Skip to content
H247

אָזַר

ʼâzar /aw-zar'/ Ask about this word
a primitive root
to belt
bind (compass) about, gird (up, with).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼâzar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼâzar, represented by H247, is a primitive root defined as to belt; bind (compass) about, gird (up, with). It appears 16 times across 15 unique verses in the Bible, often conveying a sense of being equipped, prepared, or endowed with strength for a specific purpose or action.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H247 carries several key applications. It frequently describes being divinely equipped with strength for battle, as when the psalmist declares, "It is God that girdeth H247 me with strength H2428" Psalms 18:32, and "For thou hast girded H247 me with strength H2428 unto the battle" Psalms 18:39. The term is also used as a command to prepare for a divine commission or confrontation, such as when God tells Jeremiah to "gird up H247 thy loins, and arise" Jeremiah 1:17 or when He commands Job, "Gird up H247 now thy loins like a man" Job 38:3. Metaphorically, it can signify a profound transformation, as in God having "put off my sackcloth, and girded H247 me with gladness" Psalms 30:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of being girded:

  • H2428 chayil (strength): This word, denoting valor and force, is frequently paired with H247 to describe the nature of the empowerment being given. For example, those who stumbled are "girded H247 with strength H2428" 1 Samuel 2:4.
  • H232 ʼêzôwr (girdle): This noun is the physical object used for girding. The connection is seen in the description of Elijah as a man "girt H247 with a girdle H232 of leather" 2 Kings 1:8.
  • H2865 châthath (dismay): This term is often set in contrast to the command to gird oneself. The instruction to "gird up H247 thy loins" is immediately followed by "be not dismayed H2865" Jeremiah 1:17, suggesting that being girded is an antidote to fear and confusion.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H247 is centered on divine provision and human readiness.

  • Divine Empowerment: The act of being girded by God is a symbol of receiving His strength and capability. This divine endowment enables individuals to face battles and overcome obstacles that would be impossible in their own power (Psalms 18:39, 2 Samuel 22:40).
  • Preparation for a Divine Commission: The command to "gird up thy loins" is a call to a state of readiness and alertness. It signifies preparing oneself to receive and act upon a divine word, as seen with both Jeremiah and Job (Jeremiah 1:17, Job 40:7).
  • God's Sovereign Majesty: The scriptures also depict God girding Himself. The LORD is "clothed with strength H5797, wherewith he hath girded H247 himself," an act associated with the establishment of the world Psalms 93:1. This demonstrates that His power and authority are inherent to His being.

Summary

In summary, H247 represents far more than the simple physical act of fastening a belt. It is a powerful biblical concept signifying preparation, empowerment, and transformation. Whether it is God girding a person with strength, an individual girding themselves for a divine command, or God Himself being girded with majesty, the word consistently points to a readiness for action rooted in divine power.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 12 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תְּאַזְּרֵ
  • הִתְאַזְּרוּ
  • אֱזָר
  • הִתְאַזָּר
  • נֶאְזָר
  • אֲאַזֶּרְ
  • מְאַזְּרֵי
  • מְאַזְּרֵ
  • תֶּאְזֹר
  • יַאַזְרֵ
  • אָזוּר
  • אָזְרוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (5 verses); never once in the other 32.

1
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
1
2 Kings
3
Job
5
Psalms
3
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.