Bible Encyclopedia: Armor

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ARMOR; ARMS

ar'-mer, arms.

I. ARMOR IN GENERAL-OLD TESTAMENT

II. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT; POLYBIUS

III. OFFENSIVE WEAPONS

1. Rod

2. Sling

3. Bow and Arrows

4. Spear-Javelin

5. Sword

IV. DEFENSIVE WEAPONS

1. Shield

2. Helmet

3. Coat of Mail

4. Greaves

5. Girdle

LITERATURE

I. Armor in General-Old Testament.

(maddim; 1 Samuel 17:38 1 Samuel 14:1 the Revised Version (British and American) APPAREL; nesheq, 1 Kings 10:25 Job 39:21; kelim; ta hopla): Under this head it may be convenient to notice the weapons of attack and defense in use among the Hebrews, mentioned in Scripture. There are no such descriptions given by the sacred writers as are to be found in Homer, who sets forth in detail the various pieces of armor worn by an Achilles or a Patroclus, and the order of putting them on. There is an account of the armor offensive and defensive of the Philistine Goliath (1 Samuel 17:5-7); and from a much later time we read of shields and spears and helmets and habergeons, or coats of mail, and bows and slings with which Uzziah provided his soldiers (2 Chronicles 26:14). In Jeremiah's ode of triumph over the defeat of Pharaoh-neco, there is mention of the arms of the Egyptians: "Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail" (Jeremiah 46:3, 4). Of the arms of Assyrian, Chaldean, Egyptian and Hittite soldiery there have come down to us sculptured representations from their ancient monuments, which throw light upon the battlepieces of the Hebrew historians and prophets.

II. In the New Testament; Polybius.

In the New Testament, Paul describes the panoply of the Christian soldier, naming the essential pieces of the Roman soldier's armor-the girdle, the breastplate, the footgear, the shield, the helmet, the sword-although it is to be noticed that his most characteristic weapon, the pilum or spear, is omitted (Ephesians 6:10-17). In a similar context the same apostle speaks of "the armor" of light (Romans 13:12), "of righteousness on the right hand and on the left" (2 Corinthians 6:7). Of the equipment of the Roman soldier in detail, the most useful illustration is the account given by Polybius (vi.23): "The Roman panoply consists in the first place of a shield (thureos).. Along with the shield is a sword (machaira).. Next come two javelins (hussoi) and a helmet (perikephalaia), and a greave (knemis).... Now the majority, when they have further put on a bronze plate, measuring a span every way, which they wear on their breasts and call a heart-guard (kardiophulax), are completely armed, but those citizens who are assessed at more than 10,000 drachmae wear instead, together with the other arms, cuirasses made of chain mail (halusidotous thorakas)."

III. Offensive Weapons.

1. Rod:

The commonest weapon in the hands of the shepherd youth of Palestine today is the rod (shebheT; rhabdos), a stick loaded at one end, which he carries in his hand, or wears attached to his wrist by a loop of string, ready for use. It is of considerable weight and is a formidable weapon whether used in self-defense or in attacking a foe. With such a weapon David may well have overcome the lion and the bear that invaded the fold. This shepherd's rod, while used for guidance, or comfort, or for numbering the flock (Psalm 23:4 Leviticus 27:32), was also a weapon with which to strike and punish (Psalm 2:9 Isaiah 10:5, 15). In this sense it has for a synonym maTTeh (Isaiah 9:4 Ezekiel 7:11), and both came to have the derived meaning of spearheads (shebheT, 2 Samuel 18:14; maTTeh, 1 Samuel 14:27). They may have been the original of the maul or hammer (mephits, Proverbs 25:18 Jeremiah 51:20, where Cyrus, as God's battle-axe, is to shatter Babylon and its inhabitants for the wrongs they have done to His people Israel).

2. Sling:

Scarcely less common and equally homely is the sling (qela`; sphendone) (1 Samuel 17:40). It consists of plaited thongs, or of one strip of leather, made broad at the middle to form a hollow or pocket for the stone or other contents, the ends being held firmly in the hand as it is whirled loaded round the head, and one of them being at length let go, so that the stone may take its flight. It is used by the shepherd still to turn the straying sheep, and it can also be used with deadly effect as a weapon of war. The slingers (ha-qalla`im, 2 Kings 3:25) belonged to the light infantry, like the archers. The Benjamites were specially skilled in the use of the sling, which they could use as well with their left hand as the right (Judges 20:16). The sling was a weapon in use in the armies of Egypt and Babylonia, and Jeremiah in a powerful figure makes the Lord say to Jerusalem in a time of impending calamity: "Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time" (Jeremiah 10:18; compare 1 Samuel 25:29).

3. Bow and Arrows:

A very important offensive weapon in the wars of Israel was the bow (qesheth) and arrows (chitstsim), and the archers whether mounted or on foot formed a powerful element of the fighting forces of the Philistines, Egyptians and Assyrians (s.v. ARCHERY; BOW).

4. Spear-Javelin:

The spear has various words to represent it.

(1) The chanith had a wooden staff or shaft of varying size and length with a head, or blade, of bronze, or, at a later time, of iron (1 Samuel 17:7). In the King James Version it is sometimes translated "javelin," but in the Revised Version (British and American) "spear" (see 1 Samuel 13:22; 1 Samuel 18:11). Saul's spear, stuck in the ground, betokened the abode of the king for the time, just as today the spear in front of his tent marks the halting-place of the Bedouin Sheikh (1 Samuel 22:6; 1 Samuel 26:7). Nahum, describing the arms of the Assyrians, joins together the flashing sword and the glittering spear (Nahum 3:3). The bearers of the chanith belonged to the heavy-armed troops.

(2) The romach, also translated in the King James Version "javelin," was of the character of a lance. It does not appear to have differed much from the chanith-they appear as synonyms in Joel 3:10, where romach is used, and in Isaiah 2, 4 where chanith is used, of spears beaten into pruning hooks. It describes the Egyptian spear in Jeremiah 46:4. The bearers of the romach also belonged to the heavy-armed troops.

(3) The kidhon was lighter than either of the preceding and more of the nature of a javelin (gaison in the Septuagint, Joshua 8:18 and Polybius vi.39, 3; Job 41:29 Jeremiah 6:23). (4) In the New Testament the word "spear" occurs only once and is represented by the Greek logche, the equivalent no doubt of chanith as above (John 19:34).

5. Sword:

The sword (cherebh) is by far the most frequently mentioned weapon in Scripture, whether offensive or defensive. The blade was of iron (1 Samuel 13:19 Joel 3:10). It was hung from the girdle on the left side, and was used both to cut and to thrust. Ehud's sword (Judges 3:16) was double-edged and a cubit in length, and, as he was left-handed, was worn on his right thigh under his clothes. The sword was kept in a sheath (1 Samuel 17:51); to draw the sword was the signal for war (Ezekiel 21:3). Soldiers are "men who draw the sword." It is the flashing sword (Nahum 3:3); the oppressing sword (Jeremiah 46:16); the devouring sword (2 Samuel 18:8 Jeremiah 12:12); the sword which drinks its fill of blood (Isaiah 34:5, 6). The sword of the Lord executes God's judgments (Jeremiah 47:6 Ezekiel 21:9, 10).

Figurative: In the highly metaphorical language of the prophets it stands for war and its attendant calamities (Jeremiah 50:35-37 Ezekiel 21:28).

In the New Testament machaira is employed for sword in its natural meaning (Matthew 26:47, 51 Acts 12:2 Hebrews 11:34, 37). Paul calls the Word of God the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); and in the Epistle to Hebrews the Word of God is said to be sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). As a synonym the word rhomphaia is used in the Apocrypha alone of the New Testament books, save for Luke 2:35. It was the Thracian sword with large blade, and is classed by the ancients rather as a spear. The word is used frequently in the Septuagint like machaira to translate cherebh. In Revelation 1:16 the sharp two-edged sword of judgment, rhomphaia is seen in vision proceeding out of the mouth of the glorified Lord (compare Revelation 19:15). Xiphos is still another word for sword, but it is found only in the Septuagint, and not in the New Testament.

IV. Defensive Weapons.

1. Shield:

The most ancient and universal weapon of defense is the shield. The two chief varieties are

(1) the tsinnah, Latin scutum, the large shield, worn by heavy-armed infantry, adapted to the form of the human body, being made oval or in the shape of a door; hence, its Greek name, thureos, from thura, a door; and

(2) the maghen, Latin clypeus, the light, round hand-buckler, to which pelte is the Greek equivalent. The two are often mentioned together (Ezekiel 23:24; Ezekiel 38:4 Psalm 35:2).

The tsinnah was the shield of the heavy-armed (1 Chronicles 12:24); and of Goliath we read that his shield was borne by a man who went before him (1 Samuel 17:7, 41) The maghen could be borne by bowmen, for we read of men of Benjamin in Asa's army that bare shields and drew bows (2 Chronicles 14:8). The ordinary material of which shields were made was wood, or wicker-work overlaid with leather. The wood-work of the shields and other weapons of Gog's army were to serve Israel for fuel for seven years (Ezekiel 39:9). The anointing of the shield (2 Samuel 1:21 Isaiah 21:5) was either to protect it from the weather, or, more probably, was part of the consecration of the warrior and his weapons for the campaign. Solomon in his pride of wealth had 200 shields (tsinnoth) of beaten gold, and 300 targets (maghinnim) of beaten gold made for himself, and hung in the house of the forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 10:16, 17). They were only for show, and when Shishak of Egypt came up against Rehoboam and carried them off, Rehoboam replaced them with others of bronze (1 Kings 14:27). On the march, the shield was strapped over the shoulder and kept in a cover, which was removed before the battle (Isaiah 22:6). Both words are used of the mechanical device known to the Romans as the testudo employed by the besiegers of a city against the darts and stones and blazing torches thrown out by the besieged (Isaiah 37:33 Ezekiel 26:8).

Figurative: Yahweh is spoken of as the Shield and Protector of His people-of Abraham (Genesis 15:1); of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:29); of the Psalmist (Psalm 18:30; Psalm 35:2, and many other passages). In his description of the panoply of the Christian soldier, Paul introduces faith as the thureos, the large Greek-Roman shield, a defense by which he may quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

2. Helmet:

The helmet, qobha` or kobha`, seems to have been originally in the form of a skull-cap, and it is thus figured in representations of Hittites on the walls of Karnak in Egypt. In the earliest times it is found worn only by outstanding personages like kings and commanders. When King Saul armed David with his own armor he put a helmet of brass upon his head (1 Samuel 17:38). Uzziah at a later time provided his soldiers with helmets, as part of their equipment (2 Chronicles 26:14). The men of Pharaoh-neco's army also wore helmets (Jeremiah 46:4), and the mercenaries in the armies of Tyre had both shield and helmet to hang up within her (Ezekiel 27:10). The materials of the helmet were at first of wood, linen, felt, or even of rushes; leather was in use until the Seleucid period when it was supplanted by bronze (1 Maccabees 6:35); the Greek and Roman helmets both of leather and brass were well known in the Herodian period.

Figurative: Paul has the helmet, perikephalaia, for his Christian soldier (Ephesians 6:17 1 Thessalonians 5:8). In the Septuagint perikephalaia occurs eleven times as the equivalent of the Hebrew term.

3. Coat of Mail:

Body armor for the protection of the person in battle is mentioned in the Old Testament and is well known in representations of Egyptian, Persian and Parthian warriors. The shiryon, translated "habergeon" in the King James Version, rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) "coat of mail," is part of the armor of Nehemiah's workers (Nehemiah 4:16), and one of the pieces of armor supplied by King Uzziah to his soldiers. (2 Chronicles 26:14). Goliath was armed with a shiryon, and when Saul clad David in his own armor to meet the Philistine champion he put on him a coat of mail, his shiryon (1 Samuel 17:5, 38). Such a piece of body armor Ahab wore in the fatal battle of Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:34). In the battle of Bethsura in the Maccabean struggle the Syrian war-elephants were protected with breastplates, the word for which, thorax, represents the shiryon in the Septuagint (1 Maccabees 6:43).

Figurative: Isaiah in a striking figure describes Yahweh as putting on righteousness for a coat of mail and salvation as a helmet, where thorax and perikephalaia are the Greek words of the Septuagint to render shiryon and kobha`. It is from this passage (Isaiah 59:17) that Paul obtains his "breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14).

4. Greaves:

Greaves (mitschah; knemides) are mentioned once in Scripture as part of the armor of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:6). They were of brass or leather, fastened by thongs round the leg and above the ankles.

5. Girdle:

The girdle (chaghorah; Greek zone) was of leather studded with nails, and was used for supporting the sword (1 Samuel 18:4 2 Samuel 20:8). SeeGIRDLE.

Figurative: For figurative uses see under the separate weapons.

LITERATURE.

Nowack, Hebraische Archaeologie, I, 359-67; Benzinger, Herzog, RE, article "Kriegswesen bei den Hebraern"; McCurdy, HPM, I, II; Woods and Powell, The Hebrew Prophets for English Readers, I, II; G. M. Mackie, Bible Manners and Customs; Browne, Hebrew Antiquities, 40-46; corresponding articles in Kitto, Hastings, and other Bible dictionaries.

T. Nicol.

Greek

3833. panoplia -- full armor
... full armor. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: panoplia Phonetic Spelling:
(pan-op-lee'-ah) Short Definition: complete armor Definition: complete ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3833.htm - 7k

3696. hoplon -- a tool, implement, weapon
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a tool, implement, weapon NASB Word Usage armor
(1), instruments (2), weapons (3). armor, instrument, weapon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3696.htm - 7k

831. authenteo -- to govern, exercise authority
... 831 (from 846 , "self" and , "arms, armor") -- properly, to , ie acting
as an -- literally, -appointed (acting without submission). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/831.htm - 6k

2528. kathoplizo -- to arm fully
... to arm oneself fully. From kata; and hoplizo; to equip fully with armor -- arm.
see GREEK kata. see GREEK hoplizo. (kathoplismenos) -- 1 Occurrence. 2527, 2528 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2528.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

8302. shiryon -- body armor
... 8301b, 8302. shiryon or shiryan. 8303 . body armor. Transliteration: shiryon
or shiryan Phonetic Spelling: (shir-yone') Short Definition: armor. ...
/hebrew/8302.htm - 6k

5630. siryon -- armor
... 5629, 5630. siryon. 5631 . armor. Transliteration: siryon Phonetic Spelling:
(sir-yone') Short Definition: scale-armor. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5630.htm - 6k

4055. mad -- a measure, cloth garment
mad or med. 4054, 4055. mad or med. 4056 . a measure, cloth garment.
Transliteration: mad or med Phonetic Spelling: (mad) Short Definition: armor. ...
/hebrew/4055.htm - 6k

5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... 1), wore (1), worked (1). accept, advance, arise, able to, armor, suffer
to bearer, up, bring forth,. Or nacah (Psalm 'eb: 'abad ...
/hebrew/5375.htm - 8k

4697. mitschah -- greaves
... greaves, shin-pieces of armor. From the same as metsach; a shin-piece of armor
(as prominent), only plural -- greaves. see HEBREW metsach. 4696, 4697. ...
/hebrew/4697.htm - 6k

3830. lebush -- a garment, clothing, raiment
... Word Origin from labash Definition a garment, clothing, raiment NASB Word Usage
apparel (3), armor (1), attire* (1), clothed (2), clothing (12), dressed* (1 ...
/hebrew/3830.htm - 6k

2290b. chagorah -- a girdle, loin covering, belt
... Word Origin from chagar Definition a girdle, loin covering, belt NASB Word Usage
armor (1), belt (3), loin coverings (1). 2290a, 2290b. ...
/hebrew/2290b.htm - 5k

7193. qasqeseth -- scale (of fish)
... Definition: scales. Word Origin from an unused word Definition scale (of fish)
NASB Word Usage scale-armor (1), scales (7). mail, scale. By ...
/hebrew/7193.htm - 6k

2296. chagar -- to gird, gird on, gird oneself
... A primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.) -- be able to put on, be afraid,
appointed, gird, restrain, X on every side. 2295, 2296. chagar. 2297 > ...
/hebrew/2296.htm - 6k

3627. keli -- an article, utensil, vessel
... Word Origin from kalah Definition an article, utensil, vessel NASB Word Usage armor
(24), armory* (1), article (10), articles (30), bag (2), baggage (12), bags ...
/hebrew/3627.htm - 6k

Library

The Whole Armor.
... CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE. 361. " The whole Armor. 361. CM Anonymous.
The whole Armor. 1 O, speed thee, Christian, on thy ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/361 the whole armor.htm

Twenty First Sunday after Trinity the Christian Armor and Weapons.
... Twenty First Sunday After Trinity THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR AND WEAPONS. Text:
Ephesians 6, 10-17. 10 ... God. THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR AND WEAPONS. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty first sunday after trinity.htm

CM Anonymous. The Whole Armor of the Lord.
... VII. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 316. CM Anonymous. The Whole Armor of the Lord. ... And to thine
armor cling; With girded loins the call obey That love and mercy bring! ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/316 c m anonymous the.htm

Saul's Armor. 1Sam 17:38-40
... I SAMUEL Hymn 28 SAUL's armor. 1Sam 17:38-40. John Newton 7,6,7,6. SAUL's armor.
1Sam 17:38-40. When first my soul enlisted. My Savior's foes to fight; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 28 sauls armor 1sam.htm

SM Anonymous. The Whole Armor of God.
... SM Anonymous. The Whole Armor of God. 1 Followers of Christ! arise, And put your
armor on, Strong in the strength which God supplies To each obedient son. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/542 s m anonymous the.htm

Thy Neck is Like the Tower of David, Builded with Bulwarks; a ...
... CHAPTER IV. 4. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded with bulwarks;
a thousand shields hang upon it, all the armor of mighty men. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/4 thy neck is like.htm

Jonathan's Brave Deed
... Now on that day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor,
"Come, let us go over against the Philistines' garrison that is on the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jonathans brave deed.htm

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me with it, so that
these heathen Philistines may not come and make sport of me." But his armor ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition against the Hebrews ...
... lying on his shoulders. He had also a lance of six hundred shekels; and many
followed him to carry his armor. Wherefore this Goliath ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how the philistines.htm

The Power of a Pebble.
... the Israelites, asking them to send out a man to fight with him, but he was not
truly brave, for he had carefully covered his great body with armor of brass ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xx the power of.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle.

2. (n.) Steel or iron covering, whether of ships or forts, protecting them from the fire of artillery.

Thesaurus

Armor (53 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ARMOR; ARMS. ar'-mer, arms. I. ARMOR IN
GENERAL-OLD TESTAMENT II. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT; POLYBIUS III. ...
/a/armor.htm - 41k

Armor-bearer (15 Occurrences)
Armor-bearer. Armorbearer, Armor-bearer. Armorbearers . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(n.) One who carries the armor or arms of another; an armiger. ...
/a/armor-bearer.htm - 12k

Armor-bearers (2 Occurrences)
Armor-bearers. Armorbearers, Armor-bearers. Armory . Multi-Version
Concordance Armor-bearers (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel ...
/a/armor-bearers.htm - 6k

Scale-armor (3 Occurrences)
Scale-armor. Scale, Scale-armor. Scaled . Multi-Version Concordance
Scale-armor (3 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 17:5 and a ...
/s/scale-armor.htm - 7k

Bearer (23 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to
him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me,'A woman killed him ...
/b/bearer.htm - 14k

Armorbearer (11 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARMOR-BEARER. ar'-mer-bar'-er (nose' keli;
Greek uses a phrase, ho airon ta skeue, literally "the ...
/a/armorbearer.htm - 11k

Gorget
... 1. (n.) A piece of armor, whether of chain mail or of plate, defending the throat
and upper part of the breast, and forming a part of the double breastplate of ...
/g/gorget.htm - 8k

Mail (11 Occurrences)
... It was used especially for defensive armor. 5. (n.) Hence generally, armor, or any
defensive covering. ... COAT OF MAIL. mal. See ARMOR, ARMS; BRIGANDINE. MAIL. mal. ...
/m/mail.htm - 11k

Abuse (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me
through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and ...
/a/abuse.htm - 13k

Garrison (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:1 Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young
man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines ...
/g/garrison.htm - 13k

Bible Concordance

Armor (53 Occurrences)

Luke 11:22 But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 13:12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let's put on the armor of light.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
(WEB ASV WBS)

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me,'A woman killed him.' His young man thrust him through, and he died."
(WEB ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:1 Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side." But he didn't tell his father.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint on Yahweh to save by many or by few."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:7 His armor bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Turn and, behold, I am with you according to your heart."
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:12 The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something!" Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel."
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:13 Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:14 That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:17 Then said Saul to the people who were with him, "Count now, and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 16:21 David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 17:5 He had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 17:6 He had brass shin armor on his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.
(WEB)

1 Samuel 17:38 And Saul armed David with his armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
(KJV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
(KJV WBS NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 17:54 David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his sash.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!" But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 31:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 31:9 They cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to the house of their idols, and to the people.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 31:10 They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 2:21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Samuel 18:15 Ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 10:25 They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Kings 20:11 The king of Israel answered, "Tell him,'Don't let him who puts on his armor brag like he who takes it off."
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 22:34 A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn your hand, and carry me out of the battle; for I am severely wounded."
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armor; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
(KJV WBS)

2 Kings 3:21 Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:2 "Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Kings 20:13 Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 10:4 Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 10:9 They stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 10:10 They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 9:24 They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
(WEB ASV)

2 Chronicles 18:33 A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the army; for I am sore wounded.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 26:14 And Uzziah had all these forces armed with body-covers and spears and head-covers and coats of metal and bows and stones for sending from leather bands.
(See NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 4:16 It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
(See NIV)

Job 41:13 Who can uncover the face of his garment? Who shall come within his double bridle?
(See NAS)

Isaiah 9:5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
(WEB ASV)

Isaiah 22:8 He took away the covering of Judah; and you looked in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Isaiah 39:2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn't show them.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 45:1 Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and strip kings of their armor; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
(WEB NIV)

Jeremiah 46:4 Harness the horses, and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.
(See NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 51:3 Against her the bow of the archer is bent, and he puts on his coat of metal: have no mercy on her young men, give all her army up to the curse.
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 23:12 She doted on the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 38:4 and I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you forth, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Subtopics

Armor

Armor Arms

Armor: Figurative

Armor: The Equipment of a Soldier

Related Terms

Armor-bearer (15 Occurrences)

Armor-bearers (2 Occurrences)

Scale-armor (3 Occurrences)

Bearer (23 Occurrences)

Armorbearer (11 Occurrences)

Gorget