Bow
“Bow, from a root possibly meaning to bend”
Summary
A weapon for shooting arrows, widely used in ancient warfare and hunting, and also the rainbow given as a sign of God's covenant with Noah.
☩As a Weapon
The bow was one of the most extensively employed implements of warfare and hunting from the earliest times, used for both the chase and battle. Archers accompanied the armies of the Philistines, Syrians, and Israelites. The tribe of Benjamin was especially renowned for archery, though bowmen also came from Reuben, Gad, Manasseh, and Ephraim. Bows of steel or copper were mentioned as especially strong, and the bow was typically bent with the aid of the foot.
☩Construction and Use
Bows were made primarily of wood, though some were reinforced with metal for greater strength. The bowstring was probably made initially from plant fibers or sinew. Arrows were carried in a quiver and were sometimes poisoned or tipped with burning materials. David's elegy for Saul and Jonathan is titled 'The Bow' from its mention of this weapon, and he instructed the men of Judah in its use.
☩Symbolic Uses
The bow frequently represents military power or judgment in Scripture. A 'deceitful bow' symbolizes unreliability and falsehood—like one that breaks when depended upon. In Jacob's blessing, Joseph's bow remained strong despite attack, representing steadfastness under persecution. In Revelation, the rider on the white horse carries a bow, symbolizing conquest.
☩The Rainbow Covenant
After the flood, God set His bow in the clouds as a token of His covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the earth with water. This rainbow was previously a natural phenomenon, but God elevated it to spiritual significance as a pledge of His mercy. The rainbow appears around God's throne in Ezekiel's and John's visions, symbolizing divine faithfulness amid judgment—complete circles rather than arcs, representing perfection and eternity.
Related Verses191 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Bow," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Bow," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Bow," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).