For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the Lord; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. (Jer. 13:11).

“So have I caused to cleave unto me.”

For nearness and dearness; the loins are the seat of strongest desires and affections.

 

The painting: By Sandro Botticelli – User Brandmeister on en.wikipedia. Description page is (was) here., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=750935