Hebrew word · H73

אַבְנֵט

'avnet

girdle

A sash or long woven waistband worn by priests (Exod 28:4, 39–40; Lev 8:7, 13; 16:4). It is also worn by a high official in Isaiah 22:21. It may be a loanword, possibly from Egyptian.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) girdle, sash, waistband

1a) of high priest

1b) of other priests

1c) of high official

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 29:9

Range of meaning

A sash or long woven waistband worn by priests (Exod 28:4, 39–40; Lev 8:7, 13; 16:4). It is also worn by a high official in Isaiah 22:21. It may be a loanword, possibly from Egyptian.

Against the English

KJV's "girdle" now suggests a woman's undergarment. WEB's "belt" suggests leather and a buckle. "Sash" (BSB, ESV, NIV) is closest.

How it drifted

In 1611 "girdle" meant any belt or sash. The undergarment meaning developed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 28:39 says it was "the work of an embroiderer". Exod 39:29 describes it as of fine linen with blue, purple and scarlet yarns. Josephus (Antiquities 3.154–156), writing in the first century AD, describes a sash about four fingers wide, loosely woven, wound around the body more than once, with its long ends hanging down.

From the study of Exodus 28:4

Range of meaning

A long waist-sash. It is probably a foreign loanword; Egyptian or Persian origins have been proposed, and the matter is uncertain. In the Torah it is worn by the high priest and by ordinary priests (28:39–40; Leviticus 8:7, 13). Isaiah 22:21 uses it for the sash of office transferred from the steward Shebna to Eliakim.

Against the English

KJV and YLT have "girdle". BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV and NASB have "sash".

How it drifted

In 1611 "girdle" meant a belt or sash. Since the 20th century it mostly means a woman's elastic undergarment.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exodus 39:29 describes it as fine twisted linen with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, "the work of an embroiderer". Josephus (Antiquities 3.154–156) describes a very long sash, wound several times around the body and thrown over the shoulder when the priest was not working.

Where it appears

Exodus · 5

  1. Exodus 28:4 וְאַבְנֵ֑ט and a sash

    These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.

    Here: A long waist-sash of fine linen embroidered with blue, purple and scarlet (39:29). Elsewhere a sash marks someone's office (Isaiah 22:21).

  2. Exodus 28:39 וְאַבְנֵ֥ט and a sash

    You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.

  3. Exodus 28:40 אַבְנֵטִ֑ים sashes

    Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons, to give them glory and splendor.

  4. Exodus 29:9 אַבְנֵ֜ט a sash

    Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.

    Here: The long woven waist-sash of priestly dress (Exod 28:39–40). The Hebrew word is singular but works for each man: every priest gets one sash.

  5. Exodus 39:29 הָאַבְנֵ֞ט the sash

    and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Leviticus · 3

  1. Leviticus 8:7 בָּֽאַבְנֵ֔ט with the sash

    He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.

  2. Leviticus 8:13 אַבְנֵ֔ט a sash

    Then Moses presented Aaron’s sons, put tunics on them, wrapped sashes around them, and tied headbands on them, just as the LORD had commanded him.

  3. Leviticus 16:4 וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט and with a sash of

    He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.

    Here: "And with a sash of": a long band of cloth wound several times around the waist to hold the tunic in place. It is probably a loanword (Egyptian has been suggested). Josephus still knew it as "abaneth".

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 22:21 וְאַבְנֵֽטְךָ֙ and sash your

    I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

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