### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **châlâts**, represented by `{{H2504}}`, refers to the **loins** or **reins**. Derived from a root word implying strength, it appears 10 times across 10 unique verses in the Bible. The term consistently points to the loins as the seat of vigor, procreative power, and a center for expressing deep emotion or readiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2504}}` is used in several key contexts. It is foundational to promises of lineage, as when God tells Jacob that "kings shall come out of thy **loins**" [[Genesis 35:11]], a promise later echoed regarding David's son [[1 Kings 8:19]]. The term also signifies a state of readiness and strength, most notably when God twice commands Job to "Gird up now thy **loins** like a man" before questioning him ([[Job 38:3]], [[Job 40:7]]). Conversely, it can depict great anguish, as when Jeremiah describes men in distress with their hands on their **loins** "as a woman in travail" [[Jeremiah 30:6]], or be a place to gird sackcloth in times of trouble [[Isaiah 32:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of lineage and readiness associated with the loins:
* `{{H3318}}` **yâtsâʼ** (to go ... out, ... bring forth): This verb is used to describe how descendants and kings "come forth out of" the loins, directly linking `{{H2504}}` to the concept of lineage ([[Genesis 35:11]], [[1 Kings 8:19]]).
* `{{H247}}` **ʼâzar** (to belt; ... gird): This is the action command given to Job, telling him to "**gird up** now thy loins" ([[Job 38:3]], [[Job 40:7]]), connecting `{{H2504}}` to themes of preparation and strength.
* `{{H232}}` **ʼêzôwr** (a belt, ... girdle): This item is worn on the loins. In Isaiah, it is used metaphorically, with faithfulness described as the **girdle** of his reins [[Isaiah 11:5]]. It is also mentioned as something that should not be "loosed" from the loins of those who are ready [[Isaiah 5:27]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2504}}` is evident in its symbolic applications.
* **Generational Covenant:** The loins are the physical source of lineage through which divine promises are fulfilled. God's promise of kings coming from the **loins** establishes a line of succession and covenant continuity ([[Genesis 35:11]], [[2 Chronicles 6:9]]).
* **Symbol of Readiness and Strength:** The act of girding the loins is a powerful metaphor for preparing for a significant undertaking or divine encounter. When God challenges Job, He commands him to "Gird up thy **loins** like a man" [[Job 40:7]], signifying a call to be strong and attentive.
* **Indicator of Inner State:** The condition of the loins reflects a person's or a people's spiritual and emotional state. They can express the agony of a person in travail [[Jeremiah 30:6]], be a place for the girdle of faithfulness [[Isaiah 11:5]], or be covered in sackcloth as a sign of trouble and judgment [[Isaiah 32:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2504}}` is a term that extends beyond simple anatomy to carry significant symbolic weight. It represents the source of life and generational promise, fundamental to biblical covenants. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful metaphor for strength, readiness for action, and the outward expression of inner states like anguish or faithfulness. From the literal source of kings to the symbolic location of a person's vigor, **châlâts** connects the physical body to profound concepts of posterity, power, and spiritual condition.
TRV