In biblical times, arrows were a common weapon of warfare and hunting, often mentioned in the context of battle and divine judgment. The Hebrew word for arrow is "חֵץ" (chets), and the Greek equivalent in the New Testament is "βέλος" (belos). Arrows were typically made of wood, with a pointed metal or stone tip, and were shot from a bow. They symbolize swiftness, precision, and the ability to reach a distant target.

Old Testament References

Arrows are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, often in the context of warfare. In 1 Samuel 20:20, Jonathan uses arrows as a signal to David, demonstrating their use in communication as well as combat: "I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were aiming at a target." Arrows are also depicted as instruments of God's judgment. In Deuteronomy 32:23, God warns of His impending judgment on Israel: "I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend My arrows against them."

The Psalms often use arrows metaphorically to describe the attacks of the wicked or the judgments of God. Psalm 64:3 speaks of the wicked who "sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows." Conversely, God's arrows are seen as instruments of divine retribution, as in Psalm 7:13: "He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire."

New Testament References

While the New Testament does not frequently mention arrows, the imagery persists in the context of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:16 advises believers to take up "the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Here, arrows symbolize the spiritual attacks and temptations that believers must guard against.

Symbolism and Interpretation

Arrows in the Bible often symbolize speed and inevitability. They are instruments of both human and divine action, representing the swift execution of judgment or the rapid delivery of a message. In a spiritual sense, arrows can represent the trials and temptations that believers face, as well as the protection and deliverance provided by faith.

The imagery of arrows also extends to the concept of children as blessings from God. Psalm 127:4-5 compares children to arrows in the hands of a warrior: "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." This passage highlights the value and potential of children as instruments for God's purposes.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, archery was a highly valued skill, essential for both hunting and warfare. The bow and arrow were symbols of power and might, often associated with warriors and kings. The Assyrians, Babylonians, and other neighboring cultures also utilized archery extensively, which is reflected in the biblical narratives.

In summary, arrows in the Bible serve as powerful symbols of judgment, communication, and spiritual warfare. They remind believers of the need for vigilance, faith, and reliance on God's protection in the face of life's challenges.Arrow

Used by the Jews both in hunting and in war; sometimes merely a sharpened reed, sometimes feathered, barbed, and even poisoned, Job 6:4. The bow was of various forms and materials, and many could be used only by the strongest men, Psalm 18:34. Arrows were used to convey fire to an enemy's house, and for divination, Ezekiel 21:21. The word is applied symbolically to children, Psalm 127:4,5; to the lightning, Psalm 18:14 Habakkuk 3:11; to sudden calamities, Job 6:4 Psalm 38:2 91:5 Ezekiel 5:15; and to the deceitful and bitter words of an evil tongue, Psalm 64:3 120:4.

(n.) A missile weapon of offense, slender, pointed, and usually feathered and barbed, to be shot from a bow.ARROW

ar'-o. See ARCHERY; ARMOR.

2700. katatoxeuo -- to strike down with an arrow.
... katatoxeuo. 2701 . to strike down with an arrow. ... Word Origin from kata and toxeuo
(to shoot with a bow); from toxon Definition to strike down with an arrow. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2700.htm - 6k

956. belos -- a needle
... Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: belos Phonetic Spelling: (bel'-os) Short
Definition: a missile, dart, javelin Definition: a missile, dart, javelin, arrow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/956.htm - 5k

2447. ios -- rust, poison
... rust, poison. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: ios Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-os') Short Definition: poison, rust Definition: poison, rust; an arrow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2447.htm - 6k

4500. rhoizedon -- with a rushing sound
... Word Origin adverb from rhoizos (the whistling of an arrow) Definition with
a rushing sound NASB Word Usage roar (1). with a great noise. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4500.htm - 6k

2678. chetsi -- arrow
... arrow. Transliteration: chetsi Phonetic Spelling: (khits-tsee') Short Definition:
arrow. Word Origin from chatsah Definition arrow NASB Word Usage arrow (5). ...
/hebrew/2678.htm - 6k

2671. chets -- arrow
... 2670, 2671. chets. 2672 . arrow. Transliteration: chets Phonetic Spelling:
(khayts) Short Definition: arrows. ... archer, arrow, dart, shaft, staff, wound. ...
/hebrew/2671.htm - 6k

7091. qippoz -- perhaps arrow snake
... 7090, 7091. qippoz. 7092 . perhaps arrow snake. Transliteration: qippoz
Phonetic Spelling: (kip-poze') Short Definition: snake. ...
/hebrew/7091.htm - 6k

2687. chatsats -- gravel
... arrow, gravel stone. From chatsats; properly, something cutting; hence, gravel
(as grit); also (like chets) an arrow -- arrow, gravel (stone). ...
/hebrew/2687.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... root Definition son NASB Word Usage afflicted (1), afflicted* (1), age (7), aliens*
(2), Ammonites* (7), anointed* (1), arrow (1), arrows (1), Assyrians* (3 ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

7565. resheph -- flame
... sparks* (1). arrow, burning coal, burning heat, spark, hot thunderbolt. From
saraph; a live coal; by analogy lightning; figuratively ...
/hebrew/7565.htm - 6k

7198. qesheth -- a bow
... bowmen (1), bows (13), bowshot* (1), rainbow (1). archer, arrow, bowman,.
From qashah in the original sense (of qowsh) of bending ...
/hebrew/7198.htm - 6k

7232. rabab -- to multiply ten thousand times
... shoot A primitive root (rather identical with rabab through the idea of projection);
to shoot an arrow -- shoot. see HEBREW rabab. 7231, 7232. rabab. 7232a > ...
/hebrew/7232.htm - 5k

827. ashpah -- a quiver (for arrows)
... quiver. Perhaps (feminine) from the same as 'ashshaph (in the sense of covering);
a quiver or arrow-case -- quiver. see HEBREW 'ashshaph. 826, 827. ...
/hebrew/827.htm - 6k

2686. chatsats -- to divide
... From chets, to shoot an arrow -- archer, X bands, cut off in the midst. see HEBREW
chatsah. see HEBREW chets. 2685, 2686. chatsats. 2686a . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/2686.htm - 5k

Life is an Arrow
... XXXVI LIFE IS AN ARROW. John xiv.6. When Jesus ... Christ. Life, as has been lately
said by one of our own preachers, is like an arrow. It ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxxvi life is an arrow.htm

God's Last Arrow
... GOD'S LAST ARROW. 'Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent
him also last unto them.'"Mark 12:6. Reference to Isaiah ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/gods last arrow.htm

Ask, and Thy Prayer with Arrow's Speed
... FAITH AND PENITENCE XXIII Ask, and thy prayer with arrow's speed. 8,8,8,8. Ask,
and thy prayer with arrow's speed. Shall bear to God thy present need; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/xxiii ask and thy prayer.htm

Whether the World is Governed by Anyone?
... Secondly, a thing is said to move or operate for an end, as though moved or directed
by another thereto, as an arrow directed to the target by the archer, who ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the world is governed.htm

Dilemma and Deliverance
... gracious no more.". Now, I shall remark with regard to this arrow, that
it is one that is very often shot from Satan's bow. Some of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/dilemma and deliverance.htm

The Story of Elijah, the Prophet
... [Illustration: "This is the arrow of victory"]. Elisha, though weak in body, was
yet strong in soul. ... And as the king shot an arrow, Elisha said: ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of elijah the.htm

Conversion.
... Wherefore, if God will bend and buckle the spirit of such a one, he must shoot an
arrow at him, a bearded arrow, such as may not be plucked out of the wound ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xi conversion.htm

Faithful unto Death.
... Then Jonathan said he would come out and shoot three arrows from his bow, as if
he were shooting at a mark, and he would send his arrow-bearer to pick them up. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxi faithful unto death.htm

The Sin of Omission.
... morality while he continued to love this world supremely. The Great Teacher
pierced him with an arrow. He said to him, "If them wilt be ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/the sin of omission.htm

Psalm XCI.
... 7. "Nor for the arrow that flieth by day, for the matter [4300] that walketh in
darkness, nor for the ruin and the devil that is in the noonday" (ver.6). These ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xci.htm

Arrow (34 Occurrences)
... bow. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ARROW. ar'-o. See ARCHERY; ARMOR.
Multi-Version Concordance Arrow (34 Occurrences). Hebrews ...
/a/arrow.htm - 17k

Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence)
Arrow-snake. Arrowsnake, Arrow-snake. Arsaces . Multi-Version
Concordance Arrow-snake (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 34:15 There ...
/a/arrow-snake.htm - 6k

Shot (25 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Hebrews 12:20 for they were not bearing that which is commanded, 'And if
a beast may touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or with an arrow shot through ...
/s/shot.htm - 15k

Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that which resembles
an arrow; a dart. 2. (n.) Lightning; a thunderbolt. ...
/b/bolt.htm - 11k

Shaft (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence,
an arrow. 2. (n.) The long handle of a spear or similar ...
/s/shaft.htm - 13k

Shoot (51 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To let fly, or cause to be driven, with force, as an arrow or a bullet; --
followed by a word denoting the missile, as an object. ...
/s/shoot.htm - 24k

Dart (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance;
a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as an arrow. ...
/d/dart.htm - 10k

Arrows (59 Occurrences)
... Exodus 19:13 He is not to be touched by a hand, but is to be stoned or have an arrow
put through him; man or beast, he is to be put to death: at the long ...
/a/arrows.htm - 25k

Lad (66 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 20:36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which
I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ...
/l/lad.htm - 27k

Jonathan's (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 20:37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan
had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said: 'Is not the arrow beyond ...
/j/jonathan's.htm - 8k

What does the Bible say about luck? | GotQuestions.org

What is emblematic parallelism in Hebrew poetry? | GotQuestions.org

What are the cosmological arguments for the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org

Arrow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus