Yesaya 5:27

5:27 None tire or stumble,

they don’t stop to nap or sleep.

They don’t loosen their belts,

or unstrap their sandals to rest. ¹ 

Yesaya 11:5

11:5 Justice will be like a belt around his waist,

integrity will be like a belt around his hips. ² 

Yesaya 22:21

22:21 I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. ³  He will become a protector of ⁴  the residents of Jerusalem and of the people ⁵  of Judah.

[5:27]  ¹ tn Heb “and the belt on his waist is not opened, and the thong of his sandals is not torn in two.”

[11:5]  ² tn Heb “Justice will be the belt [or “undergarment”] on his waist, integrity the belt [or “undergarment”] on his hips.” The point of the metaphor is uncertain. If a belt worn outside the robe is in view, then the point might be that justice/integrity will be readily visible or that these qualities will give support to his rule. If an undergarment is in view, then the idea might be that these characteristics support his rule or that they are basic to everything else.

[22:21]  ³ tn Heb “and your dominion I will place in his hand.”

[22:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “a father to.” The Hebrew term אָב (’av, “father”) is here used metaphorically of one who protects and supports those under his care and authority, like a father does his family. For another example of this metaphorical use of the word, see Job 29:16.

[22:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “house.”