Lexical Summary siryon: Armor, coat of mail Original Word: סִרְיֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brigandine For shiryown; a coat of mail -- brigandine. see HEBREW shiryown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originanother spelling of shiryon Definition armor NASB Translation scale-armor (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [סִרְיֹן noun [masculine] armour ("" form of שִׁרְיוֺן q. v. ); — suffix יִתְעַל בְּסִרְיֹנוֺ Jeremiah 51:3 let him raise himself in his armour; plural לִבְשׁוּ הַסִּרְיֹנוֺת Jeremiah 46:4. Topical Lexicon Overview Siryôn designates a coat of mail or body armor, a piece of defensive equipment fashioned to cover the torso with interlinked metal plates or scales. Although the form appears only twice in the Old Testament, it stands within a larger biblical vocabulary of protective gear (for example, shiryon in 1 Samuel 17:5 and magēn in Genesis 15:1), illustrating the realities of ancient warfare and forming a platform for spiritual reflection. Occurrences in Scripture • Jeremiah 46:4 records the Lord’s summons to Egypt’s forces as He prepares to judge them: “Harness the horses; mount the steeds; take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears; put on armor!”. Historical Background and Military Technology By Jeremiah’s era (late seventh to early sixth century BC) ironworking had advanced to the point that lamellar or scale mail became standard issue for well-equipped armies in Mesopotamia and Egypt. The prophet’s references evoke the visual of soldiers hurriedly fitting themselves with heavy metallic waist-to-neck protection, proof that Judah’s neighbors possessed formidable resources yet remained powerless against the word of the Lord. Siryôn thus mirrors contemporary Assyrian reliefs portraying regimented ranks clad in overlapping metal scales sewn to leather backing. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Military Might: The identical command in both oracles—whether urging Egypt to arm or forbidding Babylon to arm—highlights the Lord’s mastery over nations. Armor is powerless where He determines judgment (Psalm 33:16-17). Ministry Significance Pastoral application draws a contrast: the nations trusted Siryôn; believers trust Christ. Teaching on Jeremiah’s passages can urge congregations to examine where they seek safety—finances, health measures, politics—or in the armor God supplies. The term also encourages intercessors: just as Babylon’s soldiers could not even fasten their mail, so rebellious forces arrayed against the gospel will ultimately be disarmed (Colossians 2:15). Related Scriptures for Study • Isaiah 59:17—Messiah’s own “breastplate of righteousness” establishes the prototype. Summary Siryôn, though rare, sharpens the biblical portrait of God overruling proud empires and redirects the reader to seek the superior armor He provides. The physical coat of mail underscores the ultimate inadequacy of earthly defenses and points to the sufficiency of divine protection found in the gospel. Forms and Transliterations בְּסִרְיֹנ֑וֹ בסרינו הַסִּרְיֹנֹֽת׃ הסרינת׃ bə·sir·yō·nōw besiryoNo bəsiryōnōw has·sir·yō·nōṯ hassiryoNot hassiryōnōṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 46:4 HEB: הָֽרְמָחִ֔ים לִבְשׁ֖וּ הַסִּרְיֹנֹֽת׃ NAS: the spears, Put on the scale-armor! KJV: [and] put on the brigandines. INT: the spears Put the scale-armor Jeremiah 51:3 2 Occurrences |
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