Shield. The ordinary shield consisted of a framework of wood, covered with leather; it thus admitted of being burnt. Ezekiel 39:9. It was frequently cased with metal, either brass or copper; its appearance, in this case, resembled gold, when the sun shone on it, 1 Maccabees 6:39, and to this, rather than to the practice of smearing blood on the shield, we may refer the redness noticed by Nahum. Nahum 2:3. The surface of the shield was kept bright by the application of oil as implied in Isaiah 21:5.
The shield was worn on the left arm, to which it was attached by a strap. Shields of state were covered with beaten gold. Shields were suspended about public buildings for ornamental purposes. 1 Kings 10:17. In the metaphorical language of the Bible, the shield generally represents the protection of God: for example, Psalms 3:3; Psalms 28:7, but in Psalms 47:9, it is applied to earthly rulers and in Ephesians 6:18, to faith. See Arms.