Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5545 spear

A weapon of warfare for stabbing or throwing. God promises a time when they will be changed into instruments of peace.

People killed by spears

Numbers 25:6-8; 2 Samuel 2:23; Samuel 18:14; Samuel 23:21 pp 1 Chronicles 11:23

Jesus Christ pierced by a spear

John 19:34 See also Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; John 20:27; Revelation 1:7

Armies of Judah armed with spears

2 Chronicles 11:12; 2 C 8; 2 C 5; 2 C 14; Nehemiah 4:13

Armies of other nations that used spears

The Philistines

1 Samuel 17:7

The Babylonians

Jeremiah 6:22-23

The Egyptians

2 Samuel 23:21 pp 1 Chronicles 11:23; Jeremiah 46:2-4

The Romans

John 19:34

God's people are not to trust in spears but in God

1 Samuel 17:47 See also 1 Samuel 17:45-46

King Saul and his spear

Used against David

1 Samuel 18:10-11 See also 1 Samuel 19:9-10

Used against Jonathan

1 Samuel 20:33

David takes Saul's spear

See also 1 Samuel 26:5-24

Joshua's spear used as a sign of victory

Joshua 8:18 See also Joshua 8:19,25-26

Goliath's spear symbolises his strength

1 Samuel 17:7,45-47; 2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5

Spears will be turned into pruning hooks

Isaiah 2:4 pp Micah 4:3 Some believe that the peace described in Isa 2:1-4 has been inaugurated with the coming of Jesus Christ. Others maintain that it refers to conditions that will obtain during a future reign of Jesus Christ on earth. The details are generally taken to be figurative rather than literal. See also Psalm 46:9

Pruning hooks will be turned into spears

Joel 3:10

See also

2412  cross, accounts of
2530  Christ, death of
5612  weapons