Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(shins). Armor, metallic or leathern, to protect the shins from foot to knee (1 Sam. 17:6).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
SEE ARMOR.
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Transliteration:
mitschah
Meaning:
from the same as 4696; a shin-piece of armor (as prominent), only plural
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
1 Samuel 17:6. He had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
1. Greaves were coverings for the legs. There are none represented on the Egyptian monuments, but they are seen on the Assyrian sculptures. They were of leather, wood, or, as in the case of Goliath, of brass, and were bound by thongs around the calves and above the ankles.
2. Kidon, here rendered “target,” is translated by the word “shield” in verse 45 of this chapter, and in Job 39:23; “spear” in Joshua 8:18, 26; Job 41:29; Jeremiah 6:23; and “lance” in Jeremiah 50:42. It was probably a light javelin, which could be easily hurled at an enemy. Some suppose it to have been decorated with a flag, like the lances of the Polish lancers. It would seem from this verse that when not in actual use it was carried on the back; for this is the meaning of “between the shoulders.” It was probably slung across he shoulders by means of a leathern strap.
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