The Ruined Linen Girdle

Jeremiah 13

The Lord instructs Jeremiah to bury a linen girdle by the Euphrates and later dig it up ruined and useless, a sign of how he will mar the pride of Judah and Jerusalem for their disobedience. Jeremiah warns the king and the people of coming captivity and darkness, comparing their fixed wickedness to an Ethiopian's skin or a leopard's spots that cannot change.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHUS saith the Lord, Go and get thee a linen girdle and gird it about thy loins; but it must not be washed with water.

BrentonThus saith the Lord, Go and procure for thyself a linen girdle, and put it about thy loins, and let it not be put in water.

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, βάδισον καὶ κτῆσαι σεαυτῷ περίζωμα λινοῦν, καὶ περίθου περὶ τὴν ὀσφύν σου, καὶ ἐν ὕδατι οὐ διελεύσεται.

KJVThus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

JPSThus said the LORD unto me: ‘Go, and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.’

ThomsonAnd when I had procured the girdle according to the word of the Lord and had girded it about my loins,

BrentonSo I procured the girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put it about my loins.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκτησάμην τὸ περίζωμα κατὰ τὸν λόγον Κυρίου, καὶ περιέθηκα περὶ τὴν ὀσφύν μου.

KJVSo I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

JPSSo I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it upon my loins.

Thomsona word of the Lord came to me saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying:

ThomsonTake the girdle which is about thy loins, and arise and go to the Euphrates and hide it there in the hole of the rock.

BrentonTake the girdle that is upon thy loins, and arise, and go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.

Greekλάβε τὸ περίζωμα τὸ περὶ τὴν ὀσφύν σου, καὶ ἀνάστηθι, καὶ βάδισον ἐπὶ τὸν Εὐφράτην, καὶ κατάκρυψον αὐτὸ ἐκεῖ ἐν τῇ τρυμαλιᾷ τῆς πέτρας.

KJVTake the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.

JPS’Take the girdle that thou hast gotten, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Perath, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.’

ThomsonSo I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord commanded me.

BrentonSo I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθην, καὶ ἔκρυψα αὐτὸ ἐν τῷ Εὐφράτῃ, καθὼς ἐνετείλατό μοι Κύριος.

KJVSo I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

JPSSo I went, and hid it in Perath, as the LORD commanded me.

ThomsonAnd after many days the Lord said to me, Arise and go to the Euphrates and take thence the girdle, which I commanded thee to hide there.

BrentonAnd it came to pass after many days, that the Lord said to me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take thence the girdle, which I commanded thee to hide there.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο μεθʼ ἡμέρας πολλὰς, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἀνάστηθι, βάδισον ἐπὶ τὸν Εὐφράτην, καὶ λάβε ἐκεῖθεν τὸ περίζωμα, ὃ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τοῦ κατακρύψαι ἐκεῖ.

KJVAnd it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

JPSAnd it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me: ‘Arise, go to Perath, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.’

ThomsonSo I went to the river Euphrates and digged and took the girdle out of the place where I had buried it; and behold it was rotten and good for nothing.

BrentonSo I went to the river Euphrates, and dug, and took the girdle out of the place where I had buried it: and, behold, it was rotten, utterly good for nothing.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύθην ἐπὶ τὸν Εὐφράτην ποταμὸν, καὶ ὤρυξα, καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ περίζωμα ἐκ τοῦ τόπου οὗ κατώρυξα αὐτὸ ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἰδοὺ διεφθαρμένον ἦν, ὃ οὐ μὴ χρησθῇ εἰς οὐθέν.

KJVThen I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

JPSThen I went to Perath, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it; and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

ThomsonThen a word of the Lord came to me saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVThen the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSThen the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonThus saith the Lord: So will I mar the haughtiness of Juda, and the haughtiness of Jerusalem,

BrentonThus will I mar the pride of Juda, and the pride of Jerusalem;

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, οὕτω φθερῶ τὴν ὕβριν Ἰούδα καὶ τὴν ὕβριν Ἱερουσαλὴμ,

KJVThus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

JPSThus saith the LORD: After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem,

Thomsonthat great haughtiness—them who refuse to hearken to My words, and have gone after strange gods to serve them and worship them: and they shall be like this girdle which is good for nothing.

Brentoneven this great pride of the men that will not hearken to my words, and have gone after strange gods, to serve them, and to worship them: and they shall be as this girdle, which can be used for nothing.

Greekτὴν πολλὴν ταύτην ὕβριν, τοὺς μὴ βουλομένους ὑπακούειν τῶν λόγων μου, καὶ πορευθέντας ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων τοῦ δουλεύειν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοῦ προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἔσονται ὥσπερ τὸ περίζωμα τοῦτο, ὃ οὐ χρησθήσεται εἰς οὐθέν.

KJVThis evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

JPSeven this evil people, that refuse to hear My words, that walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, that it be as this girdle, which is profitable for nothing.

ThomsonFor, as the girdle is tightly bound around the loins of its owner, so did I bind to Myself the house of Israel and the whole house of Juda; that they might be for Me a renowned people, and for a boast and for a glory. But they have not hearkened to Me.

BrentonFor as a girdle cleaves about the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave to myself the house of Israel, and the whole house of Juda; that they might be to me a famous people, and a praise, and a glory: but they did not hearken to me.

GreekὍτι καθάπερ κολλᾶται τὸ περίζωμα περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, οὕτως ἐκόλλησα πρὸς ἐμαυτὸν τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ πάντα οἶκον Ἰούδα, τοῦ γενέσθαι μοι εἰς λαὸν ὀνομαστὸν, καὶ εἰς καύχημα, καὶ εἰς δόξαν, καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσάν μου.

KJVFor as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

JPSFor as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto Me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD, that they might be unto Me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory; but they would not hearken.

ThomsonTherefore thou shalt say to this people, Every leathern bottle is to be filled with wine. And if they say to thee, Do we not know very well that every leathern bottle is to be filled with wine?

BrentonAnd thou shalt say to this people, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and it shall come to pass, if they shall say to thee, Shall we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? that thou shalt say to them,

GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, πᾶς ἀσκὸς πληρωθήσεται οἴνου· καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν εἴπωσι πρὸς σὲ, μὴ γνόντες οὐ γνωσόμεθα, ὅτι πᾶς ἀσκὸς πληρωθήσεται οἴνου;

KJVTherefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

JPSMoreover thou shalt speak unto them this word: Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Every bottle is filled with wine’; and when they shall say unto thee: ‘Do we not know that every bottle is filled with wine?’

ThomsonThen thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will fill the inhabitants of this land, both their kings who are seated as sons of David on their thrones, and the priests and the prophets, even Juda and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

BrentonThus saith the Lord, Behold, I will fill the inhabitants of this land, and their kings the sons of David that sit upon their throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and Juda and all the dwellers in Jerusalem, with strong drink.

GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ πληρῶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν ταύτην, καὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν τοὺς καθημένους υἱοὺς τοῦ Δαυὶδ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ τοὺς προφήτας, καὶ τὸν Ἰούδαν καὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, μεθύσματι·

KJVThen shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

JPSThen shalt thou say unto them: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

ThomsonAnd I will scatter them, their heads of families and their brethren, both fathers and their sons at the same time. I will not have compassion, saith the Lord, nor will I spare, nor pity them for their destruction.

BrentonAnd I will scatter them a man and his brother, and their fathers and their sons together: I will not have compassion, saith the Lord, and I will not spare, neither will I pity to save them from destruction.

GreekΚαὶ διασκορπιῶ αὐτοὺς ἄνδρα καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ· οὐκ ἐπιποθήσω, λέγει Κύριος, καὶ οὐ φείσομαι, καὶ οὐκ οἰκτειρήσω ἀπὸ διαφθορᾶς αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

JPSAnd I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD; I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.

Thomson(p) Hearken and give ear and be not elated; for the Lord hath spoken.

BrentonHear ye, and give ear, and be not proud: for the Lord has spoken.

GreekἈκούσατε, καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε, καὶ μὴ ἐπαίρεσθε, ὅτι Κύριος ἐλάλησε.

KJVHear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

JPSHear ye, and give ear, be not proud; For the LORD hath spoken.

ThomsonGive glory to the Lord your God, before the darkness cometh, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains; when you will wait for light; and the shadow of death will be there; and they shall be placed in darkness.

BrentonGive glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and ye shall wait for light, and behold the shadow of death, and they shall be brought into darkness.

GreekΔότε τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ ὑμῶν δόξαν πρὸ τοῦ συσκοτάσαι, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ προσκόψαι πόδας ὑμῶν ἐπʼ ὄρη σκοτεινά· καὶ ἀναμενεῖτε εἰς φῶς, καὶ ἐκεῖ σκιὰ θανάτου καὶ τεθήσονται εἰς σκότος.

KJVGive glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

JPSGive glory to the LORD your God, Before it grow dark, And before your feet stumble Upon the mountains of twilight, And, while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, And make it gross darkness.

ThomsonBut if you will not hearken, your soul shall weep in secret for your haughtiness; and tears shall gush from your eyes; because the flock of the Lord is destroyed.

BrentonBut if ye will not hearken, your soul shall weep in secret because of pride, and your eyes shall pour down tears, because the Lord's flock is sorely bruised.

GreekἘὰν δὲ μὴ ἀκούσητε, κεκρυμμένως κλαύσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου ὕβρεως, καὶ κατάξουσιν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ὑμῶν δάκρυα, ὅτι συνετρίβη τὸ ποίμνιον Κυρίου.

KJVBut if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.

JPSBut if ye will not hear it, My soul shall weep in secret for your pride; And mine eyes shall weep sore, and run down with tears, Because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.

Thomson(J) Say to the king and the rulers: Humble yourselves and sit on the ground; for from your head is taken your crown of glory.

BrentonSay ye to the king and the princes, Humble yourselves, and sit down; for your crown of glory is removed from your head.

GreekΕἴπατε τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ τοῖς δυναστεύουσι, ταπεινώθητε καὶ καθίσατε, ὅτι καθῃρέθη ἀπὸ κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν στέφανος δόξης ὑμῶν.

KJVSay unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

JPSSay thou unto the king and to the queen-mother: ‘Sit ye down low; For your headtires are come down, Even your beautiful crown.’

ThomsonThe cities of the south shall be shut up and there shall be none to open. Juda is removed; they have made a complete removal.

BrentonThe cities toward the south were shut, and there was none to open them: Juda is removed into captivity, they have suffered a complete removal.

GreekΠόλεις αἱ πρὸς Νότον, συνεκλείσθησαν, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἀνοίγων· ἀποικίσθη Ἰούδας, συνετέλεσαν ἀποικίαν τελείαν.

KJVThe cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.

JPSThe cities of the South are shut up, And there is none to open them; Judah is carried away captive all of it; It is wholly carried away captive.

ThomsonRaise thine eyes, O Jerusalem, and see them who are coming from the north! Where is the flock that was given thee—the flock of thy glory?

BrentonLift up thine eyes, O Jerusalem, and behold them that come from the north; where is the flock that was given thee, the sheep of thy glory?

GreekἈνάλαβε ὀφθαλμούς σου Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἴδε τοὺς ἐρχομένους ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ· ποῦ ἐστι τὸ ποίμνιον ὃ ἐδόθη σοι, πρόβατα δόξης σου;

KJVLift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

JPSLift up your eyes, and behold Them that come from the north; Where is the flock that was given thee, Thy beautiful flock?

ThomsonWhat wilt thou say, when these visit thee, seeing thou thyself hast taught them against thyself lessons for government. Will not pangs seize thee as a woman in travail?

BrentonWhat wilt thou say when they shall visit thee, for thou didst teach them lessons for rule against thyself; shall not pangs seize thee as a woman in travail?

GreekΤί ἐρεῖς ὅταν ἐπισκέπτωνταί σε; καὶ σὺ ἐδίδαξας αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ σὲ μαθήματα εἰς ἀρχήν· οὐκ ὠδῖνες καθέξουσί σε καθὼς γυναῖκα τίκτουσαν;

KJVWhat wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

JPSWhat wilt thou say, when He shall set the friends over thee as head, Whom thou thyself hast trained against thee? Shall not pangs take hold of thee, As of a woman in travail?

ThomsonNow shouldst thou say in thy heart, Why have such things befallen me? For the greatness of thine iniquity thy back is uncovered, that thy heels may be exposed to view!

BrentonAnd if thou shouldest say in thine heart, Wherefore have these things happened to me? Because of the abundance of thine iniquity have thy skirts been discovered, that thine heels might be exposed.

GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, διατί ἀπήντησέ μοι ταῦτα; διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς ἀδικίας σου ἀνεκαλύφθη τὰ ὀπίσθιά σου, παραδειγματισθῆναι τὰς πτέρνας σου.

KJVAnd if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

JPSAnd if thou say in thy heart: ‘Wherefore are these things befallen me?’— For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, And thy heels suffer violence.

ThomsonWill an Ethiopian change his skin and a leopard her spots? As for you, then, will you who have learned these evils be able to do good?

BrentonIf the Ethiopian shall change his skin, or the leopardess her spots, then shall ye be able to do good, having learnt evil.

GreekΕἰ ἀλλάξεται Αἰθίοψ τὸ δέρμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάρδαλις τὰ ποικίλματα αὐτῆς, καὶ ὑμεῖς δυνήσεσθε εὐποιῆσαι μεμαθηκότες τὰ κακά.

KJVCan the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

JPSCan the Ethiopian change his skin, Or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, That are accustomed to do evil.

ThomsonTherefore I have scattered them like stubble whirled by wind to a desert;

BrentonSo I scattered them as sticks carried by the wind into the wilderness.

GreekΚαὶ διέσπειρα αὐτοὺς, ὡς φρύγανα φερόμενα ὑπὸ ἀνέμου εἰς ἔρημον.

KJVTherefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

JPSTherefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passeth away By the wind of the wilderness.

Thomsonthis, then, shall be thy lot and portion for your disobeying me, saith the Lord. As thou hast forgotten Me and trusted in lies;

BrentonThus is thy lot, and the reward of your disobedience to me, saith the Lord; as thou didst forget me, and trust in lies,

GreekΟὕτως ὁ κλῆρός σου, καὶ μερὶς τοῦ ἀπειθεῖν ὑμᾶς ἐμοὶ, λέγει Κύριος· ὡς ἐπελάθου μου, καὶ ἤλπισας ἐπὶ ψεύδεσι,

KJVThis is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

JPSThis is thy lot, the portion measured unto thee from Me, Saith the LORD; Because thou hast forgotten Me, And trusted in falsehood.

ThomsonI therefore will expose thee naked to view that thy shame may be seen—namely, thy adultery and thy neighing and the lewdness of thy whoredom.

BrentonI also will expose thy skirts upon thy face, and thy shame shall be seen;

Greekκᾀγὼ ἀποκαλύψω τὰ ὀπίσω σου ἐπὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου, καὶ ὀφθήσεται ἡ ἀτιμία σου,

KJVTherefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.

JPSTherefore will I also uncover thy skirts upon thy face, And thy shame shall appear.

ThomsonOn the mounts and in the fields I have seen thine abominations. Alas for thee, Jerusalem, because thou hast not purified thyself to follow Me. How much longer will it be before thou wilt?

Brentonthine adultery also, and thy neighing, and the looseness of thy fornication: on the hills and in the fields I have seen thine abominations. Woe to thee, O Jerusalem, for thou hast not been purified so as to follow me; how long yet shall it be?

Greekκαὶ ἡ μοιχεία σου, καὶ χρεμετισμός σου, καὶ ἡ ἀπαλλοτρίωσις τῆς πορνείας σου· ἐπὶ τῶν βουνῶν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς ἑώρακα τὰ βδελύγματά σου· οὐαί σοι Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐκαθαρίσθης ὀπίσω μου· ἕως τίνος ἔτι;

KJVI have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

JPSThine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy harlotry, On the hills in the field have I seen thy detestable acts. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean! When shall it ever be?