73. abnet
Lexical Summary
abnet: Belt, Sash

Original Word: אַבְנֵט
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: abnet
Pronunciation: av-NAYT
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-nate')
KJV: girdle
NASB: sash, sashes
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. a belt

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
girdle

Of uncertain derivation; a belt -- girdle.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a girdle
NASB Translation
sash (6), sashes (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אַבְנֵט noun [masculine] girdle׳א absolute Exodus 28:4 +; אַבְנֵָֽטְךָ֨ Isaiah 22:21; construct Exodus 39:29; אַבְנֵטִים Exodus 28:40; — girdle, of high priest Exodus 28:4,39; Exodus 39:29; Leviticus 8:7; Leviticus 16:4; of priests Exodus 28:40; Exodus 29:9; Leviticus 8:13 (all P); of high official Isaiah 22:21. — Josephusiii. 7. 2 ἀβανήθ; compare further LagGes. Abh. 39. **described JosAnt. iii. 7. 2 as a sash wound round breast several times, and falling to the feet; in ᵑ7 ᵑ6 הֶמְיָן (Persian) a money-bag wound round body StaThLz. 1894, 236.

בֵּנַ֫יִם see below [בַּיִן].

Topical Lexicon
Overview

אַבְנֵט (’abnēt) denotes the sash or waistband that girded the tunic of priests and high officials. Though a small component of attire, it binds the garments of service, marking both consecration and delegated authority.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Priestly instruction: Exodus 28:4; 28:39; 28:40; 29:9; 39:29
2. Priestly consecration: Leviticus 8:7; 8:13
3. Day of Atonement: Leviticus 16:4
4. Royal stewardship: Isaiah 22:21

Place within Priestly Garments

Exodus 28 lists the sash among the “holy garments” by which Aaron and his sons are “to minister to Me as priests” (Exodus 28:4). For ordinary priests it was of fine twined linen, while the high priest’s daily sash was richly embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn (Exodus 28:39). The sash completed the priestly appearance of “glory and beauty,” keeping every other piece properly in place.

Materials and Craftsmanship

The ornate high-priestly sash symbolized the blended beauties of redemption—heavenly blue, regal purple, sacrificial scarlet, interwoven with radiant white linen. Its careful workmanship mirrors the precision required in approaching a holy God. Conversely, on the Day of Atonement the high priest exchanged the ornate sash for one of plain linen (Leviticus 16:4), emphasizing humility and holiness when he entered the Most Holy Place.

Liturgical Function

Tightening the sash prepared the priest for service, much like girding one’s loins for action. Priestly ministries—sacrifice, intercession, blessing—were performed only after the sash was bound, illustrating that readiness and order are prerequisites for acceptable worship.

Symbolic and Typological Significance

1. Truth and Integrity. A securely fastened sash pictures inner truthfulness. Paul draws the parallel: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (Ephesians 6:14).
2. Christ our High Priest. Revelation portrays the risen Lord “dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet, with a golden sash around His chest” (Revelation 1:13). His golden sash transcends the linen of the earthly priesthood, displaying the perfection of His eternal ministry.
3. Atonement and Humility. The shift from embroidered to plain linen on the Day of Atonement foreshadows Christ, who laid aside visible glory to offer Himself for sin (Philippians 2:6-8).

Broader Old Testament Usage

Isaiah 22:21 applies ’abnēt to the royal steward: “I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him”. The sash thus signifies transference of authority. Whereas Shebna abused his office, Eliakim would become “a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem,” prefiguring the faithful stewardship of Messiah.

New Testament Echoes

Beyond Revelation and Ephesians, the image of being girded recurs in Luke 12:35 and 1 Peter 1:13, urging vigilance and moral preparedness. Allusions to the priestly sash remind believers that they, too, are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), called to serve in purity and truth.

Practical Application for Believers

• Readiness: As the sash gathered loose garments, so believers are to gather their thoughts and affections for undivided service.
• Integrity: The belt of truth guards against hypocrisy; sincerity is the proper fit for those who draw near to God.
• Identity: The priestly sash marked divine appointment. In Christ, every believer wears the insignia of accepted worship and delegated ministry.

Thus אַבְנֵט, though mentioned only nine times, binds together themes of holiness, authority, and service from Sinai to the New Jerusalem.

Forms and Transliterations
אַבְנֵ֔ט אַבְנֵ֜ט אַבְנֵטִ֑ים אבנט אבנטים בָּֽאַבְנֵ֔ט באבנט הָאַבְנֵ֞ט האבנט וְאַבְנֵ֑ט וְאַבְנֵ֥ט וְאַבְנֵֽטְךָ֙ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט ואבנט ואבנטך ובאבנט ’aḇ·nê·ṭîm ’aḇ·nêṭ ’aḇnêṭ ’aḇnêṭîm avNet avneTim bā’aḇnêṭ bā·’aḇ·nêṭ baavNet hā’aḇnêṭ hā·’aḇ·nêṭ haavNet ū·ḇə·’aḇ·nêṭ ūḇə’aḇnêṭ uveavNet veavNet veavneteCha wə’aḇnêṭ wə’aḇnêṭəḵā wə·’aḇ·nê·ṭə·ḵā wə·’aḇ·nêṭ
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 28:4
HEB: תַּשְׁבֵּ֖ץ מִצְנֶ֣פֶת וְאַבְנֵ֑ט וְעָשׂ֨וּ בִגְדֵי־
NAS: a turban and a sash, and they shall make
KJV: a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make
INT: of checkered A turban sash shall make garments

Exodus 28:39
HEB: מִצְנֶ֣פֶת שֵׁ֑שׁ וְאַבְנֵ֥ט תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה
NAS: and you shall make a sash, the work
KJV: and thou shalt make the girdle [of] needlework.
INT: A turban linen A sash shall make the work

Exodus 28:40
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם אַבְנֵטִ֑ים וּמִגְבָּעוֹת֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה
NAS: you shall also make sashes for them, and you shall make
KJV: and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets
INT: tunics make sashes caps shall make

Exodus 29:9
HEB: וְחָגַרְתָּ֩ אֹתָ֨ם אַבְנֵ֜ט אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו
NAS: You shall gird them with sashes, Aaron
KJV: And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron
INT: shall gird sashes Aaron and his sons

Exodus 39:29
HEB: וְֽאֶת־ הָאַבְנֵ֞ט שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר
NAS: and the sash of fine twisted
KJV: And a girdle [of] fine twined linen,
INT: and the sash of fine twisted

Leviticus 8:7
HEB: וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר אֹתוֹ֙ בָּֽאַבְנֵ֔ט וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ אֹתוֹ֙
NAS: on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed
KJV: and girded him with the girdle, and clothed
INT: the tunic and girded the sash and clothed with

Leviticus 8:13
HEB: וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר אֹתָם֙ אַבְנֵ֔ט וַיַּחֲבֹ֥שׁ לָהֶ֖ם
NAS: and girded them with sashes and bound
KJV: upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put
INT: tunics and girded sashes and bound caps

Leviticus 16:4
HEB: עַל־ בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט בַּד֙ יַחְגֹּ֔ר
NAS: with the linen sash and attired
KJV: with a linen girdle, and with the linen
INT: shall be next to his body sash the linen shall be girded

Isaiah 22:21
HEB: וְהִלְבַּשְׁתִּ֣יו כֻּתָּנְתֶּ֗ךָ וְאַבְנֵֽטְךָ֙ אֲחַזְּקֶ֔נּוּ וּמֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ֖
NAS: And tie your sash securely
KJV: and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit
INT: will clothe your tunic your sash and tie your authority

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 73
9 Occurrences


’aḇ·nêṭ — 2 Occ.
’aḇ·nê·ṭîm — 1 Occ.
bā·’aḇ·nêṭ — 1 Occ.
hā·’aḇ·nêṭ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·’aḇ·nêṭ — 1 Occ.
wə·’aḇ·nêṭ — 2 Occ.
wə·’aḇ·nê·ṭə·ḵā — 1 Occ.

72
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