Greek word · G3751

ὀσφῦς

osphys

loins

The hips and lower back, the waist (BDAG: 'the place where a belt is worn'). In Hebrew idiom carried into Greek, it is also the seat of generative power: offspring are 'from the loins' of a father (Acts 2:30; Heb 7:5, 10). So it can stand for strength, for working posture, or for descent.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὀσφύς, -ύος, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for מֹתֶן;, also for חָלַץ, etc. ;]

the loin: Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6; metaphorically, περιζώννυσθαι (ἀναζ-) τ. ὀσφύας, Luke 12:35, Ephesians 6:14, 1 Peter 1:13; regarded, as by the Hebrews, as the seat of generative power, Hebrews 7:5, 10; metaphorically, καρπὸς τ. ὀσφύος, Acts 2:30

(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 Luke 12:35

Range of meaning

The hips and lower back, the waist (BDAG: 'the place where a belt is worn'). In Hebrew idiom carried into Greek, it is also the seat of generative power: offspring are 'from the loins' of a father (Acts 2:30; Heb 7:5, 10). So it can stand for strength, for working posture, or for descent.

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'loins' is accurate older English for hips and waist. For most modern readers, though, 'loins' has narrowed to the genitals or to sexual desire ('fruit of his loins,' 'stirring in his loins'). WEB and others say 'waist,' which is clearer. BSB, NIV and NLT drop the body part entirely and give the function ('dressed for service').

How it drifted

In older English 'loins' covered the lower back and hips, like a 'loin' of meat. As the word fell out of everyday use, it survived mainly in sexual euphemism and in phrases inherited from the KJV, so its literal sense faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Exod 12:11 (Passover): 'your loins girded' (αἱ ὀσφύες ὑμῶν περιεζωσμέναι, nearly the same wording as Luke). 1 Kgs 18:46: Elijah girds his loins and runs ahead of Ahab. Jer 1:17: the prophet girds his loins to speak. Job 38:3; 40:7: 'gird up your loins like a man.' Prov 31:17: the capable woman 'girds her loins with strength.' Matt 3:4: John's leather belt around his loins. NT echoes include Eph 6:14 and 1 Pet 1:13 ('girding up the loins of your mind').

From the study of Matthew 3:4

Range of meaning

The hips and lower back; the waist. In Semitic idiom it is also the seat of strength and of descent (Hebrews 7:5, 'from the loins of Abraham'). To 'gird the loins' is to tuck up the long robe into the belt so you can move freely.

Against the English

'Waist' (BSB, NIV, ESV) is a fair physical rendering. 'Loins' (KJV) keeps the biblical idiom but sounds odd or sexual to many modern ears.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exodus 12:11 has the Passover eaten 'with your loins girded', ready to leave. In 1 Kings 18:46 Elijah 'girded up his loins and ran' before Ahab's chariot. In Jeremiah 1:17 God tells the prophet to gird his loins and speak. Jesus uses it in Luke 12:35: 'let your loins be girded'.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 3:4 ὀσφὺν waist

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

    Here: The hips and lower back, where a belt sits. In biblical idiom, girding the loins means tucking up the robe so you can run or work. It is the picture of readiness.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:6 ὀσφὺν waist

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

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 12:35 ὀσφύες waist

    Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

    Here: The hips and lower back, where a belt sits. Here the point is clothing: the place where a long tunic was cinched up. The word has no sexual connotation in this verse.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 2:30 ὀσφύος loins

    But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.

    Here: The hips and lower body, thought of as the seat of a man's power to father children. 'Fruit of his loins' means children he himself fathered, his biological line.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:14 ὀσφὺν loins

    Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

    Here: The hips and waist, where a belt sits. The noun is singular although 'your' is plural: each person girds their own waist. Nothing sexual is meant here, despite how the KJV's 'loins' can sound today.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 7:5 ὀσφύος loin

    Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

  2. Hebrews 7:10 ὀσφύϊ loin

    For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 1:13 ὀσφύας loins

    Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    Here: The waist, where the belt sat and the robe was gathered. Here it is used figuratively: the mind is pictured as having a 'waist' that needs to be belted up for action.

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