King James Bible Dictionary

An implement of war.

Spears and javelins differed in weight and size, but had similar uses:

Goliath's
1 Samuel 17:7

Saul's
1 Samuel 18:10-11

Stored in the tabernacle
2 Chronicles 23:9

Changed into pruning hooks
Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3

Pruning hooks beat into
Joel 3:10

Plunged into Jesus' side
John 19:34; John 20:27; Zech 12:10; Revelation 1:7

[ARMS, ARMOR]

SPEAR, noun

1. A long pointed weapon, used in war and hunting by thrusting or throwing; a lance.

2. A sharp pointed instrument with barbs; used for stabbing fish and other animals.

3. A shoot, as of grass; usually spire.

SPEAR, verb transitive To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.

SPEAR, verb intransitive To shoot into a long stem. [See Spire.]

SPE'ARED, participle passive Pierced or killed with a spear.

SPE'AR-FOOT, noun [spear and foot.] The far foot behind; used of a horse.

SPE'AR-GRASS, noun [spear and grass.]

1. A long stiff grass.

2. In New England, this name is given to a species of Poa.

SPE'ARING, participle present tense

1. Piercing or killing with a spear.

2. Shooting into a long stem.

SPE'ARMAN, noun [spear and man.] One who is armed with a spear. Psalms 68:1.

(Acts 23:23) These were probably troops so lightly armed as to be able to keep pace on the march with mounted soldiers.

SPE'ARMINT, noun [spear and mint.] A plant of the genus Mentha; a species of mint.

SPE'AR-THISTLE, noun A plant, a troublesome weed.

SPE'AR-WORT, noun A plant; the popular name of the Ranunculus flammula.