In biblical terms, the word "bolster" refers to a pillow or cushion used for support, particularly in the context of rest or sleep. The term appears in several passages of the Bible, often highlighting themes of comfort, rest, and sometimes deceit or danger.

Old Testament References

1. 1 Samuel 19:13, 16 : In this passage, Michal, the wife of David, uses a household idol and places it in David's bed, covering it with a garment and putting a "bolster" of goats' hair at its head to deceive Saul's messengers. The bolster here serves as part of a ruse to protect David from Saul's murderous intent. The text reads: "Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goats’ hair on its head, and covered it with a garment... And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the goats’ hair on its head."

2. 1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 12, 16 : The term "bolster" is used in the account of David's encounter with Saul in the wilderness of Ziph. David and Abishai find Saul sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head and a "bolster" nearby. David takes Saul's spear and the jug of water from near his bolster as evidence of his ability to harm Saul but chooses to spare him. This act demonstrates David's respect for God's anointed king and his reliance on God's justice rather than taking matters into his own hands. The text includes: "So David and Abishai came to the troops by night, and there lay Saul, sleeping in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head, and Abner and the troops were lying around him... But David said, 'As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.'"

Symbolic and Theological Implications

The use of a bolster in these narratives often symbolizes a place of vulnerability or trust. In the case of Michal's deception, the bolster is part of a protective strategy, highlighting themes of loyalty and cunning. In David's encounter with Saul, the bolster represents a moment of vulnerability for Saul and a test of integrity for David. David's refusal to harm Saul, even when he had the opportunity, underscores his faith in God's sovereignty and justice.

Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, a bolster would have been a common household item, used to provide comfort and support during sleep. Its mention in these biblical narratives provides insight into daily life during biblical times and serves as a backdrop for the unfolding of significant theological and moral lessons.

Conclusion

The term "bolster" in the Bible, while seemingly mundane, is intricately woven into narratives that reveal deeper truths about human nature, divine providence, and moral integrity. Through these accounts, the bolster becomes more than just a physical object; it is a symbol of the choices and challenges faced by God's people.The Hebrew word kebir, rendered "pillow" in 1 Samuel 19:13, 16, but in Revised Version marg. "quilt" or "network," probably means some counterpane or veil intended to protect the head of the sleeper. A different Hebrew word (meraashoth') is used for "bolster" (1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 16). It is rightly rendered in Revised Version "at his head." In Genesis 28:11, 18 the Authorized Version renders it "for his pillows," and the Revised Version "under his head." In Ezek. 13:18, 20 another Hebrew word (kesathoth) is used, properly denoting "cushions" or "pillows," as so rendered both in the Authorized and the Revised Version. 1. (v. t.) To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up.

2. (n.) A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support any part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress.

3. (n.) Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc.

4. (n.) A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.

5. (n.) A cushioned or a piece of soft wood covered with tarred canvas, placed on the trestletrees and against the mast, for the collars of the shrouds to rest on, to prevent chafing.

6. (n.) Anything used to prevent chafing.

7. (n.) A plate of iron or a mass of wood under the end of a bridge girder, to keep the girder from resting directly on the abutment.

8. (n.) A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests.

9. (n.) The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.

10. (n.) the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.

11. (n.) That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle.

12. (n.) The metallic end of a pocketknife handle.

13. (n.) The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital.

14. (n.) A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation.

15. (v. t.) To support with a bolster or pillow.

BOLSTER

bol'-ster: Found in the King James Version only in 1 Samuel 19:13, 16, "Behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goat's hair at the head thereof" (the King James Version "for his bolster"), and 1 Samuel 26:7, 11, 12, 16, "Saul lay sleeping. with his spear stuck in the ground at his head." "Bolster" in these passages in the King James Version was used to translate a Hebrew word whose true significance is "the place of the head," or "the head-place." It will be noted that it has disappeared from the Revised Version (British and American), which rightly has throughout "head," instead of "bolster."

See CUSHION.

7226. raashoth -- bolster
... raashoth. 7227 . bolster. Transliteration: raashoth Phonetic Spelling:
(rah-ash-oth') Short Definition: bolster. Word Origin the same as marashah, qv. ...
/hebrew/7226.htm - 5k

4763. meraashoth -- a place at the head, head place
... bolster, head, pillow. Formed like mar'ashah; properly, a headpiece, ie (plural
for adverbial) at (or as) the head-rest (or pillow) -- bolster, head, pillow. ...
/hebrew/4763.htm - 6k

Love and Remorse
... So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping
within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love and remorse.htm

The Enchanted Ground
... Abner taketh away the spear from the bolster of a slumbering Saul A sleeping
Eutychus falleth from the third loft, and is taken up dead. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the enchanted ground.htm

Knowledge. Worship. Gratitude.
... till he becomes wise as Solomon, and then prostitutes it to base ends by using it
to aggrandize his wealth, to pamper his appetites, to bolster his unbelief ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/knowledge worship gratitude.htm

Fearlessness.
... There are some who bolster their courage by saying ostentatiously, "I don't care
what folks say," but their very vehemence shows that they DO care a very great ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter vi fearlessness.htm

How Churches Can Help Ministers.
... And he on his part is expected to preach good, sound, comfortable doctrine, to bolster
them up, and make them feel comfortable, and so they expect to go to ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xiii how churches can.htm

The Relation Between the Human Will and the Divine Agency.
... If this be a wise conclusion, it would be well to leave it to support itself, instead
of attempting to bolster it up with the reasons frequently given for it. ...
/.../chapter v the relation between.htm

Nor have I Undertaken that in the Present Discourse...
... This impious and nefarious dogma do thou likewise, I beseech thee, overthrow; to
bolster up which they in their argumentations do gather from the Scriptures ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 25 nor have i.htm

The Condemnation which Condemns the Judges
... This prejudging of a case from hatred of the accused as a destroyer of sacred tradition,
and this hunting for evidence to bolster up a foregone conclusion, are ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture d/the condemnation which condemns the.htm

Where the Reproach of Failure Lies.
... God. It seeks by holding back some things, and speaking of others with very
carefully thought-out phrase, to bolster up God's side. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/where the reproach of failure.htm

Chapter xvi
... Secondly, it involved the employment of human devices seemingly to bolster up a
divine purpose which was in any case destined to be achieved as God had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xvi.htm

Bolster (7 Occurrences)
... A different Hebrew word (meraashoth') is used for "bolster" (1 Samuel 26:7,
11, 16). ... 15. (vt) To support with a bolster or pillow. Int. ...
/b/bolster.htm - 12k

Cruse (11 Occurrences)
... 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed:
but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the ...
/c/cruse.htm - 12k

Bolt (5 Occurrences)

/b/bolt.htm - 11k

Goats'
... same material. A strip of the cloth rolled up furnishes a bolster for the
head while sleeping (compare 1 Samuel 19:13, 16). Goats ...
/g/goats'.htm - 7k

Gat (21 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster;
and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for ...
/g/gat.htm - 12k

Trench (8 Occurrences)
... So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping
within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner ...
/t/trench.htm - 10k

Reach (63 Occurrences)
... (n.) An artifice to obtain an advantage. 22. (n.) The pole or rod which connects
the hind axle with the forward bolster of a wagon. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/r/reach.htm - 27k

Drinketh (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 19:6 and he looketh attentively, and lo, at his bolster a cake 'baken on'
burning stones, and a dish of water, and he eateth, and drinketh, and turneth ...
/d/drinketh.htm - 16k

Bolled (1 Occurrence)

/b/bolled.htm - 7k

Attentively (35 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 19:6 and he looketh attentively, and lo, at his bolster a cake 'baken on'
burning stones, and a dish of water, and he eateth, and drinketh, and turneth ...
/a/attentively.htm - 16k

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