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Isaiah 11:5 — Word Study

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WLCוְהָ֥יָה צֶ֖דֶק אֵז֣וֹר מָתְנָ֑יו וְהָאֱמוּנָ֖ה אֵז֥וֹר חֲלָצָֽיו׃

BSARighteousnesstsedeq [justice, moral integrity] will behâyâh the beltʼêzôwr [girdle, sash] around His hipsmôthen [loins, waist] and faithfulnessʼĕmûwnâh [trustworthiness, fidelity] the sashʼêzôwr [girdle, cord] around His waistchâlâts [reins, innermost being]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 11
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (cha.la.Tzav) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 11:5quick helps
In a sentenceIsaiah describes the character of the coming ruler, emphasizing righteousness and faithfulness.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, conveying a vision of the future.
Where we areThis verse is part of a prophecy about a peaceful and just reign.
The hard wordצֶ֖דֶק
Take awayRighteousness and faithfulness are central to the ruler's identity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectצֶדֶק verbהָיָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Isaiah 11:5

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Righteous Reign of the Messiahgenerated

4but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
5Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
6The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them.
7The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:5 presents a vision of a future leader whose reign is characterized by justice and faithfulness. This ruler will bring about a time of peace and harmony, as seen in the surrounding verses that describe the transformation of nature and relationships among creatures. The imagery of clothing, such as a belt and sash, symbolizes the ruler's attributes and the moral foundation of his governance.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 59:17He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
2Psalm 93:1The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
32 Corinthians 6:7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
4Ephesians 6:14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
51 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word צֶ֖דֶק, Tze.dekgenerated

The Hebrew word צֶ֖דֶק (Tze.dek) signifies righteousness and justice, embodying the ideal moral standard for individuals and society. It is often associated with God's nature and His expectations for human conduct, emphasizing ethical behavior and fairness.

In this verse, it highlights the character of the ruler, indicating that righteousness is not just an attribute but the foundational principle of his reign. The word's usage here suggests a deep connection between the ruler's identity and the moral order he represents.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses Righteousness and faithfulness consistently, aligning with the KJV and ASV.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb וְהָיָה, and it will be, governs the entire verse, linking the two main attributes of the ruler: righteousness and faithfulness. The structure emphasizes the certainty of these qualities being present.

The noun phrases that follow detail the attributes: צֶ֖דֶק and אֱמוּנָ֖ה as the subjects of the respective clauses, illustrating how they are integral to the ruler's identity.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, צֶ֖דֶק is rendered as δικαιοσύνῃ, which also conveys the concept of righteousness but may carry additional connotations of legal justice. This choice reflects a broader understanding of righteousness in a governance context.

The translation of אֱמוּנָ֖ה as ἀληθείᾳ emphasizes truthfulness, suggesting that faithfulness is rooted in a commitment to truth, further enriching the understanding of the ruler's character.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 11:5 describes a future ruler characterized by righteousness and faithfulness. These attributes are symbolized by a belt and a sash, indicating that they are central to his identity and governance.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does righteousness mean in this context?

Righteousness refers to the moral integrity and justice expected of the ruler, reflecting God's character and standards.

Why are faithfulness and righteousness compared to clothing?

Clothing symbolizes one's identity and character; here, they illustrate that these qualities are essential to the ruler's nature.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah?

This verse highlights the hope for a just and peaceful reign, which is a recurring theme in Isaiah's prophecies.

What is the significance of the imagery of a belt and sash?

The imagery signifies strength and readiness, suggesting that the ruler is equipped to govern with justice and fidelity.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I embody righteousness in my daily life?
  2. In what ways can I demonstrate faithfulness to those around me?
  3. What does it mean for a leader to be characterized by righteousness and faithfulness?
  4. How can the imagery of clothing in this verse inspire my understanding of identity in Christ?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss the nature of Christ and His righteous reign, emphasizing the spiritual implications of righteousness and faithfulness.

Eusebius of CaesareaCOMMENTARY ON Isaiah 11:7 c. 260–340
“Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and truth the girdle of his loins.” As a king has a belt made of gold and precious stones, so in a prophetic manner, he speaks about the belt made of righteousness and truth.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 11 →
Athanasius of AlexandriaFESTAL LETTER 3 c. 296–373
At all times let us stand firm, but especially now, although many afflictions overtake us and many heretics are furious against us.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 11 →
John ChrysostomHOMILIES ON Ephesians 23 c. 347–407
He is not speaking of a literal, physical belt, for all the language in this passage he employs in a spiritual sense.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 11 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 11:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins,.... He shall be adorned with it, strengthened by it, and ready at all times to perform it; he loved righteousness, and did acts of righteousness

Read John Gill on Isaiah 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins - (Revelation 1:13; Revelation 19:11.) The antitypical High Priest (Exodus 28:4).

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Shall be the girdle of his loins; it shall adorn him, and be the glory of his government, as a girdle was used for ornament, , and as an ensign of power, ; and it shall constantly cleave to him, in all his administrations, as a girdle cleaveth to a man’ s loins, which is the prophet’ s similitude, . The girdle of his reins; the same thing in other words.

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.Ver. 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins.] Symbolum Regis hoc est, saith Scultetus. Kings and princes have their scita in scutis, their mottoes on their shields; so hath our king here, viz., "Righteousness and faithfulness"; and this is so manifest as if written on his girdle, or belt, see Revelation 19:16; where, for like cause, Christ’ s high titles are written "on his vesture, and on his thigh." Others by this expression understand Christ’ s alacrity and promptitude to vindicate his elect, and to punish the wicked, according to his promise, Vaticinatur de Christi…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins . . .—The image of clothing as the symbol of habit or character was already familiar (Psalms 109:18-19). The repetition of “girdle” has needlessly offended some fastidious critics, but the emphasis of iteration is quite after Isaiah’s manner (Isaiah 15:8; Isaiah 16:7; Isaiah 17:12-13). It perhaps implies an upper and a lower girdle as the symbol of complete equipment. In the “loins girt about with truth” of Ephesians 6:14, we may probably trace an allusive reference. The armour of the followers of Christ was to be like that of Christ Himself.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 11 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 5. The girdle - "The cincture"] All the ancient Versions, except that of Symmachus, have two different words for girdle in the two hemistichs. It is not probable that Isaiah would have repeated אזור azer, when a synonymous word so obvious as חגור chagor occurred. The tautology seems to have arisen from the mistake of some transcriber. The meaning of this verse is, that a zeal for justice and truth shall make him active and strong in executing the great work which he shall undertake. See note on Isaiah 5:27.

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. “Righteousness” and “faithfulness” are the strength of the Messiah’s government (ch. Isaiah 9:7). The girdle is the symbol of resolute and vigorous action. Comp. the “girdle of truth” in Ephesians 6:14.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 11 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And righteousness shall be the gridle of his loins - The sense of this verse is plain. He will always exhibit himself as a just and faithful king.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 11 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his waist.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And iustice shall be ye girdle of his loynes, and faithfulnesse the girdle of his reines.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his reins, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And righteousness hath been the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness — the girdle of his reins.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And righteousness has been the girdle of His loins, || And faithfulness—the girdle of His reins.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his hips.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his hips.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He will wear goodness like a sash and trustworthiness like a belt.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And righteousness will be the cord of his robe, and good faith the band round his breast.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclauseclauseverbהָ֥יָהit.will.besubjectצֶ֖דֶקrighteousnessnoun phrase · objectאֵז֣וֹרthe.loinclothnoun phraseמָתְנָ֑יhis.hipsוhisוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectהָ(the)אֱמוּנָ֖הfaithfulnessnoun phrase · objectאֵז֥וֹרthe.loinclothnoun phraseחֲלָצָֽיhis.loinsוhis

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the wording of this verse, affirming the consistency of the message across these ancient texts. The Septuagint's translation aligns closely with the Hebrew, maintaining the core attributes of the ruler.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְהָ֥יָה צֶ֖דֶק אֵז֣וֹר מָתְנָ֑יו וְהָאֱמוּנָ֖ה אֵז֥וֹר חֲלָצָֽיו׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְהָ֥יָהἔσταιצֶ֖דֶקδικαιοσύνῃאֵז֣וֹרἐζωσμένοςמָתְנָ֑יוαὐτοῦוְהָאֱמוּנָ֖הἀληθείᾳאֵז֥וֹרεἰλημένοςחֲלָצָֽיו׃πλευράς

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

והיה צדק אזור מתני׳ו ואמונה אזור חלצי׳ו

7 words on the leather.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q57a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

והיה צדק אזור [אזור] חלצי׳ו

5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Isaiah 11:5הָיָהand it willand it will beהָיָהצֶ֫דֶקrighteousnerighteousnessצֶ֫דֶקאֵזוֹר[the] waist[the] waistbandאֵזוֹרמַתְנַ֫יִםhips hiships hisמַתְנַ֫יִםאֱמוּנָהand faithfuand faithfulnesאֱמוּנָהאֵזוֹר[the] waist[the] waistbandאֵזוֹרחָלָץloins hisloins hisחָלָץאֲזֵקchainschainsאֲזֵקצָדֵקto justifyto justifyצָדֵקחָלַץto rescueto rescueחָלַץהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאאֵמֻןfaithfulfaithfulאֵמֻןמַתְנַ֫יִםloinloinמַתְנַ֫יִםאֵזוֹרgirdlegirdleאֵזוֹרמֵישָׁרuprightnesuprightnessמֵישָׁראֵיפָהephahephahאֵיפָהחָגַרto girdto girdחָגַרצֶ֫דֶקRighteousnRighteousnessצֶ֫דֶקדּוֹרgenerationgenerationדּוֹראָזַרto girdto girdאָזַר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 11:5

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
וְהָ֥יָהve.Ha.yah and it will be H1961 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See TESTAMENT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ THE MENTAL FACULTY

Freedom of, recognized by God Ge 4:6-10; De 5:29; 1Ki 20:42; Isa 1:18-20; 43:26; Jer 36:3,7; Joh 7:17

See BLESSINGS, CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE

See CHOICE

See CONTINGENCY

→ OF GOD, THE SUPREME RULE OF DUTY Mt 6:10; 12:50; 26:39,42; Mr 3:35; 14:36; Lu 11:2; 22:42; Joh 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Ac…

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
צֶ֖דֶקTze.dek righteousness H6664 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
119× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Represents the idea of righteousness or justice, often referring to God's character or the standard for human behavior. It is closely tied to the concept of morality and what is right. The word is used to describe the ideal for human conduct and society.
Amplified meaning
justice, moral integrity
Tyndale gloss
Righteousness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֶ֫דֶק (tsedeq) refers to concepts of rightness and righteousness, encompassing moral, legal, and natural dimensions. It includes justice in governance, ethical correctness, and vindication in disputes. The term also suggests prosperity and deliverance, particularly in relation to God's covenant and the Messianic king. The entries consistently emphasize its broad application in both personal and societal contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֶ֫דֶק n.m. rightness, righteousness

what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures

righteousness, in government

righteousness, justice, in a case or cause

rightness, in speech

righteousness, as ethically right

righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6664 צֶ֫דֶק rightness, righteousness . what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness, of weights and measures

. righteousness, in government

. righteousness, justice, in a case or cause

. rightness, in speech

. righteousness, as ethically right

. righteousness, as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6664 tsedeq tseh'-dek

from 6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also

(abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity:--X even, (X

that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous)

(cause, -ly, - ness).

see HEBREW for 06663

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — righteousness.

1) justice, rightness, righteousness

1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures)

1b) righteousness (in government)

1b1) of judges, rulers, kings

1b2) of law

1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah

1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government

1b5) of God's attribute

1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause)

1d) rightness (in speech)

1e) righteousness (as ethically right)

1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity

1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption

1f2) in name of Messianic king

1f3) of people enjoying salvation

1f4) of Cyrus

צֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) — Righteousness.

This name means justice, righteousness

Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ri'-chus-nes (tsaddiq, adjective, "righteous," or occasionally "just" tsedheq, noun, occasionally = "riahteousness," occasionally = "justice"; dikaios, adjective, dikaiosune, noun, from dike, whose first meaning seems to have been "custom"; the general use suggested conformity to a standard: righteousness, "the state of him who is such as he ought to be" (Thayer)):

1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent

2. Social Customs and Righteousness

3. Changing Conception of Character of God: Obligations of Power

4. Righteousness as Inner

5. Righteousness as Social

6. Righteousness as Expanding in Content with Growth in Ideals of Human Worth

LITERATURE

1. Double Aspect of Righteousness: Changing and Permanent:

In Christian thought the idea of righteousness contains both a permanent and a changing element. The fixed element is the will to do right; the changing factor is the conception of…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Righteousness

See JUSTIFICATION.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Rectitude, justice, holiness; an essential perfection of God’s character, Job 36:3; Isa 51:5-8; Joh 17:25; and of his administration, Ge 18:25; Ro 3:21,22; 10:3. It is the wonder of grace that as the righteous guardian of the law, he can acquit the unrighteous. "The righteousness of Christ" includes his spotless holiness, his perfect obedience the law demands; and "the righteousness of faith" is that imputed to the sinner who believes in Christ. With reference to personal character, righteousness is used both for uprightness between man and man, and for true religion,

→ By faith Ge 15:6; Ro 4:3,5,9,11,13,20,22,24

→ Garment of Job 29:14; Mt 22:11-14

→ Counted (regarded) for the sake of obedience De 6:25; Job 33:26

→ FRUITS OF De 6:25; Jos 22:31; Ps 1:3; 15:1-5; 24:3-5; 101:3,4; 106:3; 112:4-8; Pr 2:5-20; 10:2,16; 11:5,6,18,19,30; 12:28; 13:6; 14:34; 21:3; 29:7; Isa…

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
אֵז֣וֹר'e.Zor [the] waistband of H232 Noun common · masculine singular construct
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A girdle or belt, often used figuratively to represent God's power or faithfulness, such as in the prophet Isaiah's description of God's strength. It can also refer to a physical waistband or sash.
Amplified meaning
girdle, sash
Tyndale gloss
girdle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵזוֹר (ezowr) refers to a waistcloth or girdle, an article of clothing that is tied around the waist. It can symbolize God's power over kings and faithfulness in a metaphorical sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to gird' and covers both literal and figurative uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵזוֹר n.m. waistcloth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H232 אֵזוֹר waistcloth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

232 'ezowr ay-zore'

from 246; something girt; a belt, also a band:--girdle.

see HEBREW for 0246

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵזוֹר (e.zor) — girdle.

1) waist-cloth, the innermost piece of clothing

1a) of God's power over kings (fig.)

1b) of faithfulness (metaph)

2) waistband

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
מָתְנָ֑יוma.te.Nav hips his H4975 Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
47× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to the waist or small of the back, often translated as loins or hips, as seen in Proverbs 30:31. It can also describe the sides of an animal. The word is only used in plural form.
Amplified meaning
loins, waist
Tyndale gloss
loin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַתְנַ֫יִם (matanim) refers to the loins or hips, derived from a root meaning to be slender. It appears in the plural form and is associated with the term for a greyhound in Proverbs 30:31. The word captures the anatomical region of the waist or small of the back.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַתְנַ֫יִם n.m.du. loins

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4975 מַתְנַ֫יִם loins

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4975 mothen mo'-then

from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the

waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins:--+

greyhound, loins, side.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מׇתְנַ֫יִם (mo.ten) — loin.

1) loins, hips

1a) used with zar.zir (זַרְזִיר "greyhound" H2223) in Pr 30:31; perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-md | Suff — Noun common masculine dual construct · suffix
HNcmdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
וְהָאֱמוּנָ֖הve.ha.'e.mu.Nah and faithfulness H530 Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for faithfulness, meaning firmness, security, or fidelity. It describes being steady and trustworthy, as seen in the KJV translations of faith, stability, and truth. This concept is essential in the Bible, particularly in relationships and commitments.
Amplified meaning
trustworthiness, fidelity
Tyndale gloss
faithfulness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֱמוּנָה (*emuwnah*) is built from the root of H529, indicating concepts of firmness and steadfastness. It encompasses meanings such as fidelity, trust, and stability. The entries consistently highlight its moral implications, particularly in relation to faithfulness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱמוּנָה n.f. firmness, steadfastness, fidelity

lit. firmness, steadiness

steadfastness

faithfulness, trust

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H530 אֱמוּנָה firmness, steadfastness, fidelity . lit. firmness, steadiness

. steadfastness

. faithfulness, trust

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

530 'emuwnah em-oo-naw'); or (shortened) >emunah {em-oo-naw'

feminine of 529; literally firmness; figuratively security;

morally fidelity:--faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set

office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

see HEBREW for 0529

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱמוּנָה (e.mu.nah) — faithfulness.

firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-fs — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

An infinite attribute of Jehovah; adapted to make perfect both the confidence of those who believe his word and rely on his promises, and the despair of those who doubt his word and defy his threatenings, De 28:26 Nu 23:19 Ps 89:33-34 Heb 10:23.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ EXHORTATION TO Ps 12:1; 31:23; Pr 20:6; 28:20; Mt 10:22; 24:45-47; 25:14-23; Lu 12:42-44; 16:10-12; 19:12-27; 1Co 4:2; Re 2:10

See OBEDIENCE, EXHORTATION TO

See PERSEVERANCE

See MINISTERS, FAITHFUL

See REPROOF, FAITHFULNESS IN

→ INSTANCES OF

Abraham Ga 3:9

Moses Heb 3:5

David 2Sa 22:22-25

Elijah 1Ki 19:10,14

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- A characteristic of saints

Eph 1:1; Col 1:2; 1Ti 6:2; Re 17:14

- EXHIBITED IN

. The service of God

Mt 24:45

. Declaring the word of God

Jer 23:28; 2Co 2:17; 4:2

. The care of dedicated things

2Ch 31:12

. Helping the brethren

3Jo 1:5

. Bearing witness

Pr 14:5

. Reproving others

Pr 27:6; Ps 141:5

. Situations of trust

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
אֵז֥וֹר'e.Zor [the] waistband of H232 Noun common · masculine singular construct
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A girdle or belt, often used figuratively to represent God's power or faithfulness, such as in the prophet Isaiah's description of God's strength. It can also refer to a physical waistband or sash.
Amplified meaning
girdle, cord
Tyndale gloss
girdle
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵזוֹר (ezowr) refers to a waistcloth or girdle, an article of clothing that is tied around the waist. It can symbolize God's power over kings and faithfulness in a metaphorical sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to gird' and covers both literal and figurative uses.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵזוֹר n.m. waistcloth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H232 אֵזוֹר waistcloth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

232 'ezowr ay-zore'

from 246; something girt; a belt, also a band:--girdle.

see HEBREW for 0246

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵזוֹר (e.zor) — girdle.

1) waist-cloth, the innermost piece of clothing

1a) of God's power over kings (fig.)

1b) of faithfulness (metaph)

2) waistband

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and it will be righteousness [the] waistband of hips his and faithfulness [the] waistband of loins his
חֲלָצָֽיו׃cha.la.Tzav loins his H2504 Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
10× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'loins' refers to the seat of vigor and strength, like in Genesis where it describes a woman's travail. It represents the source of power and energy.
Amplified meaning
reins, innermost being
Tyndale gloss
loin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָלָץ (chalats) refers to the loins, specifically in the dual form, indicating a focus on this area as the seat of strength, virility, and pain, particularly in the context of childbirth. The term is associated with physical vigor and is noted for its use in describing the loins as girded.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָלָץ] n.[f.] only dual, loins

as seat of virility

as girded

as seat of pains, like a woman in travail

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2504 [חָלָץ] only dual, loins

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2504 chalats khaw-lawts'

from 2502 (in the sense of strength); only in the dual; the

loins (as the seat of vigor):--loins, reins.

see HEBREW for 02502

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָלָץ (cha.lats) — loin.

1) loins

1a) as seat of virility

1b) as girded

1c) as seat of pain (woman's travail)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-cd | Suff — Noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HNcfdc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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