Topical Bible: Shields

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, shields are primarily mentioned as defensive weapons used in warfare, symbolizing protection and divine safeguarding. The concept of a shield is both literal and metaphorical throughout the Scriptures, representing physical defense in battle and spiritual protection provided by God.

Types of Shields:

1. Large Shields (Hebrew: "tsinnah"): These were large, rectangular shields used by infantry soldiers to protect the entire body. They are often associated with the heavy armor of a soldier. In 1 Samuel 17:7, Goliath's shield-bearer carried a large shield before him, indicating its importance in battle.

2. Small Shields (Hebrew: "magen"): Smaller, round shields were used for quick maneuverability and were often carried by archers and light infantry. These are frequently mentioned in the context of personal protection and agility in combat.

Symbolic Use:

1. Divine Protection: The shield is a powerful symbol of God's protection over His people. In Genesis 15:1, God tells Abram, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." This metaphorical use underscores God's role as a protector and defender of the faithful.

2. Faith as a Shield: In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of a shield to describe faith. Ephesians 6:16 states, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Here, faith acts as a spiritual defense against the attacks of Satan.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Shields were an essential part of ancient Near Eastern warfare. They were typically made of wood, leather, and sometimes metal, designed to deflect arrows, spears, and other weapons. The construction and design of shields varied depending on the period and the specific needs of the army.

Biblical References:

· Protection in Battle: Shields are frequently mentioned in accounts of Israel's military engagements. In 2 Samuel 22:31, David declares, "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."

· Royal Armory: Shields were also part of the royal armory, symbolizing the strength and preparedness of a kingdom. In 1 Kings 10:16-17, King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold, demonstrating wealth and military might.

· Spiritual Warfare: The concept of a shield extends into spiritual warfare, where believers are called to equip themselves with the armor of God. The shield of faith is a critical component of this armor, emphasizing reliance on God's power and promises.

Conclusion:

Throughout the Bible, shields serve as a multifaceted symbol of protection, both in the physical realm of ancient warfare and the spiritual realm of faith and divine security. They remind believers of God's unwavering protection and the importance of faith as a defense against spiritual adversaries.

Strong's Hebrew

7982. shelet -- perhaps shield
... 7981, 7982. shelet. 7983 . perhaps shield. Transliteration: shelet Phonetic
Spelling: (sheh'-let) Short Definition: shields. Word ...
/hebrew/7982.htm - 6k

2653. chaphaph -- to enclose, surround, cover
... chaphaph. 2654 . to enclose, surround, cover. Transliteration: chaphaph Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-faf') Short Definition: shields. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2653.htm - 6k

6793c. tsinnah -- (large) shield
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition (large) shield NASB Word Usage buckler
(3), bucklers (1), large shield (3), large shields (3), shield (7), shield ...
/hebrew/6793c.htm - 5k

4043. magen -- a shield
... Word Origin from ganan Definition a shield NASB Word Usage armed (2), buckler (1),
large (1), rulers (1), scales (1), shield (41), shields (16). ...
/hebrew/4043.htm - 6k

Library

The Life of Mr. Alexander Shields.
... The Life of Mr. ALEXANDER SHIELDS. Mr. Alexander Shields, son to James Shields
of Haugh-head in the Merse, born anno 1660, or 1661 ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr alexander 4.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

He Orders the Sign of the Saviour's Cross to be Engraven on his ...
... Book IV. Chapter XXI."He orders the Sign of the Saviour's Cross to be
engraven on his Soldiers' Shields. And not only so, but ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxi he orders the sign.htm

That Upon the Slaughter of Ishbosheth by the Treachery of his ...
... out to bring all the people to him; upon which came to him about six thousand and
eight hundred armed men of the tribe of Judah, who bare shields and spears ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 that upon the.htm

Concerning Rehoboam, and How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him for ...
... and oil, and he furnished every one of them plentifully with other provisions that
were necessary for sustenance; moreover, he put therein shields and spears ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning rehoboam and.htm

And Now a Civil War Broke Out Between Constantine and Maxentius. . ...
... Constantine was directed in a dream to cause the heavenly sign to be delineated
on the shields of his soldiers, and so to proceed to battle. ...
/.../lactantius/of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xliv and now a.htm

The Armies Thus Approaching Each Other, Seemed on the Eve of a ...
... The soldiers of Licinius placed their shields on the ground, took off their helmets,
and, following the example of their leaders, stretched forth their hands ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xlvi the armies thus.htm

Chapter iv.
... that which is hidden within.4. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for
an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.4 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/chapter iv.htm

Of the Gods and Sacred Rites of the Barbarians.
... For because the Corybantes then drowned the cry of the boy by the tinkling of their
helmets and the striking of their shields, a representation of this ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxiii of the gods and.htm

New Uses for Old Trophies
... "King David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the Lord.""2 Kings
11:10. ... Hang up the shields and the spears of the Philistines. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/new uses for old trophies.htm

Thesaurus

Shields (44 Occurrences)
...Shields (44 Occurrences). ... 2 Samuel 8:7 David took the shields of gold that were
on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. ...
/s/shields.htm - 19k

Spears (25 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 11:10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and
shields that had been king David's, which were in the house of Yahweh. ...
/s/spears.htm - 14k

Bucklers (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three
hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two ...
/b/bucklers.htm - 9k

Targets (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 14:8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of
Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew ...
/t/targets.htm - 8k

Armory (5 Occurrences)
... house of the forest of Lebanon," the arsenal close to the temple (1 Kings 10:17
Nehemiah 3:19 Isaiah 22:8), in which were stored the shields and targets of ...
/a/armory.htm - 9k

Buckler (19 Occurrences)
... The leather of shields required oiling (2 Samuel 1:21; Isaiah 21:5), so as
to prevent its being injured by moisture. Copper (= "brass ...
/b/buckler.htm - 14k

Bows (28 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three
hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two ...
/b/bows.htm - 15k

Equipped (17 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three
hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two ...
/e/equipped.htm - 11k

Arms (166 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne
in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending ...
/a/arms.htm - 56k

Hadadezer (18 Occurrences)
... All the spoils taken in this war, "shields of gold" and "very much brass," from
which afterwards the "brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass ...
/h/hadadezer.htm - 15k

Resources

What is the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Constantine the Great? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Chi-Rho symbol? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Shields (44 Occurrences)

Exodus 35:12
the ark, and its poles, the mercy seat, the veil of the screen;
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 33:12
Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him. He covers him all the day long. He dwells between his shoulders."
(See NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 8:7
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 10:16
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 10:17
he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 14:26
and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 14:27
King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 14:28
It was so, that as often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 11:10
The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David's, which were in the house of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 12:34
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 18:7
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 9:15
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 9:16
he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 11:12
In every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 12:9
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house: he took all away: he took away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 12:10
King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 12:11
It was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 14:8
Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 17:17
and of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 23:9
Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 26:14
Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:5
He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:27
Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV 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.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 15:26
he runs at him with a stiff neck, with the thick shields of his bucklers;
(WEB YLT)

Job 41:15
The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
(DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Psalms 46:9
Causing wars to cease, Unto the end of the earth, the bow he shivereth, And the spear He hath cut asunder, Chariots he doth burn with fire.
(See NIV)

Psalms 47:9
The princes of the peoples are gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Psalms 76:3
There He broke the fiery shafts of the bow; the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah
(See NIV)

Psalms 140:7
O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, you have been a cover over my head in the day of the fight.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 4:4
Your neck is like David's tower built for an armory, whereon a thousand shields hang, all the shields of the mighty men.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 21:5
They prepare the table, they light the lamps, they eat, they drink--' Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.'
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 37:33
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 46:3
Set ye in array shield and buckler, And draw nigh to battle.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 46:9
Go up, ye horses; and boast yourselves, ye chariots, And go forth, ye mighty, Cush and Phut handling the shield, And Lud handling -- treading the bow.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 51:11
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Yahweh has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Yahweh, the vengeance of his temple.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:24
And they have come in against thee, With arms, rider, and wheel, And with an assembly of peoples; Target, and shield, and helmet, They do set against thee round about, And I have set before them judgment, They have judged thee in their Judgments.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 26:8
He shall kill your daughters in the field with the sword; and he shall make forts against you, and cast up a mound against you, and raise up the buckler against you.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 27:10
Persian and Lud and Phut Have been in thy forces -- thy men of war. Shield and helmet they hung up in thee, They -- they have given out thine honour.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 27:11
The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around, and valorous men were in your towers; they hanged their shields on your walls all around; they have perfected your beauty.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 32:27
They shall not lie with the mighty who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who are gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war, and have laid their swords under their heads, and their iniquities are on their bones; for they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 38:4
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
(KJV DBY WBS NIV)

Ezekiel 38:5
Persia, Cush, and Phut, with them, All of them 'with' shield and helmet.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 39:9
Those who dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Shields

Shields in Times of Peace Were Hung up in Towers or Armouries

Shields of the Vanquished, often Burned

Shields were Scarce in Israel in the Days of Deborah and Barak

Shields: A Disgrace to Lose, or Throw Away

Shields: A Part of Defensive Armour

Shields: Before War: Anointed

Shields: Before War: Gathered Together

Shields: Before War: Often Made Red

Shields: Before War: Repaired

Shields: Before War: Uncovered