Sword

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

A short, two-edged, dagger-like weapon, carried in a sheath or scabbard, and suspended to the girdle or belt

(Gen. 27:40⁴⁰And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. (Genesis 27:40); Judg. 3:16¹⁶But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. (Judges 3:16); 2 Sam. 20:8⁸When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. (2 Samuel 20:8); Jer. 47:6⁶O thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. (Jeremiah 47:6); Ezek. 21:9,30⁹Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: (Ezekiel 21:9)
³⁰Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity. (Ezekiel 21:30)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Download (130.3 KB)

Sword

This is constantly referred to in scripture as the instrument of death, and is mentioned in the New Testament as being borne by the magistrate (Rom. 13:4⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4)), showing that the gospel does not set aside God’s governmental principle of capital punishment which was enjoined after the flood (Gen. 9:5-6⁵And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. ⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:5‑6)). See Armor, ARMS.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. This is the word (ρῆμα) of God, what His mouth has spoken, and is the only offensive weapon given to Christians with which to fight the Lord’s battles (Eph. 6:17¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)). The word (λόγος) of God is likened to a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)), and the words of the Lord Jesus when He will come forth in judgment on Christendom and the world are compared to a “sharp two-edged sword” (Rev. 1:16¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16); Rev. 19:15¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

1 Samuel 17:39³⁹And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. (1 Samuel 17:39). David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go.

The sword was one of the earliest weapons in use. The Egyptian sword was short and straight, two and a half to three feet long, and double-edged. The handle was plain and hollowed in the center, the better to afford a firm grasp. The Hebrew sword probably resembled it.

Sword

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Concise Bible Dictionary:

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Related Books and Articles: