Revelation1:13

The fact that Jesus Christ is seen walking among God’s people was also an encouragement. Our Savior and Deliverer is not far off, but is among us. He identifies with us; He has come to us, He even suffered as we suffer, and more.

The term “Son of Man” has several layers of meaning that add up to a very special designation. One reason Jesus used it so often of Himself was that, when He started His ministry, this phrase was very close to a blank slate that He could fill with His own desired meaning, free from the preconceived notions that already existed in people’s minds. While it seems, at first glance, to emphasize the humanity of Jesus, it actually shows His role of savior of the world, something which requires Him to be more than just a man. It is a term of honor even though it shows Jesus’ humility. The term “Son of man” is one of a handful of attempts we see in Scripture to show all that Jesus was and is in one tightly wrapped package.

“Clothed to the feet” implies “a long robe,” in distinction from a cloak which reached only to the ankles. It seems like a small difference to us, but it was an important difference to people of ancient times. Kings, priests and nobility dressed in robes that covered their feet while the common people allowed their feet to be seen because they would be encumbered by something that actually touched the floor. This could be a reference to either priestly qualities, or royalty. In this case I believe the concept of royalty fits the context best.

The term means “having been gird about.” The closest thing we know in modern culture may be a back brace. We should remove from our minds the image of a thin belt, or piece of rope, and replace it with the image of something wide, like a back brace. In the belt a man kept his money, possibly a dagger, any food he was carrying, and anything else he may wish to carry. An emissary’s scroll containing the message he was to carry would be tucked into his belt. This phrase is intended to imply that He was “prepared,” He was “ready for action.” Jesus is ready to act on behalf of His followers who are being persecuted.

Gold was a symbol for purity.

The combination of the two symbols, “belt and gold,” implies royalty, i.e. someone with authority. It also could hint at the resources available, since most men carried money (and other things) in their wide belt. Obviously, a king would have access to almost unlimited resources, although not all of them would fit in his belt. The phrase “golden belt” is used once in the original language but I use it twice in my translation in order to facilitate the communication of the two symbols separately and then together.

Biblical scholars are in fairly strong agreement that the use of a “sash,” draped across the chest for no other reason than to adorn, was foreign to the people of biblical times. So it is best to translate it as “belt” because that is what they meant by it. But why would one wear a belt around his chest? And what did John actually see in his vision? We cannot be sure what he saw, but one possibility is that he saw a belt that started at the waist and was so wide that it extended up to the chest. That would have communicated better in their culture than a regular belt worn around the chest. The preposition used here usually describes movement “toward” something. While “toward” is the root idea, with verbs indicating the attaching or fastening of something it is usually translated “at.” So an argument can be made for either translation, a belt that “extended up to the chest,” or a belt encircling him “at the chest.” I prefer the idea of a belt that extended up to the chest, showing that the root idea of the preposition is still present even in specific usages. Either way the symbolism remains the same. They only had one word to denote chest or breasts. Breasts were an obvious symbol for nourishment, soothing and consolation. Not only would a mother’s breasts nourish her child, but when he cried she would calm him by letting him suck. It does not matter that Jesus is male, and only women can breastfeed babies. The message being sent to those suffering persecution was that Jesus is prepared to sooth and console you in your difficult hour.