In biblical times, armour was an essential part of a soldier's equipment, providing protection in battle. The concept of armour is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures, symbolizing God's protection and the spiritual defenses available to believers.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, armour is often mentioned in the context of warfare. The Hebrew word for armour, "keli," can refer to various pieces of military equipment. One of the most famous accounts involving armour is the account of David and Goliath. Goliath, the Philistine giant, is described as wearing a bronze helmet, a coat of scale armour, bronze greaves, and carrying a javelin (1 Samuel 17:5-7). In contrast, David rejects Saul's armour, choosing instead to trust in the Lord's protection (1 Samuel 17:38-39).

The armour of a soldier typically included a helmet, breastplate, shield, and sword. For instance, King Saul's armour is mentioned in 1 Samuel 17:38, where he attempts to equip David with his own gear. The use of armour in battle is also depicted in the accounts of Israel's wars, such as in 1 Kings 22:34, where a random arrow strikes King Ahab between the sections of his armour.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of armour to describe the spiritual resources available to Christians. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul exhorts believers to "put on the full armour of God" to stand against the schemes of the devil. This passage outlines the various components of spiritual armour: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace as footwear, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).

Paul's metaphorical use of armour emphasizes the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness. The "full armour of God" equips believers to withstand spiritual attacks and to remain steadfast in their faith. The imagery underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of divine protection and empowerment.

Symbolism and Application

Armour in the Bible symbolizes protection, strength, and readiness. It serves as a reminder of the believer's need to rely on God's power and provision in the face of spiritual challenges. The metaphor of armour highlights the importance of truth, righteousness, faith, and the word of God as essential defenses against the forces of evil.

The concept of armour also points to the ultimate victory found in Christ. As believers "put on" the virtues and truths of the gospel, they are equipped to live out their faith boldly and confidently. The call to wear spiritual armour is a call to live in the reality of God's protection and to engage in the spiritual battle with courage and assurance.Is employed in the English Bible to denote military equipment, both offensive and defensive.

(1.) The offensive weapons were different at different periods of history. The "rod of iron" (Psalm 2:9) is supposed to mean a mace or crowbar, an instrument of great power when used by a strong arm. The "maul" (Proverbs 25:18; cognate Hebrew word rendered "battle-axe" in Jeremiah 51:20, and "slaughter weapon" in Ezek. 9:2) was a war-hammer or martel. The "sword" is the usual translation of hereb, which properly means "poniard." The real sword, as well as the dirk-sword (which was always double-edged), was also used (1 Samuel 17:39; 2 Samuel 20:8; 1 Kings 20:11). The spear was another offensive weapon (Joshua 8:18; 1 Samuel 17:7). The javelin was used by light troops (Numbers 25:7, 8; 1 Samuel 13:22). Saul threw a javelin at David (1 Samuel 19:9, 10), and so virtually absolved him from his allegiance. The bow was, however, the chief weapon of offence. The arrows were carried in a quiver, the bow being always unbent till the moment of action (Genesis 27:3; 48:22; Psalm 18:34). The sling was a favourite weapon of the Benjamites (1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Chronicles 12:2. Comp. 1 Samuel 25:29).

(2.) Of the defensive armour a chief place is assigned to the shield or buckler. There were the great shield or target (the tzinnah), for the protection of the whole person (Genesis 15:1; Psalm 47:9; 1 Samuel 17:7; Proverbs 30:5), and the buckler (Hebrews mageen) or small shield (1 Kings 10:17; Ezek. 26:8). In Psalm 91:4 "buckler" is properly a roundel appropriated to archers or slingers. The helmet (Ezek. 27:10; 1 Samuel 17:38), a covering for the head; the coat of mail or corselet (1 Samuel 17:5), or habergeon (Nehemiah 4;16), harness or breat-plate (Revelation 9:9), for the covering of the back and breast and both upper arms (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:14). The cuirass and corselet, composed of leather or quilted cloth, were also for the covering of the body. Greaves, for the covering of the legs, were worn in the time of David (1 Samuel 17:6). Reference is made by Paul (Ephesians 6:14-17) to the panoply of a Roman soldier. The shield here is the thureon, a door-like oblong shield above all, i.e., covering the whole person, not the small round shield. There is no armour for the back, but only for the front.

3696. hoplon -- a tool, implement, weapon
... from a primary hepo (to be busy about); an implement or utensil or tool (literally
or figuratively, especially, offensive for war) -- armour, instrument, weapon ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3696.htm - 7k

3833. panoplia -- full armor
... full armor. From a compound of pas and hoplon; full armor ("panoply") -- all (whole)
armour. see GREEK pas. see GREEK hoplon. (panoplian) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3833.htm - 7k

2185. zonoth -- armour
... 2184, 2185. zonoth. 2186 . armour. Transliteration: zonoth Phonetic Spelling:
(zo-noth') Short Definition: armour. Word Origin fem. ... part. of zanah, qv. armour ...
/hebrew/2185.htm - 6k

2488. chalitsah -- what is stripped off (a person)
... Word Origin from chalats Definition what is stripped off (a person) NASB Word Usage
spoil (2). armour. From Chelets; spoil -- armour. see HEBREW Chelets. ...
/hebrew/2488.htm - 6k

4055. mad -- a measure, cloth garment
... 1), robe (1), stature (1). armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment,
stature. Or med {made}; from madad; properly, extent ...
/hebrew/4055.htm - 6k

3627. keli -- an article, utensil, vessel
... yokes (1). armour bearer, artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture,
instrument, jewel,. From kalah; something prepared, ie Any ...
/hebrew/3627.htm - 6k

5402. nesheq -- equipment, weapons
... nay'-shek}; from nashaq; military equipment, ie (collectively) arms (offensive or
defensive), or (concretely) an arsenal -- armed men, armour(-y), battle ...
/hebrew/5402.htm - 6k

2290. chagowr -- a belt, girdle
... Or chagor {khag-ore'}; and (feminine) chagowrah {khag-o-raw'}; or chagorah
{khag-o-raw'}; from chagar; a belt (for the waist) -- apron, armour, gird(-le). ...
/hebrew/2290.htm - 5k

Putting on the Armour
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS PUTTING ON THE ARMOUR. And the king of Israel answered
and said. Tell him. Let not him that girdeth on his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/putting on the armour.htm

November the Nineteenth the Armour of God
... NOVEMBER The Nineteenth THE ARMOUR OF GOD. EPHESIANS vi.10-18. The Word
describes the armour, and it directs us to the armoury. ...
/.../november the nineteenth the armour.htm

The Armour of God
... SERMON XI."THE ARMOUR OF GOD. (Preached before the Prince of Wales, at Sandringham,
January 20th, 1867.) Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armour of God. St. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xi the armour of god.htm

The Soldier's Morning-Call
... ROMANS THE SOLDIER'S MORNING-CALL. 'Let us put on the armour of light.'"Romans
13:12. ... Toss it away, and put on the armour that belongs to the day.'. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the soldiers morning-call.htm

'The Helmet of Salvation'
... 17. We may, perhaps, trace a certain progress in the enumeration of the
various pieces of the Christian armour in this context. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the helmet of salvation.htm

December the Third Arms and the Man!
... What wonderful armour is offered to me in which to meet the insidious assaults of
the devil! ... Light is a splendid armour, even in the realm of the flesh. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/december the third arms and.htm

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS. Put on all the armour of God, that
ye may stand, &c. [Ephesians 6:10, et seq.] Saint Paul, the ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

The Panoply of God
... 'Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.'"Ephesians 6:13. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the panoply of god.htm

The Adventures of Saint David of Wales.
... From far and near came valiant knights from all the neighbouring provinces, habited
in every conceivable style of richest armour; yet none surpassed Saint ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter ten the adventures of.htm

The Death of Saint Andrew.
... He, however, did not lay aside his spear and sword; but old as he was, still clad
in his armour, bestriding his war-horse, and followed by the faithful Murdoch ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter twenty the death of.htm

Armour (32 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:29). (2.) Of the defensive armour a chief place is assigned to the shield
or buckler. ... There is no armour for the back, but only for the front. ...
/a/armour.htm - 20k

Armour-bearer (14 Occurrences)
Armour-bearer. Armourbearer, Armour-bearer. Armoury . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Armour-bearer (14 Occurrences). ...
/a/armour-bearer.htm - 11k

Whole-armour (1 Occurrence)
Whole-armour. Whole, Whole-armour. Wholehearted . Multi-Version
Concordance Whole-armour (1 Occurrence). Luke 11:22 ...
/w/whole-armour.htm - 6k

Body-armour (1 Occurrence)
Body-armour. Body, Body-armour. Body-coat . Multi-Version Concordance
Body-armour (1 Occurrence). Revelation 9:17 And ...
/b/body-armour.htm - 6k

Armourbearer (14 Occurrences)
... An officer selected by kings and generals because of his bravery, not only to bear
their armour, but also to stand by them in the time of danger. ...
/a/armourbearer.htm - 11k

Armory (5 Occurrences)
... unto them, and showed them all his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and
the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armour, and all that ...
/a/armory.htm - 9k

Fellows (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul to his armour-bearer: 'Draw thy sword, and thrust me
through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and ...
/f/fellows.htm - 16k

Target (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (1 Samuel 17:6, AV, after the LXX. and Vulg.), a kind
of small shield. The margin has "gorget," a piece of armour for the throat. ...
/t/target.htm - 11k

Realm (23 Occurrences)
... unto them, and showed them all his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and
the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armour, and all that ...
/r/realm.htm - 14k

Armoury (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The place in which armour was deposited when not
used (Nehemiah 3:19; Jeremiah 50:25). At first each man ...
/a/armoury.htm - 8k

What is an armor-bearer? Should there be a church position of armor-bearer? | GotQuestions.org

What is the full armor of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)? | GotQuestions.org

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