Linen Loincloth in Diaspora: Identity (Re)formation of God’s People in Jeremiah 13:1–11

Authors

  • Shirley S. Ho China Evangelical Graduate School of Theology, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29357/2789-1577.2025.23.2.1

Keywords:

Jeremiah 13:1–11, Post-Exilic Judah, prophetic symbolic action, linen loincloth, diaspora, identity formation, displacement, migration

Abstract

This article examines Jeremiah 13:1–11, an Old Testament prophetic symbolic action, to uncover theological insights relevant to contemporary questions of human identity amid the global movement of people driven by war and conflict, economic collapse, and the forces of globalization. It demonstrates how the linen loincloth, representing the Judahites, functions as a metaphor for addressing existential concerns about their identity as God’s people. Though physical and inanimate, the garment exemplifies how material symbols can serve as indicators of theological and communal identity. In today’s cultural milieu, individuals and communities often define identity through material possessions, educational achievements, age, race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, or political affiliation. In contrast, the religious symbol of the linen loincloth underscores the enduring significance of theological identity—shaping one’s sense of belonging to God, purpose, and meaning in a globalized world. While rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the insights drawn from this text speak beyond religious communities, offering meaningful reflection for all human beings—created in God’s image—who grapple with the complex questions of identity in an age marked by war, pluralism,and globalization, and cross-cultural exchange.

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Published

2025-12-18

How to Cite

Ho, Shirley S. 2025. “Linen Loincloth in Diaspora: Identity (Re)formation of God’s People in Jeremiah 13:1–11”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology 23 (2):13-29. https://doi.org/10.29357/2789-1577.2025.23.2.1.

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 2 (2025): Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Shirley S. Ho

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