A gorget, in historical and biblical contexts, refers to a piece of armor designed to protect the throat and neck area. While the term "gorget" itself does not appear in the Bible, the concept of neck protection is implicit in descriptions of ancient armor. The Bible often uses armor metaphorically to describe spiritual readiness and protection, as seen in the "armor of God" passage in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Biblical Context and Symbolism

In biblical times, warriors wore various forms of armor to protect themselves in battle. The neck, being a vulnerable part of the body, required protection, and a gorget would have served this purpose. Although specific references to neck armor are not detailed in the biblical text, the importance of comprehensive protection is emphasized in passages discussing armor.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:14, instructs believers to "stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place." While the gorget is not mentioned, the breastplate would have likely extended to cover the upper chest and neck area, providing similar protection as a gorget.

Spiritual Application

The concept of a gorget can be applied spiritually as part of the "armor of God." Just as a physical gorget protects the neck from harm, spiritual armor protects believers from spiritual attacks. The neck, symbolically, can represent the will and determination of a person. Protecting one's spiritual "neck" involves safeguarding one's will and resolve with truth and righteousness.

In Proverbs 3:3, believers are encouraged to "let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." This metaphorical use of binding virtues around the neck suggests a protective and guiding principle, akin to wearing a gorget for spiritual defense.

Historical and Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, armor was a crucial part of a warrior's attire. The gorget, as part of this armor, would have been crafted from materials such as bronze or iron, designed to deflect blows and prevent injury. The craftsmanship and design of armor, including the gorget, were indicative of a warrior's status and the resources of their community.

The imagery of armor, including elements like the gorget, is used throughout Scripture to convey the seriousness of spiritual warfare and the need for divine protection. Isaiah 59:17 describes God Himself as a warrior: "He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak." This passage highlights the divine origin of the armor imagery, underscoring the importance of spiritual readiness.

Conclusion

While the specific term "gorget" is not found in the Bible, its function as a protective piece of armor is consistent with the biblical theme of spiritual protection and readiness. The metaphorical use of armor in Scripture serves as a powerful reminder of the need for spiritual vigilance and the protection offered by faith and righteousness.1. (n.) A piece of armor, whether of chain mail or of plate, defending the throat and upper part of the breast, and forming a part of the double breastplate of the 14th century.

2. (n.) A piece of plate armor covering the same parts and worn over the buff coat in the 17th century, and without other steel armor.

3. (n.) A small ornamental plate, usually crescent-shaped, and of gilded copper, formerly hung around the neck of officers in full uniform in some modern armies.

4. (n.) A ruff worn by women.

5. (n.) A cutting instrument used in lithotomy.

6. (n.) A grooved instrument used in performing various operations; -- called also blunt gorget.

7. (n.) A crescent-shaped, colored patch on the neck of a bird or mammal.

GORGET

gor'-jet: Appears only once in the King James Version (1 Samuel 17:6), being placed in the margin as an alternative to "target (of brass)" in the description of the armor worn by Goliath of Gath. The Hebrew word thus translated (kidhon) really means a "javelin," and is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version here and in 1 Samuel 17:45 ("Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin"). See ARMOR, sec. I, 4, (3). Gorget, though so rarely used in Scripture and now displaced in our revised versions, occurs not infrequently and in various senses in English literature. In the meaning of "a piece of armor for the gorge or throat" which seems to have been in the mind of King James's translators, it is found in early English writers and down to recent times. Spenser has it in Faerie Queene, IV, iii, 12:

"His weasand-pipe it through his gorget cleft";

Scott, Marmion, V, ii:

"Their brigantines and gorgets light";

and Prescott, Ferdinand and Isabella, III, 47: "The gorget gave way and the sword entered his throat."

T. Nicol.

2833. choshen -- breastpiece, sacred pouch
... root probably meaning to contain or sparkle; perhaps a pocket (as holding the Urim
and Thummim), or rich (as containing gems), used only of the gorget of the ...
/hebrew/2833.htm - 6k

High Priest
... Here we shall attempt to only describe one piece of the dress of the high priest,
the breast-plate (rationale); a gorget, ten inches square, made of the same ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

David the Shepherd Youth.
... mail of very great weight. He had greaves of brass upon his legs, and
a gorget of brass between his shoulders. The staff of his ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/david the shepherd youth.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... His general plumage is black, set off by a snow-white gorget fringed with crimson;
crimson and green tail coverts, and a crimson and green beak, with blue cere ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

A Discourse
... he came, as with other warlike furniture, so 'with a target of brass between his
shoulders' (1 Samuel 17:6). A target, that is, saith the margin, a gorget. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued)
... of his, now in the Berlin Museum, still maintains possession of his official baton,
and is arrayed in his striped petticoat, his bracelets and gorget of gold. ...
/.../chapter ithe close of the.htm

Gorget
... 5. (n.) A cutting instrument used in lithotomy. 6. (n.) A grooved instrument used
in performing various operations; -- called also blunt gorget. ...GORGET. ...
/g/gorget.htm - 8k

Gorgias

/g/gorgias.htm - 7k

Gorges (1 Occurrence)

/g/gorges.htm - 6k

Target (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (1 Samuel 17:6, AV, after the LXX. and Vulg.), a kind
of small shield. The margin has "gorget," a piece of armour for the throat. ...
/t/target.htm - 11k

Staff (91 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch. 9. (n.) The grooved director
for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder. 10. ...
/s/staff.htm - 38k

Gorget: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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