding nature of God's communication, signifying that the entire prophetic act is initiated, directed, and empowered by God's explicit instruction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD":** This clause highlights Jeremiah's immediate, faithful, and precise response to God's command. The action of "getting" (acquiring) the girdle is a direct fulfillment of the instruction given in [Jeremiah 13:1](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Command to Acquire a Girdle"). The phrase "according to the word of the LORD" serves as the foundational authority and motivation for Jeremiah's actions, emphasizing divine initiative and the prophet's unreserved submission to it. It establishes that this is not a human invention or a personal whim, but a divinely ordained prophetic act with profound theological implications.
* **"and put [it] on my loins":** This second clause describes the completion of the initial part of the command, detailing the physical act of wearing the girdle. To "put it on my loins" signifies wearing the girdle in the customary manner, around the waist, making it an integral part of Jeremiah's attire and ready to become the central object of the symbolic parable. The loins (H4975, _môthen_) were metaphorically associated with strength, readiness, the seat of procreative power, and the core of one's being, making the placement of the girdle on them particularly symbolic for a nation whose strength, purity, and covenant relationship with God were about to be corrupted.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:2, though concise, is foundational to a significant **Prophetic Act** and employs powerful **Symbolism**. The entire scenario of the linen girdle, from its acquisition to its eventual decay, functions as an **Object Lesson** or a **Visual Parable**, designed to convey a complex theological message through tangible means. The girdle itself is a primary **Symbol** of the people of Judah, whom God had intended to be intimately "girded" to Him, clinging to Him as a girdle clings to a man's loins, for His glory and praise ([Jeremiah 13:11](/jeremiah/13-11 "Jeremiah 13:11 - Judah as God's Girdle")). Jeremiah's immediate and perfect obedience in getting and wearing the girdle also serves as a **Foreshadowing** of the complete obedience required for the prophetic act to unfold, and implicitly, the complete obedience God desired from Judah. The linen material, initially associated with purity and holiness, adds a layer of poignant **Irony** when contrasted with the eventual defilement and ruin of the girdle, mirroring Judah's tragic fall from spiritual purity and their covenant relationship with God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:2 underscores the profound theological truth that God actively communicates His will to humanity, often through tangible means and obedient servants. Jeremiah's immediate and unquestioning compliance highlights the importance of unreserved obedience to divine commands, even when their full purpose is not immediately clear or seems unconventional. This act of "getting" and "putting on" the girdle, "according to the word of the LORD," establishes the divine authority behind the unfolding prophetic drama, emphasizing that God is sovereign over history and actively intervenes to warn His people and bring about His purposes, whether through judgment or restoration. It speaks to God's persistent love and patience in seeking to draw His people back to Himself, even when they are steeped in rebellion, demonstrating His commitment to His covenant.

* [Deuteronomy 13:4](/deuteronomy/13-4 "Deuteronomy 13:4 - Following the LORD's Commands")
* [Ezekiel 4:1-3](/ezekiel/4-1-3 "Ezekiel 4:1-3 - The Symbolic Siege of Jerusalem")
* [Psalm 119:105](/psalms/119-105 "Psalm 119:105 - God's Word as a Lamp")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah's immediate and unquestioning obedience in acquiring and wearing the girdle serves as a powerful model for believers today. It reminds us that genuine faith often involves heeding God's instructions even when their purpose isn't immediately clear, seems unconventional, or requires personal inconvenience. Our willingness to "gird up the loins of our mind"—to prepare ourselves spiritually and practically for service and righteousness, as encouraged in [1 Peter 1:13](/1_peter/1-13 "1 Peter 1:13 - Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind")—is a testament to our trust in God's sovereign plan and His ultimate wisdom. This verse underscores the critical importance of not just hearing God's word, but actively doing it, embodying the principle highlighted in [James 1:22](/james/1-22 "James 1:22 - Be Doers of the Word"). It challenges us to consider areas in our lives where God might be calling us to an act of obedience, however small or seemingly insignificant, that could be part of a larger divine purpose or a profound object lesson for those around us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I being called to immediate and unquestioning obedience to God's word, even if the reason isn't fully clear?**
* **How does my willingness to obey God's seemingly "unconventional" commands reflect my trust in His wisdom and sovereignty?**
* **What "girdle" might God be asking me to "put on" today, signifying readiness for His service or a specific prophetic act in my sphere of influence?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of the "girdle" in Jeremiah's prophetic act?**

Answer: The girdle (Hebrew: `ʼêzôwr`, H232) was a common item of clothing, a belt or loincloth, worn around the waist to secure outer garments and allow freedom of movement. Its significance in Jeremiah's prophetic act was multifaceted. Firstly, it symbolized readiness for action, strength, and preparedness for service. Secondly, the fact that it was made of *linen* (as specified in [Jeremiah 13:1](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Linen Girdle")) was crucial, as linen was often associated with purity, holiness, and priestly garments ([Exodus 28:42](/exodus/28-42 "Exodus 28:42 - Linen Breeches for Priests")). This made its subsequent defilement (described in later verses of [Jeremiah 13](/jeremiah/13 "Jeremiah 13 - The Parable of the Girdle")) even more striking and tragic. The girdle represented the people of Judah, whom God had intended to cling to Him as a girdle clings to a man's loins, for His glory and praise ([Jeremiah 13:11](/jeremiah/13-11 "Jeremiah 13:11 - Judah as God's Girdle")). Its eventual ruin symbolized Judah's spiritual corruption due to idolatry and pride, their separation from God, and the shame, uselessness, and defilement that would result from their impending exile and judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's immediate and perfect obedience in acquiring and wearing the girdle, "according to the word of the LORD," profoundly foreshadows the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. While Jeremiah's act was a symbolic representation of Judah's defilement and judgment, Christ's entire life was an embodiment of sinless purity and complete submission to the Father's will. Just as Jeremiah "got" and "put on" the girdle as commanded, so Christ "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:7](/philippians/2-7 "Philippians 2:7 - Christ's Humiliation")), effectively "girding Himself" with humanity to fulfill the Father's redemptive plan. The linen girdle, initially pure and intended for glory, represents what Judah *should have been*—a people consecrated to God and clinging to Him. This purity, lost by Judah through their rebellion, is perfectly embodied in Christ, who is the [spotless Lamb of God](/1_peter/1-19 "1 Peter 1:19 - Christ, the Spotless Lamb"). His perfect obedience, unlike Judah's rebellion, leads not to defilement and exile but to righteousness and eternal life for all who believe ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")). Ultimately, where Judah failed to cling to God and became ruined, Christ, through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, provides the means for humanity to be perfectly "girded" to God, cleansed, made righteous, and made complete in Him ([Colossians 2:10](/colossians/2-10 "Colossians 2:10 - Complete in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 2:8

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

Isaiah 20:2

At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

John 15:14

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Hosea 1:2

¶ The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, [departing] from the LORD.

Hosea 1:3

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

John 13:6

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?