Original Word: מָגֵן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: magen
Pronunciation: mah-GEN or meh-gin-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (maw-gane')
KJV: X armed, buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield
NASB: shield, shields, armed, buckler, large, rulers, scales
Word Origin: [from H1598 (גָּנַן - defend)]

1. a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler)
2. (figuratively) a protector
3. also the scaly hide of the crocodile

armed, buckler, defense, ruler, scale, shield

Also (in plural) feminine mginnah {meg-in-naw'}; from ganan; a shield (i.e. The small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile -- X armed, buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.

see HEBREW ganan

Word Origin
from ganan
Definition
a shield
NASB Translation
armed (2), buckler (1), large (1), rulers (1), scales (1), shield (41), shields (16).

מָגֵן noun masculine^{1Kings 14:27}, & feminine^{1Kings 10:17}, shield (Arabic , Aramaic מְגִנָּא, ) — מָגֵן Genesis 15:1 33t. (also construct Deuteronomy 33:29; Nahum 2:4); suffix מָגִנִּי Psalm 7:11 5t.; מָגִנֵּנוּ Psalm 33:20 3t.; מָגִנָּם Psalm 115:9; Psalm 115:10; Psalm 115:11; plural מָגִנִּים 1 Kings 10:17 6t.; מָגִנּוֺת2Chronicles 23:9; construct מָגִנֵּי 1 Kings 14:26 4t.; suffix מָגִנָּיו Job 15:26; מָגִנֶּיהָ Hosea 4:18; — shield, buckler, carried by warrior for defence Judges 5:8; 2 Samuel 1:21 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 19:32 = Isaiah 37:33, 1 Chronicles 5:18; 1 Chronicles 14:7; 1 Chronicles 17:17; 1 Chronicles 23:9; 1 Chronicles 26:14; 1Chron 32:5; Nehemiah 4:10; Psalm 76:4; Jeremiah 46:3,9; Ezekiel 23:24; Ezekiel 38:4,5; Ezekiel 39:9; Nahum 2:4; Isaiah 22:6; compare Isaiah 21:5 (anoint the shield, to make it slippery), so also Psalm 35:2 (where ׳י figurative as warrior); אִישׁ מָגֵן = armed man Proverbs 6:11; Proverbs 24:34; laid up for show, or as treasure 1 Kings 10:17 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 14:26,27 (= 2 Chronicles 9:16 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 12:9,10) 2 Chronicles 32:27 compare Songs 4:4; Ezekiel 27:10; of scales of crocodile (leviathan) אֲפִיקֵי מָגִנִּים Job 41:7; figurative of wicked's defence against judgments of ׳י, עֲבִי גַבֵּי מָגִנָּיו Job 15:26; fig, of king Psalm 89:19 (compare Che); figurative of rulers of Ephraim Hosea 4:18; figurative of rulers of earth Psalm 47:10; figurative (very often) of ׳י, as defence of his servants, Psalm 3:4; Psalm 7:11 (read ׳מָגִנִּי עָלַי אל compare Che critical note) Psalm 18:3; Psalm 18:31; Psalm 18:36 (= 2 Samuel 22:3,31,36) Psalm 28:7; Psalm 33:20; Psalm 59:12; Psalm 84:10; Psalm 84:12; Psalm 115:9; Psalm 115:10; Psalm 115:11; Psalm 119:114; Psalm 144:2; Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 30:5, and see especially Genesis 15:1 (E).

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew מָגֵן (māgēn) denotes a shield or buckler—both a tangible weapon of defense and a rich metaphor for divine protection. Appearing about sixty-three times, the term spans the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, binding Israel’s military life to her spiritual experience of safety in the covenant God.

Physical Characteristics in Ancient Israel

Archaeological reliefs and biblical descriptions point to a round or oval shield of wood overlaid with leather or metal, light enough for swift maneuvering yet sturdy against arrows and javelins. Warriors anointed shields with oil to keep the hide supple and reflective (2 Samuel 1:21; Isaiah 21:5). Royal armories stored both functional bronze shields and ceremonial gold versions (1 Kings 10:16-17; 2 Chronicles 9:15-16). After Shishak plundered Solomon’s golden shields, Rehoboam replaced them with bronze (1 Kings 14:27), illustrating the symbol’s role in royal prestige.

Military Usage in Narrative Texts

Māgēn is standard gear in Israelite levies (1 Chronicles 12:8, 24, 34) and Judean reforms (2 Chronicles 26:14). It accompanies spears in Pharaoh’s muster against Babylon (Jeremiah 46:3) and features in prophetic judgments on foreign armies (Ezekiel 39:9). The shield-bearer precedes Goliath (1 Samuel 17:7), underscoring strategic value on the battlefield. Towers decorated with shields announced readiness and deterred attack (Song of Solomon 4:4; Ezekiel 27:11).

Shield as Symbol of Covenant Protection

The earliest theological use is Genesis 15:1: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” The Creator binds Himself to the patriarch’s wellbeing, embedding māgēn in covenant vocabulary. Moses blesses Israel, “He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword” (Deuteronomy 33:29), fusing military imagery with salvific assurance.

Liturgical and Poetical Usage

Psalms celebrates the Lord as shield nearly twenty times. Representative examples:

• “But You, O Lord, are a shield around me” (Psalm 3:3).
• “For You bless the righteous; You surround them with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).
• “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).

Corporate worship thus rehearses Yahweh’s protective presence, encouraging faith amid national or personal crises.

Wisdom Literature and Personal Piety

Proverbs applies the term to divine wisdom: “He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (Proverbs 2:7). Scripture itself shares in that role: “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him” (Proverbs 30:5). The sapiential context moves the concept from battlefield to daily conduct, affirming that moral obedience enjoys divine defense.

Royal and Messianic Connotations

Psalm 84:9 pleads, “Look on the face of Your anointed, for better is one day in Your courts…,” linking “shield” and “anointed” (messiah) in parallel. The king embodies national protection; yet ultimately, the Lord remains the true shield (Psalm 89:18). This tension anticipates a messianic figure whose rule guarantees everlasting security (Isaiah 32:1-2).

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions

Isaiah depicts the Lord outfitting Himself with māgēn in redemptive warfare: “He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as a cloak” (Isaiah 59:17). Ezekiel envisions end-time adversaries armed with shields, yet destined for defeat before divine intervention (Ezekiel 38:4; 39:9). The imagery assures the faithful that no hostile shield can withstand God’s plan.

From Shield to Savior: Christological Fulfillment

Though māgēn is confined to the Old Testament, its protective motif finds convergence in the New Testament’s “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16). Believers “put on” Christ, whose atoning work is the ultimate defense against sin, death, and judgment. Thus the tangible shield of Israel prefigures the spiritual refuge found in the crucified and risen Messiah.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Assurance in Prayer: Like David, worshippers may call God “my shield” when besieged by fear or guilt, confident of His surrounding favor (Psalm 32:7; 91:4).
2. Ethical Integrity: Proverbs links God’s shielding to upright conduct, motivating discipleship rooted in holiness.
3. Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:16 extends the metaphor, urging believers to lift faith as a defensive screen against the flaming arrows of the evil one.
4. Leadership: Elders and parents serve as secondary “shields,” reflecting God’s protective love and modeling reliance on His word.
5. Hope in Suffering: Prophetic passages remind the persecuted church that hostile powers, however armed, cannot breach the Lord’s saving purposes.

Concluding Synthesis

Māgēn unites Israel’s martial history with her theological confession: the God who equips soldiers also secures souls. Whether forged of bronze in Solomon’s palace or sung in midnight prayers of the afflicted, the shield points beyond itself to a faithful Protector who, in the fullness of time, became flesh to stand between His people and every enemy.

הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים הַמָּגִנּוֹת֙ הַמָּגֵ֣ן הַמָּגֵן֙ המגן המגנות המגנים וּלְמָ֣גִנִּ֔ים וּמָגִנִּ֣י וּמָגִנִּֽים׃ וּמָגִנִּי֮ וּמָגִנֵּ֣נוּ וּמָגִנָּ֣ם וּמָגֵ֔ן וּמָגֵ֖ן וּמָגֵ֤ן וּמָגֵן֙ וּמָגֵן֮ ולמגנים ומגן ומגני ומגנים׃ ומגנם ומגננו מָ֝גֵ֗ן מָ֭גִנִּי מָ֭גִנֵּנוּ מָֽגִנִּ֑ים מָֽגִנִּ֥י מָֽגִנִּים֙ מָֽגִנֵּ֑נוּ מָֽגִנֵּ֣נוּ מָֽגִנֵּי־ מָֽגִנָּֽיו׃ מָגִנִּ֞י מָגִנִּ֤ים מָגִנֵּ֖י מָגִנֵּ֣י מָגִנֶּֽיהָ׃ מָגֵ֔ן מָגֵ֣ן מָגֵ֤ן מָגֵ֥ן מָגֵ֨ן מָגֵ֪ן מָגֵ֬ן מָגֵֽן׃ מָגֵן֙ מגן מגן׃ מגני מגני־ מגניה׃ מגניו׃ מגנים מגננו ham·mā·ḡên ham·mā·ḡin·nîm ham·mā·ḡin·nō·wṯ hammaGen hammāḡên hammaginNim hammāḡinnîm hammaginnOt hammāḡinnōwṯ mā·ḡên mā·ḡin·nāw mā·ḡin·nê mā·ḡin·nê- mā·ḡin·ne·hā mā·ḡin·nê·nū mā·ḡin·nî mā·ḡin·nîm maGen māḡên MaginNav māḡinnāw māḡinnê māḡinnê- māḡinnehā maginNei maginNeiha maginNenu māḡinnênū maginNi māḡinnî maginNim māḡinnîm ū·lə·mā·ḡin·nîm ū·mā·ḡên ū·mā·ḡin·nām ū·mā·ḡin·nê·nū ū·mā·ḡin·nî ū·mā·ḡin·nîm uleMaginNim ūləmāḡinnîm umaGen ūmāḡên umaginNam ūmāḡinnām umaginNenu ūmāḡinnênū umaginNi ūmāḡinnî umaginNim ūmāḡinnîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts