Topical Encyclopedia
A lance is a long weapon with a pointed head, often used by cavalry soldiers in ancient and medieval warfare. While the term "lance" itself does not appear in the Bible, similar weapons such as spears and javelins are frequently mentioned. These weapons were commonly used in biblical times for both hunting and combat.
Biblical References and Context1.
Spears and Javelins: The Bible often refers to spears and javelins, which are similar to lances in their function and design. For instance, in
1 Samuel 17:7, the description of Goliath's weaponry includes a spear: "The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels." This highlights the formidable nature of such weapons in ancient warfare.
2.
Symbol of Power and Authority: In biblical narratives, the spear or lance can symbolize power and authority. In
1 Samuel 18:10-11, King Saul attempts to pin David to the wall with his spear, demonstrating both his authority and his intent to harm: "The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David was playing the harp as usual. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, thinking, 'I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice."
3.
Divine Protection: The use of spears and similar weapons in the Bible also underscores the theme of divine protection. In
2 Samuel 22:35, David praises God for training his hands for battle: "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze." This verse reflects the belief that God equips His people with the skills and strength needed for defense and victory.
4.
Prophetic Imagery: In prophetic literature, weapons like lances are sometimes used metaphorically to describe the coming of peace.
Isaiah 2:4 speaks of a future time when nations will transform their weapons into tools for agriculture: "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."
5.
New Testament Allusions: While the New Testament does not directly mention lances, the imagery of weapons is used metaphorically to describe spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:16-17 encourages believers to take up the "shield of faith" and the "sword of the Spirit," emphasizing the spiritual nature of the Christian's battle.
Cultural and Historical SignificanceIn the ancient Near East, the spear or lance was a common weapon among soldiers and warriors. It was typically made of wood with a metal tip and was used for thrusting or throwing. The effectiveness of such weapons in battle made them a symbol of military strength and prowess.
The biblical portrayal of weapons like the lance reflects the realities of ancient warfare while also conveying deeper spiritual truths. The use of these weapons in Scripture serves as a reminder of the physical and spiritual battles faced by God's people and the ultimate victory promised through faith and divine intervention.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
2. (n.) A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
3. (n.) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the mold in casting a shell.
4. (n.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece of ordnance and forces it home.
5. (n.) One of the small paper cases filled with combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a figure.
6. (v. t.) To pierce with a lance, or with any similar weapon.
7. (v. t.) To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess.
8. (v. t.) To throw in the manner of a lance. See Launch.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LANCE; LANCER; LANCETlans, lan'-ser, lan'-set. SeeARMOR, III, 4, (3);1 Kings 18:28 the Revised Version (British and American) "lances."
Greek
3057. logche -- alance or spear... a
lance or spear. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: logche Phonetic
Spelling: (long'-khay) Short Definition: a
lance, spear Definition: a
lance...Strong's Hebrew
7420. romach -- a spear,lance... 7419, 7420. romach. 7421 . a spear,
lance. Transliteration: romach Phonetic
Spelling: (ro'-makh) Short Definition: spears. Word
...8301b. shiryah -- (a weapon) perhaps alance, javelin
... 8301a, 8301b. shiryah. 8302 . (a weapon) perhaps alance, javelin.
Transliteration: shiryah Short Definition: javelin. Word Origin...
3591. kidon -- a dart, javelin
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a dart, javelin NASB Word Usage
javelin (8), spear (1).lance, shield, spear, target....
4294. matteh -- a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe
... branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising
(figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (alance), or walking...
2595. chanith -- a spear
... javelin, spear. From chanah; alance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent) -- javelin,
spear. see HEBREW chanah. 2594, 2595. chanith. 2596 . Strong's Numbers
7013. qayin -- a spear
... spear. From quwn in the original sense of fixity; alance (as striking fast) --
spear. see HEBREW quwn. 7012, 7013. qayin. 7014 . Strong's Numbers.
1128. Ben-deqer -- "son of Deker," one of Solomon's leaders
... the son of Dekar. From ben and a derivative of daqar; son of piercing (or of alance);
Ben-Deker, an Israelite -- the son of Dekar. see HEBREW ben....
1265. berosh -- cypress or fir
... fir tree. Of uncertain derivation; a cypress (?) Tree; hence, alance or a musical
instrument (as made of that wood) -- fir (tree). 1264, 1265. berosh. 1266...
Library
Appendix. Detached Account of Longinus.
... He was on horseback, and carried alance; I saw him at Pilate's house, after the
death of our Lord, saying that the legs of Jesus ought not to be broken....
The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... He seized hislance and rode quickly up to the mound on which the Cross was planted,
stopped just between the cross of the good thief and that of our Lord, and...
It was a Clear Morning and the Tenth Day Before the Kalends of...
... He seized alance, and, crouching as he ran, with sly feet approached the Roman
officer.... "Bid them cheer me or I will run you through!" Hislance threatened....
There have Come to Me Ransomers from among the Saints, but None...
... Phinehas the zealous pierced and gave me, on the head of his spear for my delight,
Zimri and Cozbi both together; on the head of hislance he presented them to...
His Murdered Father's Head
... Conspicuous among them was a young, swart soldier, clad in skins, but fully
armed, carrying a longlance with something at its summit....
The Characters of Herod and Augustus were as Far Apart as their...
... An erect, powerful, and handsome youth of Arabic and Idumaean blood, brave with
lance and charger, he raided the bandit chieftain Hezekias and slew him, with...
Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Words of Jesus on the Cross.
... took it from them, squeezed out the gal, poured some fresh vinegar upon it, and
fastening it to a reed, put the reed at the end of alance, and presented it...
That Evening Vergilius Went to Feast with the Young Herodian...
... It had been a stormy day in the palace of Antipater. He had crucified a slave for
disobedience and run alance through one of his best horses for no reason....
The Adventures of Saint David of Wales.
... his shoulders. Bravely the Tartar Knight bore himself, and bravely he withstood
the terrible shock of Saint David'slance. A second...
The Song of the Little Baltung. AD 395
... How the old old Balt and the young young Balt Rode out of Caucaland, With the
royal elephant's trunk on helm And the royallance in hand....
Thesaurus
Lance (7 Occurrences)... fishermen. 2. (n.) A soldier armed with a
lance; a lancer. 3. (n
... 6. (vt) To
pierce with a
lance, or with any similar weapon. 7. (vt) To
...Taint (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A thrust with alance, which fails of its
intended effect.... 3. (vi) To thrust ineffectually with alance....
Tilt (2 Occurrences)
... barrel. 6. (vt) To point or thrust, as alance. 7. (vt) To point or thrust
a weapon at.... tip. 11. (n.) A thrust, as with alance. 12....
Lancer
... 1. (n.) One who lances; one who carries alance; especially, a member of a mounted
body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some...
Javelin (16 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews hanith, alance, from its flexibility
(1 Samuel 18:10, 11; 19:9, 10; 20:33). (2.) Hebrews...
Launch (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To throw, as alance or dart; to hurl; to let
fly. 2. (vi) To strike with, or as with, alance; to pierce....
Chariot (102 Occurrences)
... with gold and silver, and in the battle of Megiddo Thothmes III is represented as
standing in his chariot of electrum like the god of war, brandishing hislance...
Overtaker (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Overtaker (1 Occurrence). Job 41:26 The sword of his
overtaker standeth not, Spear -- dart -- andlance. (YLT)....
Lancet
... 2. (n.) An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.LANCE; LANCER; LANCET. lans, lan'-ser, lan'-set....
Lamp-stands (5 Occurrences)
Lamp-stands. Lampstands, Lamp-stands.Lance . Multi-Version Concordance
Lamp-stands (5 Occurrences).... Lampstands, Lamp-stands.Lance . Reference Bible.
Resources
Was Longinus the name of the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus with the spear? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Awana? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the leviathan? | GotQuestions.orgLance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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