SHIELD

A piece of defensive armor. God is often called the shield of his people, Ge 15:1 Ps 5:12 84:11, as are also princes and great men, 2Sa 1:21 Ps 47:9. See ARMOR.

---

Shield. Shield
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.

---

SHIELD. → (Defensive armor) → Different kinds of, designated as buckler, shield, target Ps 35:2; Eze 38:4 → Used by Saul 2Sa 1:21 → Used by the Benjamites 2Ch 14:8; 17:17 → Uzziah equipped the people of Israel with 2Ch 26:14 → Made of brass (bronze) 1Ki 14:27 → Made of gold 2Sa 8:7; 1Ki 10:16; 17; 2Ch 9:15,16 → Made of wood Eze 39:9,10 → Made with bosses Job 15:26 → Stored in armories 1Ki 10:17; 2Ch 11:12; 32:5,27 → Stored in the tabernacle 2Ki 11:10; 2Ch 23:9 → Covered when not in use Isa 22:6 → Painted red Na 2:3 → See ARMS → FIGURATIVE
* Of God' s protection Ge 15:1; De 33:29; 2Sa 22:3,36; Ps 5:12; 18:2,35; 33:20; 59:11; 84:9,11; 89:18; Pr 30:5
* Of God' s truth Ps 91:4
* Of an entire army Jer 46:3

---

shield. Shield, n. a buckler, protection, defense, defender

---

Shield (?), n. [[OE. sheld, scheld, AS. scield, scild, sceld, scyld; akin to OS. scild, OFries. skeld, D. & G. schild, OHG. scilt, Icel. skjöldr, Sw. sköld, Dan. skiold, Goth. skildus; of uncertain origin. Cf. Sheldrake.]] 1. 1. A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, — formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. See Buckler.
Now put your shields before your hearts and fight, With hearts more proof than shields. Shak. 2. 2. Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection. “My council is my shield.” Shak.
3. 3. Figuratively, one who protects or defends.
Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen. xv. 1. 4. 4. (Bot.) In lichens, a Hardened cup or disk surrounded by a rim and containing the fructification, or asci.
5. 5. (Her.) The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings in coats of arms. Cf. Lozenge. See Illust. of Escutcheon.
6. 6. (Mining & Tunneling) A framework used to protect workmen in making an adit under ground, and capable of being pushed along as excavation progresses.
7. 7. A spot resembling, or having the form of, a shield. “Bespotted as with shields of red and black.” Spenser.
8. 8. A coin, the old French crown, or écu, having on one side the figure of a shield. Chaucer.
Shield fern (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; — called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.