The basic clothing for both
men and women was the tunic. It was much like
a sack with holes cut out for the head and arms. A piece of leather
or folded cloth was worn at the waist like a
belt and was known as a girdle. When it was time to
work, the long tunic would get in the way. They brought the loose
ends and tucked them into the girdle, which gave
their legs freedom of movement. This was called
girding up your loins. In the Gospel usage,
girding up your loins means to prepare yourself,
work hard, and give service in the kingdom.