Jeremiah 13:1 - Exposition

A linen girdle ; rather, a linen apron . "Girdle" is one of the meanings of the Hebrew (' ezor ), but is here unsuitable. As Jeremiah 13:11 shows, it is an inner garment that is meant, one that "cleaveth to the loins of a man". The corresponding Arabic word, 'izar , has, according to Lane, the meaning of "waist-wrapper.' Israel was to Jehovah in as close a relation spiritually as that in which the inner garment referred to is to him who wears it materially. There is an Arabic proverb which well illustrates this: "He is to me in place of an 'izar ". "A linen apron" may perhaps be specified, because linen was the material of the priestly dress (Le Jeremiah 16:4 ), and Israel was to be spiritually" a kingdom of priests." But this is not absolutely necessary. The common man used linen in his dress as well as the priest; the only difference between them was that the priest was confined to linen garments. But an ,' apron" would in any case naturally be made of linen. Linen ; literally, flax (a product of Judah, Hosea 2:5 ). Put it not in water . The object of the prohibition is well stated by St. Jerome. It was at once to symbolize the character of the people of Israel, stiff and impure, like unwashed linen, and to suggest the fate in store for it ( Jeremiah 13:9 ).