Encyclopedia entry
Armour
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 2 distinct subjects under Armour. Jump to one below, or read in order.
Is employed in the English Bible to denote military equipment, both offensive and defensive.
Armour (1)
#The offensive weapons were different at different periods of history. The “rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9) is supposed to mean a mace or crowbar, an instrument of great power when used by a strong arm. The “maul” (Prov. 25:18; cognate Hebrew word rendered “battle-axe” in Jer. 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 Sam. 17:39; 2 Sam. 20:8; 1 Kings 20:11). The spear was another offensive weapon (Josh. 8:18; 1 Sam. 17:7). The javelin was used by light troops (Num. 25:7, 8; 1 Sam. 13:22). Saul threw a javelin at David (1 Sam. 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 (Gen. 27:3; 48:22; Ps. 18:34). The sling was a favourite weapon of the Benjamites (1 Sam. 17:40; 1 Chr. 12:2. Comp. 1 Sam. 25:29).
Armour (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 (Gen. 15:1; Ps. 47:9; 1 Sam. 17:7; Prov. 30:5), and the buckler (Heb. mageen) or small shield (1 Kings 10:17; Ezek. 26:8). In Ps. 91:4 “buckler” is properly a roundel appropriated to archers or slingers. The helmet (Ezek. 27:10; 1 Sam. 17:38), a covering for the head; the coat of mail or corselet (1 Sam. 17:5), or habergeon (Neh. 4;16), harness or breat-plate (Rev. 9:9), for the covering of the back and breast and both upper arms (Isa. 59:17; Eph. 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 Sam. 17:6). Reference is made by Paul (Eph. 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.
In the Bible
24
Verses where Armour is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 10:9
They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people.
- 1 Chronicles 10:10
They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.
- 1 Kings 10:25
Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
- 1 Kings 22:38
And the chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up Ahab’s blood, according to the word that the LORD had spoken.
- 1 Samuel 14:1
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
- 1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
+18 more verses naming Armour.
Scripture on Armour
40
See all 40 +−
- 1 Chronicles 10Genesis 15Genesis 27Numbers 25Joshua 81 Samuel 131 Samuel 192 Samuel 22 Samuel 182 Samuel 201 Kings 201 Kings 222 Kings 32 Kings 102 Kings 201 Chronicles 12Nehemiah 4Psalms 2Psalms 18Psalms 47Psalms 91Proverbs 25Proverbs 30Isaiah 22Isaiah 39Isaiah 59Jeremiah 51Ezekiel 9Ezekiel 26Ezekiel 27Ezekiel 38Luke 11Romans 132 Corinthians 6Revelation 9
Voices on Armour
3
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.