Overview
The Bible addresses shields across 36 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Chronicles, Psalms and 1 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Spear, Solomon, Shield and Persia. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abraham, Saul and Rehoboam.
Key Bible verses about shields
Old Testament
2 Samuel
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. made: Heb. multiplied me
1 Kings
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 king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house. guard: Heb. runners
1 Chronicles
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war. valiant: Heb. sons of valour
And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; of war: Heb. of the host as swift: Heb. as the roes upon the mountains to make haste
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. armed: or, prepared
And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
2 Chronicles
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
And three hundred shields made he 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.
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.
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.
And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. slings: Heb. stones of slings
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. darts: or, swords, or, weapons
Psalms
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. compass: Heb. crown
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. thy gentleness: or, with thy meekness thou hast multiplied me
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. princes: or, voluntary of the people are gathered unto the people of the God of Abraham
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple. bright: Heb. pure
Ezekiel
He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee. cast: or, pour out the engine of shot
They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: handstaves: or, javelins burn them: or, make a fire of them
People in the Bible and shields
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying shields for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 15:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 2 Chronicles, Psalms and 1 Chronicles each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David, Abraham and Saul and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Spear, Solomon, Shield and Persia.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about shields?
The Bible addresses shields across 36 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Chronicles, Psalms and 1 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Spear, Solomon, Shield and Persia. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abraham, Saul and Rehoboam.
How many Bible verses are about shields?
The Bible references shields in 36 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention shields?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 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.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with shields?
David, Abraham, Saul, Rehoboam and Solomon.
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