origin of saying 'Gurd your loins'

[rcrayner]

when something  is expected  to happen soon, that could have a detrimental affect on your well being, you are often  told to ''gurd your loins''  can anyone shed any light on the origins of this.

[andy hughes]

It's 'gird' as in tie up. I think it comes from the notion of Romans or Greeks putting on armour ready to fight, which would include protecting the ntether regions, the loins, by 'girding' or covering them ready for battle. If I'm off-beam, QM will be along shortly with the full version.

[Quizmonster]

I've no complaint with Andy's explanation...perfectly effective, as always. The verb 'gird' is more or less obsolete nowadays though the noun related to it...'girdle'...is still common enough. That is, it suggests a tightening-up of the clothing below the belt.

In biblical times, men wore loose robes, such as are still seen in the Middle East, so - in preparation for any sort of physical activity - it was necessary for these to be hitched up above the knees and somehow bound in place with a belt or girdle. In the Bible itself, 2nd Kings Chapter 4 verse 29 has the words: "Then he said to Gehazi, gird up thy loins and take my staff and go thy way."

When we use that phrase now, it is generally in an effort to give just such a historical/biblical slant to our words.