חֲגוֹר
𐤇𐤂𐤅𐤓
chăgôwr
H2290 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A belt or sash worn around the waist, primarily as a functional piece of clothing but also with connotations of readiness, support, and status. In biblical contexts, a חֲגוֹר may refer specifically to a warrior’s girdle, a laborer’s working belt, or a garment for binding up the robes for action. The term may be applied to both literal items of dress and, in some texts, figuratively to preparedness or strength.
Semantic Range
belt, sash, girdle, waistband, armor belt, apron, garment fastener, strip of cloth for binding
Root / Etymology
From the root חגר (ḥ-g-r), meaning 'to gird, bind on, tie around.' The noun חֲגוֹר refers to a thing that is fastened or wound around the waist, derived from the verbal sense of securing or encircling the body with clothing or armor.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חֲגוֹר and its feminine form חֲגוֹרָה denote belts used by Israelites and other peoples of the ancient Near East for practical purposes, such as binding up loose garments for manual labor or battle. Chăgôr regularly appears in descriptions of warriors (e.g., 1 Samuel 18:4) and in ritual or everyday settings to signify readiness for action. While it can refer to standard belts, the word is also rendered as 'girdle' or 'apron' in some translations, with meaning clarified by context (working dress, battle gear, or priestly vestment). In later periods, analogous terms developed more specialized meanings, but in the biblical period, חֲגוֹר is broadly utilitarian and not inherently symbolic. English translations sometimes narrow the sense to 'girdle' or, less precisely, to 'armor,' though the Hebrew term conveys a broader spectrum of dress and function. It includes equivalents used by both men and women, as reflected in the use of the feminine form. Not to be confused with belt terms of non-Hebrew origin or with items signifying particular social or ritual rank unless indicated by context.
Translation Consistency
"Belt" is the most natural, widely understood English word that covers the full semantic range (girdle, sash, waistband, armor belt). It is modern and neutral enough to render literal and figurative uses (readiness, support, binding up robes) while remaining consistent across all forms; more archaic alternatives like "girdle" are less familiar to contemporary readers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or חֲגֹר; and (feminine) חֲגוֹרָה; or חֲגֹרָה; from חָגַר; a belt (for the waist); apron, armour, gird(-le).
Bantu Hebrew
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חגר (ḥ-g-r) — to gird, to bind, to tie around
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2290-03 |
חֲגֹרָה֙ | chagorah | HNcfsa |
armor | girding-belt | girding-belt | 2 |
H2290-04 |
חֲגֹרֽ/וֹ | chagoro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his girdle | his girding-belt | his girdle | 1 |
H2290-01 |
בַּ/חֲגֹֽרָת/וֹ֙ | bachagorato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
on his belt | his girding-belt | his girding-belt | 1 |
H2290-05 |
חֲגֹרֹֽת | chagorot | HNcfpa |
coverings | girding-belts | girding-belts | 1 |
H2290-06 |
וַ/חֲגֹרָ֖ה | vachagorah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a belt | and a girding-belt | and a belt | 1 |
H2290-02 |
חֲג֥וֹר | chagor | HNcmsc |
a belt | girding-belt of | girding-belt of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2290-05 |
Genesis 3:7 | חֲגֹרֹֽת | chagorot | HNcfpa |
coverings | girding-belts | girding-belts |
H2290-04 |
1 Samuel 18:4 | חֲגֹרֽ/וֹ | chagoro | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his girdle | his girding-belt | his girdle |
H2290-06 |
2 Samuel 18:11 | וַ/חֲגֹרָ֖ה | vachagorah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a belt | and a girding-belt | and a belt |
H2290-02 |
2 Samuel 20:8 | חֲג֥וֹר | chagor | HNcmsc |
a belt | girding-belt of | girding-belt of |
H2290-01 |
1 Kings 2:5 | בַּ/חֲגֹֽרָת/וֹ֙ | bachagorato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
on his belt | his girding-belt | his girding-belt |
H2290-03 |
2 Kings 3:21 | חֲגֹרָה֙ | chagorah | HNcfsa |
armor | girding-belt | girding-belt |
H2290-03 |
Isaiah 3:24 | חֲגוֹרָ֤ה | chagorah | HNcfsa |
belt | girding-belt | girding-belt |