### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H2289 (châgôwr) is an adjective or passive participle derived from the verb H2296 (châgar), meaning "to gird," "to bind," or "to put on a belt." Therefore, châgôwr fundamentally describes the state of being "belted," "girded," or "girt with" something. It signifies having a garment, typically a tunic or loincloth, secured around the waist with a belt or sash. This action prepares one for activity, as loose garments would hinder movement. Semantically, it carries the literal sense of being clothed or equipped in a specific manner, often for a particular purpose or in a particular state.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H2289 appears in several significant contexts within the Hebrew Bible, primarily describing a literal state of dress or posture.
1. **Mourning and Humiliation:** A prominent use of châgôwr is in conjunction with "sackcloth" (שַׂק - saq). In [[2 Samuel 3:31]], David commands his people to "gird yourselves with sackcloth" (וְהִתְחַגְּרוּ שַׂקִּים) as a sign of mourning for Abner. Similarly, [[Joel 1:8]] describes a virgin "girded with sackcloth" (חֲגוּרַת שַׂק) lamenting for her bridegroom, vividly portraying profound grief. The king of Nineveh, in a demonstration of deep repentance, "covered himself with sackcloth" (וַיִּתְכַּס בַּשַּׂק וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל־הָאֵפֶר) in [[Jonah 3:6]], where châgôwr implies being fully enveloped or girt with it as a sign of humility and contrition. This imagery underscores the public and personal nature of sorrow and repentance in ancient Israel.
2. **Prophetic Attire:** In [[2 Kings 1:8]], the description of Elijah the Tishbite includes the detail that he was "a hairy man, with a leather belt girded about his loins" (וּבַעַל שֵׂעָר וְאֵזוֹר עוֹר חָגוּר בְּמָתְנָיו). This simple, austere attire, characterized by being "girt with" a leather belt, marked Elijah as a man set apart, a prophet living in stark contrast to the opulence of the royal court. It symbolized his dedication, readiness for God's service, and perhaps a nomadic, wilderness existence.
3. **Distress and Anguish:** [[Jeremiah 30:6]] presents a striking image: "Ask now, and see, can a male bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale?" Here, châgôwr describes the posture of men with their hands "girded upon" or clasped to their loins, a universal sign of intense pain, distress, and helplessness, akin to the anguish of childbirth. This metaphorical application highlights a state of extreme suffering and vulnerability.
Across these contexts, châgôwr consistently conveys a state of being prepared, identified, or affected by what one is "girded with," whether it be for mourning, prophetic witness, or deep distress.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic root for H2289 is the verb H2296 (châgar), "to gird." This verb is crucial for understanding the action that leads to the state described by châgôwr. Another closely related term is H2290 (chagowrah), which is the noun form meaning "girdle" or "belt" itself.
The concept of "girding" (from H2296) often carries the connotation of readiness for action, work, or battle (e.g., "gird up your loins"). In contrast, being "ungirded" or having one's garments loose signified a state of rest, vulnerability, or unpreparedness. Therefore, châgôwr implies a deliberate act of preparation or a specific state of being.
Related concepts include:
* **Preparedness:** The act of girding oneself suggests being ready for service, travel, or conflict.
* **Humility/Mourning:** As seen with sackcloth, being châgôwr with such material signifies a humble, repentant, or grieving state.
* **Identity/Authority:** The specific attire one is châgôwr with can denote one's role (e.g., prophet, priest, warrior).
* **Vulnerability/Distress:** The posture of being châgôwr with hands on the loins speaks to intense pain and helplessness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2289 is primarily derived from the symbolic weight of the objects or states it describes.
1. **Repentance and Humiliation:** When individuals or communities are châgôwr with sackcloth, it signifies a profound turning to God in repentance, humility, and lamentation. This act acknowledges human frailty and dependence on divine mercy. It is a visible sign of a broken and contrite heart, essential for restoration in the covenant relationship.
2. **Prophetic Identification:** Elijah's appearance, châgôwr with a leather belt, marks him as a distinct figure, embodying the prophetic spirit. This simple attire contrasts with the elaborate robes of priests or kings, emphasizing a call to simplicity, separation from worldly comforts, and direct obedience to God's word. It underscores the prophet's role as a messenger from a transcendent God, rather than a figure of worldly power.
3. **Readiness for Divine Purpose:** While H2289 itself describes a state, it inherently points to the verb H2296 (to gird), which often signifies readiness. The "girded" state, whether for mourning or prophetic witness, implies a posture of readiness to engage with God's will, whether that be to lament in humility or to speak His truth boldly. Even in distress, being châgôwr with hands on loins signifies a body utterly consumed by an experience, ready to endure or succumb.
In essence, châgôwr speaks to a physical manifestation of an internal state or an external calling, often highlighting themes of humility, readiness, and the profound impact of divine judgment or prophetic anointing on human experience.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2289 (châgôwr) functions as an adjective or participle meaning "belted" or "girded with." Derived from the verb "to gird" (H2296), it describes a state of being secured or clothed. Its biblical occurrences reveal its significance in several key contexts: depicting profound mourning and humiliation through being "girded with sackcloth" ([[2 Samuel 3:31]], [[Joel 1:8]], [[Jonah 3:6]]); identifying prophetic figures by their distinct attire, such as Elijah "girt with a leather belt" ([[2 Kings 1:8]]); and illustrating intense physical or emotional distress, as seen in men with hands "girded upon their loins" in anguish ([[Jeremiah 30:6]]). Theologically, châgôwr underscores themes of repentance, humility, prophetic identity, and a state of readiness or vulnerability before God, making a physical description carry deep spiritual and symbolic weight within the biblical narrative.
TRV