Greek word · G2223

ζώνη

zōnē

belt/sash/girdle

A band worn around the waist: a belt, sash or girdle. It was made of leather or of a long strip of cloth wound around the tunic. It held the garment in so a person could walk or work ('gird up your loins'), and its folds often served as a purse for coins (Matt 10:9; Mark 6:8).

Appears 8 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

ζώνη, -ης, ἡ

(ζώννυμι) [in LXX for אַבְנֵט, חֲגוֹר, etc. ;]

a belt, girdle: Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6, Acts 21:11, Revelation 1:13 15:6; as a receptacle for money, Matthew 10:9, Mark 6:8.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 21:11

Range of meaning: A band worn around the waist: a belt, sash or girdle. It was made of leather or of a long strip of cloth wound around the tunic. It held the garment in so a person could walk or work ('gird up your loins'), and its folds often served as a purse for coins (Matt 10:9; Mark 6:8). Because people wore it every day and it was personal, it could stand for the person who wore it.
Against the English: "Belt" (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV) suggests a modern leather strap with a buckle. "Girdle" (KJV, YLT) was accurate in 1611, but today it suggests women's shapewear. "Sash" is often closest to the picture of a long cloth band that could be unwound and used to tie both feet and hands.
How it drifted: "Girdle" narrowed in the 20th century to a foundation garment. "Belt" moved toward the buckled strap. Neither change is serious, but both shrink the picture.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Greek Old Testament (LXX) uses ζώνη for Elijah's leather belt (2 Kgs 1:8), and Matthew uses it for John the Baptist's (Matt 3:4). It is used for priestly sashes (Exod 28) and for the money-belt the disciples were not to fill (Matt 10:9). The closest prophetic parallel is Jeremiah's linen waistcloth, buried and ruined as a sign against Judah (Jer 13:1–11). The LXX calls that one a περίζωμα, a related word.

From the study of Revelation 1:13

Range of meaning: ζώνη is a belt, sash or girdle. Ordinary men used one to hold a loose tunic and to carry money. περιζώννυμι means "to gird around". "Girding the loins" (waist) meant tucking up the tunic to get ready for work, travel or battle.
Against the English: KJV and YLT have "girdle", BSB, WEB and ESV "sash". "Sash" is closer to the picture of a ceremonial band.
How it drifted: Modern "girdle" chiefly means a woman's shaping undergarment, which is not the picture at all.
Used elsewhere in the period: Daniel 10:5: the heavenly man's "loins were girded with gold of Uphaz" (at the waist, worn for action). Ezekiel 9:2 Greek version: a belt at the loins. The priestly sash is in Exodus 28:4, 39 and 39:29, and Josephus describes the priests' sash as wound high around the chest (Antiquities 3.153–156). Revelation 15:6: the seven angels with the bowls are "girded around their chests with golden sashes". Gold clasps and belts as royal honors appear in 1 Maccabees 10:89, 11:58 and 14:44.

From the study of Matthew 3:4

Range of meaning: Zōnē is a belt, sash or girdle worn around the waist over the tunic. It could be fine woven linen or leather, and it often held money or small items. Dermatinos means 'made of skin or leather'.
Against the English: Modern versions say 'leather belt', which is accurate. The KJV's 'leathern girdle' was accurate in 1611 but now misleads (see drift).
Used elsewhere in the period: The Greek Old Testament of 2 Kings 1:8 describes Elijah as zōnēn dermatinēn periezōsmenos tēn osphun autou, 'girded with a leather belt around his loins'. Matthew repeats the phrase almost word for word. In 2 Kings, King Ahaziah recognises Elijah from these details alone: 'It is Elijah the Tishbite.' A fine linen sash, by contrast, was a mark of status (Jeremiah 13:1).

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

Matthew 3:4 ζώνην a belt

John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Here: A belt or sash tied around the long tunic. It held the robe and also served as a pouch (Matthew 10:9 'in your belts').
Matthew 10:9 ζώνας belts

Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts.

Mark · 2

Mark 1:6 ζώνην a belt

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Mark 6:8 ζώνην belt

He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

Acts · 2

Acts 21:11 ζώνην ζώνη belt

Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

Here: A waist sash, often a long strip of cloth or leather wound around the tunic, and long enough here to tie a man's feet and hands. It is a personal item that stands for its owner.

Revelation · 2

Revelation 1:13 ζώνην with a sash

and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Here: A belt or sash wrapped around the body. In the accusative it names what he is girded with.
Revelation 15:6 ζώνας sashes

And out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean and bright linen and girded with golden sashes around their chests.

Here: A wrapped sash or band, part of formal priestly and royal dress. It is not an undergarment.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.