### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **machăgôreth**, represented by `{{H4228}}`, is defined as **a girdle** or **girding**. It appears just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its sole appearance a point of specific focus.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its only biblical appearance, `{{H4228}}` is found within a prophecy of judgment against the daughters of Zion [[Isaiah 3:24]]. It is used to describe a stark reversal of fortune, where finery is replaced by symbols of disgrace. Specifically, "a stomacher" is replaced by "a **girding** of sackcloth," indicating a shift from wealth and beauty to mourning and humiliation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H4228}}` is illuminated by its relationship to other Hebrew words:
* `{{H2290}}` **chăgôwr**: Defined as a **belt**, **apron**, or **girdle**, this word has a broader application. It is used for the first aprons made by Adam and Eve [[Genesis 3:7]], as part of a soldier's **armour** [[2 Kings 3:21]], and as the "girdle" being replaced in the same prophecy where `{{H4228}}` appears [[Isaiah 3:24]].
* `{{H8242}}` **saq**: This word for **sackcloth** is consistently linked to mourning, humility, and repentance. It is worn during fasts [[Daniel 9:3]], national repentance [[Jonah 3:5]], and in times of deep sorrow [[Jeremiah 6:26]]. Its pairing with `{{H4228}}` in [[Isaiah 3:24]] directly connects the act of "girding" with the material of grief.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4228}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful usage.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment:** Its appearance in [[Isaiah 3:24]] establishes it as a symbol of divine judgment. The "girding of sackcloth" is not a voluntary act of piety but an enforced state of humiliation and loss, replacing former luxury.
* **Reversal of Pride:** The word is used to illustrate the consequence of pride. The finery of a "stomacher" is stripped away and replaced with a mark of disgrace, demonstrating a theme of God humbling the proud.
* **An Act of Mourning:** By being explicitly paired with **sackcloth** `{{H8242}}`, the "girding" described by `{{H4228}}` is inextricably linked to the biblical expression of deep mourning, grief, and lamentation [[Isaiah 3:24]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4228}}` **machăgôreth** is a highly specific term whose meaning is entirely derived from its single appearance in scripture. Unlike the common word for a girdle, it specifically denotes a "girding" of sackcloth as a mark of divine judgment. It serves as a potent illustration of a forced reversal from luxury to disgrace, powerfully communicating a message of humility and the consequences of pride as described in the prophecy of Isaiah [[Isaiah 3:24]].
TRV