Shield

Shields in these passages are both equipment and picture. Solomon made shields of beaten gold, and Asa’s army carried them. But Scripture also gives the word to God. “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” David sings, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,” and calls him “my buckler.” Another psalm says, “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield,” and Psalm 84:11 adds “the LORD God is a sun and shield.” Psalm 18 gathers several of these images in one place.

20 verses

Genesis

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 33:29

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 8:7

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 22:3

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2 Samuel 22:36

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

1 Kings

1 Kings 10:16

And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

1 Kings 10:17

And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

2 Kings

2 Kings 11:10

And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 11:12

And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

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 bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.

Psalms

Psalms 5:12

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalms 18:35

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 33:20

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Psalms 35:2

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Psalms 59:11

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Psalms 84:9

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalms 89:18

For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 46:3

Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Used in defensive warfare, varying at different times and under different circumstances in size, form, and material (1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 1:21; 1 Kings 10:17; 1 Chr. 12:8, 24, 34; Isa. 22:6; Ezek. 39:9; Nahum 2:3).

Used figuratively of God and of earthly princes as the defenders of their people (Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; Ps. 33:20; 84:11). Faith is compared to a shield (Eph. 6:16).

Shields were usually “anointed” (Isa. 21:5), in order to preserve them, and at the same time make the missiles of the enemy glide off them more easily.

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

The ordinary shield consisted of a framework of wood covered with leather; it thus admitted of being burnt. (Ezekiel 39:9) It was frequently cased with metal, either brass or copper; its appearance in this case resembled gold when the sun shone on it, 1 Macc. 6:39 and to this, rather than to the practice of smearing blood on the shield we may refer the redness noticed by. Nahum. (Nahum 2:3) The surface of the shield was kept bright by the application of oil as implied in (Isaiah 21:5) The shield was worn on the left arm, to which it was attached by a strap. Shields of state were covered with beaten gold. Shields were suspended about public buildings for ornamental purposes. (1 Kings 10:17) In the metaphorical language of the Bible the shield generally represents the protection of God: e.g. (Psalms 3:3; 28:7) but in (Psalms 47:9) it is applied to earthly rulers and in (Ephesians 6:18) to faith. [ARMS, ARMOR]