A target in the King James Bible is a small shield, not something to aim at. Solomon “made two hundred targets of beaten gold” (1 Kings 10:16), and Asa’s army had men who “bare targets and spears” (2 Chronicles 14:8). The same list gathers many verses where a soldier’s shield becomes a picture of God. Abram is told, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” David sings that the LORD is “my shield, and the horn of my salvation,” and Psalm 84:11 says “the LORD God is a sun and shield.” Psalm 18 is a fine place to hear that song in full.
20 verses
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.
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.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
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.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
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.
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.
And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
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.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
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.
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.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
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.
For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
Matthew George Easton, 1897
(1 Sam. 17:6, A.V., after the LXX. and Vulg.), a kind of small shield. The margin has “gorget,” a piece of armour for the throat. The Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word (kidon) by “javelin.” The same Hebrew word is used in Josh. 8:18 (A.V., “spear;” R.V., “javelin”); Job 39:23 (A.V., “shield;” R.V., “javelin”); 41:29 (A.V., “spear;” R.V., “javelin”).