Reference: Bow
American
A weapon much used in ancient times, both for hunting and for war. It was made of wood, horn, or steel, Ge 27:3; Ps 18:34; and the foot was sometimes used in bending it. It was carried in a case, when not used, Hab 3:19. The Benjamites were celebrated for their skill in the use of this weapon, 1Ch 12:2; 2Ch 14:8; 17:17. See ARMS. The phrase, "a deceitful bow," to which the people of Israel are compared, Ps 78:57; Ho 7:16, means an ill-made or twisted bow, which does not shoot the arrow as it is aimed. In 2Sa 1:18, we read. "Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow." Here the words, "the use of," are not in the Hebrew. The use of the bow in war had long been common among the Jews, Ge 48:22; and to "teach them the bow," is by some supposed to mean, teach them by some supposed to mean, teach them the song of THE BOW, the lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, which follows; so called from the mention of the weapon in Ge 48:22, as the first four books in the Bible take their title in Hebrew from the first word in each. See ARROW.
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Now therefore take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and get thee to the fields, and take me some venison,
Moreover, I give unto thee a portion of land above thy brethren which I gat out of the hands of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
Moreover, I give unto thee a portion of land above thy brethren which I gat out of the hands of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
and bade to teach the children of Israel the staves thereof. And behold, it is written in the book of the righteous:
weaponed with bows, and could handle stones, arrows and bow as well with the left hand as with the right, and were of Saul's brethren, even of the tribe of Benjamin.
He teacheth my hands to fight, and mine arms shall bend even a bow of steel. {TYNDALE: And teacheth my hands to fight, that a bow of brass is too weak for mine arms.}
But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow.
They turn themselves, but not aright, and are become as a broken bow. Their princes shall be slain with the sword for the malice of their tongues, such blasphemies have they learned in the land of Egypt.
The LORD God is my strength, he shall make my feet as the feet of harts: and he which giveth the victory, shall bring me to my high places, singing upon my psalms.
Easton
The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Ge 21:20; 27:3; 48:22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (1Ch 8:40; 12:2; 2Ch 14:8; 17:17); so also were the Elamites (Isa 22:6) and the Lydians (Jer 46:9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (1Ch 5:18; 8:40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bow. Bows of steel (correctly "copper") are mentioned (2Sa 22:35; Ps 18:34).
The arrows were carried in a quiver (Ge 27:3; Isa 22:6; 49:2; Ps 127:5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached to them (Ps 120:4).
The bow is a symbol of victory (Ps 7:12). It denotes also falsehood, deceit (Ps 64:3-4; Ho 7:16; Jer 9:3).
The use of the bow in 2Sa 1:18 (A.V.) ought to be "the song of the bow," as in the Revised Version.
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And God was with the lad, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Now therefore take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and get thee to the fields, and take me some venison,
Now therefore take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and get thee to the fields, and take me some venison,
Moreover, I give unto thee a portion of land above thy brethren which I gat out of the hands of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
and bade to teach the children of Israel the staves thereof. And behold, it is written in the book of the righteous:
And teacheth my hands to fight, that a bow of brass is too weak for mine arms.
The sons of Reuben of Gad and of half the tribe of Manasseh, even of fighting men able to bear shield and sword, and shoot with bow, and taught to make war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and three score that went out to battle.
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men and bowmen and had many sons and son's, sons, a hundred and fifty. All these are the sons of Benjamin.
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men and bowmen and had many sons and son's, sons, a hundred and fifty. All these are the sons of Benjamin.
weaponed with bows, and could handle stones, arrows and bow as well with the left hand as with the right, and were of Saul's brethren, even of the tribe of Benjamin.
If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready.
He teacheth my hands to fight, and mine arms shall bend even a bow of steel. {TYNDALE: And teacheth my hands to fight, that a bow of brass is too weak for mine arms.}
who have whet their tongue like a sword, and shoot out their arrows, even bitter words, That they may privily hurt the innocent, and suddenly hit him without any fear.
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
Happy is the man, that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Elam bare the quiver in a chariot of footmen and of horsemen, and the city of Kir showed the shield open.
Elam bare the quiver in a chariot of footmen and of horsemen, and the city of Kir showed the shield open.
And he made my mouth like a sharp sword. In the shadow he led me with his hand. And he made me as an excellent arrow, and hid in his quiver.
They bend their tongues like bows, to shoot out lies: As for the truth, they may nothing away with all in the world. For they go from one wickedness to another, and hold nothing of me, sayeth the LORD.
Get you to horseback, roll forth the Chariots, come forth ye worthies: ye Ethiopians, ye Libyans with your bucklers, ye Libyans with your bows:
They turn themselves, but not aright, and are become as a broken bow. Their princes shall be slain with the sword for the malice of their tongues, such blasphemies have they learned in the land of Egypt.
Fausets
BOW or RAINBOW. God, after the flood, took the rainbow, previously but a natural object of sight shining beautifully in the sky, when the sun's rays are refracted through failing rain at different angles and so produce different prismatic colors, and elevated it to spiritual significance, to be to Noah and the world the sign of His love and pledge of His sparing mercy, that He would no more destroy the earth with waters. The language in Genesis gives no reason for supposing the writer ignorant of the natural cause of the rainbow, as if he made God then for the first time setting it in the sky. So naathan, "give," means appoint in Nu 14:4; 1Sa 12:13; 1Ki 2:35.
It is the pledge of "the world's covenant, not the church's, a charter of natural blessings." "Set" means simply, "I do appoint My bow in the cloud" (Ge 9:13-16). In Eze 1:28 and Re 4:3 the rainbow round about the throne of Jehovah is the symbol of mercy to God's children amidst coming judgments on the wicked. Though the divine righteousness requires a deluge of wrath on the faithless, God's faithfulness will only shine forth on the elect remnant the brighter for the tribulation that necessarily precedes (compare Isa 54:8-10). The complete circle typifies God's perfection and eternity, not broken into a half, as the earthly rainbow. As the various prismatic colors unite to form one pure ray, so God's varied providence combine in one harmonious whole.
As the rainbow was reflected on the waters of the world's ruin, and is seen only when a cloud is over the earth, so another deluge of fire shall precede the new heavens and earth" granted to redeemed man, as the earth after the flood was restored to Noah. The cloud was the token of God's presence in Israel's wilderness journey and in the holiest place of the temple; and on Mount Sinai at the giving of the law; and at the Lord's ascension (Ac 1:9), and at His coming again (Re 1:7). The bow represents calm sunshine after the world's shipwreck through sin. It is the emblem of God's loving faithfulness to His covenant with His people, and the pledge of sure hope to them.
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I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant made between me and the earth;
I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant made between me and the earth; so that when I bring in clouds upon the earth, the bow shall appear in the clouds.
so that when I bring in clouds upon the earth, the bow shall appear in the clouds. And then will I think upon my covenant which I have made between me and you, and all that liveth, whatsoever flesh it be. So that henceforth there shall be no more waters to make a flood to destroy all flesh.
And then will I think upon my covenant which I have made between me and you, and all that liveth, whatsoever flesh it be. So that henceforth there shall be no more waters to make a flood to destroy all flesh. The bow shall be in the clouds, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and all that liveth upon the earth, whatsoever flesh it be."
The bow shall be in the clouds, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and all that liveth upon the earth, whatsoever flesh it be."
And they said, one to another, "Let us make a captain and return unto Egypt again."
And they said, one to another, "Let us make a captain and return unto Egypt again."
When I was angry, I hid my face from thee for a little season, but through everlasting goodness shall I pardon thee, sayeth the LORD thine avenger.
When I was angry, I hid my face from thee for a little season, but through everlasting goodness shall I pardon thee, sayeth the LORD thine avenger. And this must be unto me as the water of Noah. For like as I have sworn that I will not bring the water of Noah any more upon the world: so have I sworn, that I will never be angry with thee, nor reprove thee.
And this must be unto me as the water of Noah. For like as I have sworn that I will not bring the water of Noah any more upon the world: so have I sworn, that I will never be angry with thee, nor reprove thee. The mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down: but my loving-kindness shall not move, and the bond of my peace shall not fall down from thee, sayeth the LORD thy merciful lover.
The mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down: but my loving-kindness shall not move, and the bond of my peace shall not fall down from thee, sayeth the LORD thy merciful lover.
Yea the shine and glister that lightened round about, was like a rainbow, which in a rainy day appeareth in the clouds. Even so was the similitude, wherein the glory of the LORD appeared. When I saw it, I fell upon my face, and hearkened unto the voice of him that spake.
Yea the shine and glister that lightened round about, was like a rainbow, which in a rainy day appeareth in the clouds. Even so was the similitude, wherein the glory of the LORD appeared. When I saw it, I fell upon my face, and hearkened unto the voice of him that spake.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up: and a cloud received him up out of their sight.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up: and a cloud received him up out of their sight.
Behold, he cometh with clouds, and all eyes shall see him: and they also which pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail. Even so, amen.
Behold, he cometh with clouds, and all eyes shall see him: and they also which pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail. Even so, amen.
And he that sat was, to look upon, like unto a jasper stone, and a sardine stone: And there was a rainbow about the seat, in sight like unto an emerald.
And he that sat was, to look upon, like unto a jasper stone, and a sardine stone: And there was a rainbow about the seat, in sight like unto an emerald.
Morish
The common weapon for discharging arrows. It is used symbolically for the hidden attacks of the wicked against the righteous. Ps 11:2; 37:14-15. A 'bow of steel' signifies great strength. Job 20:24. The wicked are like a 'deceitful bow,' one that breaks when it is depended upon. Ps 78:57; Ho 7:16. In 2Sa 1:18 David's elegy on Saul and Jonathan is called 'The Bow.' The children were taught 'the song of the Bow.' R.V.
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and bade to teach the children of Israel the staves thereof. And behold, it is written in the book of the righteous:
so that if he flee the iron weapons, he shall be shot with the steel bow.
For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the simple and poor, and to slay such as are of a right conversation. Their sword shall go through their own heart, and their bow shall be broken.
But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow.
They turn themselves, but not aright, and are become as a broken bow. Their princes shall be slain with the sword for the malice of their tongues, such blasphemies have they learned in the land of Egypt.
Smith
Bow.
The eastern mode of salutation, by kneeling upon one knee and bending the head forward till it touched the ground.
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And when he had told it unto his father and his brethren, his father rebuked him, and said unto him, "What meaneth this dream which thou hast dreamed: shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come and fall on the ground before thee?"
Watsons
BOW. The expression, "to break the bow," so frequent in Scripture, signifies to destroy the power of a people, because the principal offensive weapon, of armies, was anciently the bow. "A deceitful bow" in one that, from some defect, either in bending or the string, carries the arrow wide of the mark, however well aimed. See ARMS.