• Of the defensive armour a chief place is assigned to the shield or buckler. There were the great shield or target (the Tzinnah ), For the protection of the whole person ( Genesis 15:1; Psalm 47:9; 1 Samuel 17:7; Proverbs 30:5 ), and the buckler (Heb. Mageen ) Or small shield ( 1 Kings 10:17; Ezekiel 26:8 ). In Psalm 91:4 "buckler" is properly a roundel appropriated to archers or slingers. The helmet ( Ezekiel 27:10; 1 Samuel 17:38 ), a covering for the head; the coat of mail or corselet (1 Samuel 17:5 ), or habergeon (Nehemiah 416;16 ), harness or breat-plate (Revelation 9:9 ), for the covering of the back and breast and both upper arms (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:14 ). The cuirass and corselet, composed of leather or quilted cloth, were also for the covering of the body. Greaves, for the covering of the legs, were worn in the time of David (1 Samuel 17:6 ). Reference is made by Paul (Ephesians 6:14-17 ) to the panoply of a Roman soldier. The shield here is the thureon, a door-like oblong shield above all, i.e., covering the whole person, not the small round shield. There is no armour for the back, but only for the front.

    Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

    Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Armour'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/armour.html. 1897.