King James Bible Dictionary

See Armor; Arrow; Artillery; Battle-Ax; Battering-Ram; Bow; Chariot; Dagger; Dart; Engine; Javelin; Shield; Sling; Spear; Sword
Armor; Arrow; Artillery; Battle-Ax; Battering-Ram; Bow; Chariot; Dagger; Dart; Engine; Javelin; Shield; Sling; Spear; Sword

'ARMS, noun plural [Latin arma.]

1. Weapons of offense, or armor for defense and protection of the body.

2. War; hostility.

Arms and the man I sing.

To be in arms to be in a state of hostility, or in a military life.

To arms is a phrase which denotes a taking arms for war or hostility; particularly, a summoning to war.

To take arms is to arm for attack or defense.

Bred to arms denotes that a person has been educated to the profession of a soldier.

3. The ensigns armorial of a family; consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.

4. In law, arms are any thing which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another.

5. In botany, one of the seven species of fulcra or props of plants, enumerated by Linne and others. The different species of arms or armor, are prickles, thorns, forks and stings, which seem intended to protect the plants from injury by animals.

Sire arms are such as may be charged with powder, as cannon, muskets, mortars, etc.

A stand of arms consists of a musket, bayonet, cartridge-box and belt, with a sword. But for common soldiers a sword is not necessary.

In falconry, arms are the legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.

The subject naturally divides itself into

I. Offensive weapons: Arms. II. Defensive weapons: Armor. I. Offensive weapons.

1. Apparently the earliest known and most widely used was the Chereb or SWORD. Very little can be gathered as to its shape, size, material or mode of use. Perhaps if anything is to be inferred it is that the Chereb is both a lighter and a shorter weapon than the modern sword. It was carried in a sheath, (1 Samuel 17:51; 2 Samuel 20:8; 1 Chronicles 21:27) slung by a girdle, (1 Samuel 25:13) and resting upon the thigh, (Psalms 45:3; Judges 3:16) or upon the hips. (2 Samuel 20:8)
2. Next we have the SPEAR; and of this weapon we meet with at least three distinct kinds. A. The Chanith , a "spear," and that of the largest kind. It was the weapon of Goliath, (1 Samuel 17:7,45; 2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5) and also of other giants, (2 Samuel 23:21; 1 Chronicles 11:23) and mighty warriors. (2 Samuel 2:23; 23:18; 1 Chronicles 11:11,20) b. Apparently lighter than the preceding was the Cidon or "javelin." When not in action the Cidon was carried on the back of the warrior, (1 Samuel 17:6) Authorized Version "target." c. Another kind of spear was the Romach . In the historical books it occurs in (Numbers 25:7) and 1 Kings 18:28 And frequently in the later books, as in (1 Chronicles 12:8) ("buckler"); (2 Chronicles 11:12) (It varied much in length, weight and size.) d. The Shelach was probably a lighter missile or "dart." see (2 Chronicles 23:10; 32:5) ("darts"); (Nehemiah 4:17,23) (see margin); (Job 33:18; 36:12; Joel 2:8) e. Shebet , a rod or staff, is used once only to denote a weapon. (2 Samuel 18:14)
3. Of missile weapons of offence the chief was undoubtedly the BOW, Kesheth . The ARROWS were carried in a quiver. (Genesis 27:3; Isaiah 22:6; 49:2; Psalms 127:5) From an allusion in Job 6:4 they would seem to have been some times poisoned; and (Psalms 120:4) may point to a practice of using arrows with some burning material attached to them.
4. The SLING is first mentioned in (Judges 20:16) This simple weapon, with which David killed the giant Philistine, was the natural attendant of a shepherd. Later in the monarchy, slingers formed part of the regular army. (2 Kings 3:25)
5. The BATTLE AXE, (Jeremiah 51:20) a powerful weapon of whose exact form we have no knowledge. II. Armor.

6. The BREASTPLATE, enumerated in the description of the arms of Goliath, a "coat of mail," literally a "breastplate of scales." (1 Samuel 17:5) This word has furnished one of the names of Mount Hermon. See (3:9)
7. The HABERGEON is mentioned but twice

   in reference to the gown of the high priest. (Exodus 28:32; 39:28) It was probably a quilted shirt or doublet.

8. The HELMET is referred to in (1 Samuel 17:5; 2 Chronicles 26:14; Ezekiel 27:10)
9. (GREAVES) or defences for the feet, made of brass, are named in (1 Samuel 17:6) only.
10. Two kinds of SHIELD are distinguishable. A. The large shield; encompassing, (Psalms 6:12) the whole person. When not in actual conflict it was carried before the warrior. (1 Samuel 17:7,41) b. Of smaller dimensions was the buckler or target, probably for use in hand-to-hand fight. (1 Kings 10:16; 2 Chronicles 9:15,16)

ARMS-END, noun At the end of the arms; at a good distance; a phrase taken from boxers or wrestlers.