Lexicon :: Strong's H4975 - māṯnayim

“O LORD, bless Levi’s substance (ability),

And accept and take pleasure in the work of his hands;

Crush and shatter the loins of those who rise up against him,

And of those who hate him, so that they do not rise again.”

“Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah [my sister] did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, [both of] whom he murdered; [fn]avenging the blood of war in [a time of] peace. And he put the [innocent] blood of war [of Abner and Amasa] on his [fn]belt that was around his [fn]waist, and on his sandals on his feet.

But his servants said to him, “We have heard that the kings of the house (royal line) of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our [fn]loins and ropes on our necks [as symbols of submission], and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”

Then he said to Gehazi, “[fn]Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].”

Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “[fn]Gird up your loins (prepare for action), take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth-gilead.

“He loosens the bond of kings

And binds their loins with a loincloth.

“See now, his strength is in his loins

And his power is in the muscles and sinews of his belly.

You brought us into the net;

You laid a heavy burden [of servitude] on [fn]us.

May their eyes be dimmed so that they cannot see,

And make their loins shake continually [in terror and weakness].

The [fn]strutting rooster, the male goat also,

And the king when his army is with him.

She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]

And makes her arms strong.

And righteousness will be the belt around His loins,

And faithfulness the belt around His waist.

Therefore [continues Isaiah] my loins are filled with anguish;

Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in childbirth;

I am so bent and bewildered that I cannot hear, I am so terrified that I cannot see.

This is what the LORD says to His anointed, to Cyrus [king of Persia],

Whose right hand I have held

To subdue nations before him,

And I will ungird the loins of kings [disarming them];

To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

Thus the LORD said to me, “Go and buy yourself a linen waistband and put it on your [fn]loins, but do not put it in water.”

Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”

“When they (Israel) grasped you (Egypt) by the hand,

You broke and tore apart their hands;

When they leaned on you,

You broke and strained their backs.”

“And I shall turn your festivals and feasts into mourning

And all your songs into dirges (funeral poems to be sung);

And I shall cause sackcloth to be put on everyone’s [fn]loins

And baldness on every head [shaved for mourning].

And I shall make that time like a time of mourning for an only son [who has died],

And the end of it shall be like a bitter day.

[fn]The one who scatters has come up against you [Nineveh].

Man the fortress and ramparts, watch the road;

[fn]Strengthen your back [prepare for battle], summon all your strength.

She is emptied! She is desolate and waste!

Hearts melting [in fear] and knees knocking!

Anguish is in the whole body,

And the faces of all grow pale!