A quiver is a container used for holding arrows, an essential accessory for an archer in biblical times. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, symbolizing both physical and metaphorical concepts. In the ancient Near East, quivers were typically made from leather or wood and were carried on the back or the side of the archer.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 27:3 · In this passage, Isaac instructs his son Esau, "Now then, take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out into the field to hunt some game for me." Here, the quiver is mentioned as part of the equipment necessary for hunting, highlighting its practical use in daily life.

2. Psalm 127:4-5 · The psalmist writes, "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." In this metaphorical use, the quiver represents a family full of children, emphasizing the blessing and strength that comes from having many offspring. The imagery suggests that just as arrows are a source of protection and power for a warrior, so are children for a family.

3. Isaiah 49:2 · The prophet Isaiah speaks of God's preparation and protection, saying, "He made my mouth like a sharp sword; He hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me like a polished arrow; He hid me in His quiver." This verse uses the quiver metaphorically to describe God's care and readiness to use His servant for His purposes, indicating a place of safety and potential.

4. Jeremiah 5:16 · In a warning about impending judgment, Jeremiah describes the Babylonians: "Their quiver is like an open grave; they are all mighty warriors." Here, the quiver symbolizes the threat and destruction that the Babylonians bring, with the imagery of an "open grave" suggesting death and devastation.

5. Lamentations 3:13 · The author laments, "He pierced my heart with arrows from His quiver." This expression of deep personal anguish uses the quiver to symbolize the instruments of God's discipline or judgment, reflecting the profound emotional and spiritual impact of divine correction.

Symbolism and Themes:

The quiver, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a symbol of readiness, strength, and potential. It is associated with both the blessings of family and the instruments of divine judgment. The imagery of a quiver full of arrows conveys preparedness and the ability to face challenges, whether in the context of physical battle or spiritual warfare.

In a broader theological context, the quiver can be seen as a metaphor for God's provision and the resources He equips His people with to fulfill their divine purposes. Whether in the hands of a warrior or as a symbol of familial blessing, the quiver represents the potential for action and the fulfillment of God's plans.Quiver

a box made for the purpose of holding arrows. (Genesis 27:3) There is nothing in the Bible to indicate either its form or material, or in what way it was carried.

The sheath for arrows. The Hebrew word (aspah) thus commonly rendered is found in Job 39:23; Psalm 127:5; Isaiah 22:6; 49:2; Jeremiah 5:16; Lamentations 3:13. In Genesis 27:3 this word is the rendering of the Hebrew teli, which is supposed rather to mean a suspended weapon, literally "that which hangs from one", i.e., is suspended from the shoulder or girdle. 1. (a.) Nimble; active.

2. (v. i.) To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.

3. (n.) The act or state of quivering; a tremor.

4. (n.) A case or sheath for arrows to be carried on the person.

QUIVER

kwiv'-er (ashpah, teli; pharetra (Sirach 26:12)): A case or sheath for carrying arrows, a part of the ordinary equipment of the warrior, both foot-soldier and charioteer (Job 39:23 Isaiah 22:6), and also of the huntsman (Genesis 27:3). Figuratively of a group in passages where children (Psalm 127:5) or prophets of Yahweh (Isaiah 49:2) are spoken of as arrows. Arrows are called bene 'ashpah, "sons of the quiver" (Lamentations 3:13). By identifying the arrows with the death they produce, the quiver is likened to an open grave (Jeremiah 5:16).

5141. tremo -- to tremble (esp. with fear)
... 5141 -- properly, (with dread), ie shake and quiver from fear (J. Thayer).
Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to tremble (esp. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5141.htm - 6k8522. teli -- a quiver (with its arrows)
... 8521, 8522. teli. 8523 . a quiver (with its arrows). Transliteration:
teli Phonetic Spelling: (tel-ee') Short Definition: quiver. ...
/hebrew/8522.htm - 6k

827. ashpah -- a quiver (for arrows)
... 826, 827. ashpah. 828 . a quiver (for arrows). Transliteration: ashpah
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-paw') Short Definition: quiver. Word ...
/hebrew/827.htm - 6k

6750. tsalal -- to tingle, quiver
... tsalal. 6751 . to tingle, quiver. Transliteration: tsalal Phonetic Spelling:
(tsaw-lal') Short Definition: tingle. Word Origin a prim. ... quiver, tingle. ...
/hebrew/6750.htm - 6k

7264. ragaz -- to be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited ...
... 7263, 7264. ragaz. 7265 . to be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed.
Transliteration: ragaz Phonetic Spelling: (raw-gaz') Short Definition: tremble ...
/hebrew/7264.htm - 6k

5128. nua -- to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
... nua. 5129 . to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter. Transliteration: nua Phonetic
Spelling: (noo'-ah) Short Definition: wander. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5128.htm - 6k

7477. raal -- to quiver, shake, reel
... 7476, 7477. raal. 7478 . to quiver, shake, reel. Transliteration: raal Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-al') Short Definition: brandished. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7477.htm - 5k

3415. yara -- to quiver
... yara. 3416 . to quiver. Transliteration: yara Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-rah') Short
Definition: trembles. ... root Definition to quiver NASB Word Usage trembles (1). ...
/hebrew/3415.htm - 6k

5130. nuph -- to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle
... A primitive root; to quiver (ie Vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in
a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing ...
/hebrew/5130.htm - 6k

6426. palats -- to shudder
... tremble. A primitive root; properly, perhaps to rend, ie (by implication) to quiver --
tremble. 6425, 6426. palats. 6427 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6426.htm - 5k

Psalm XI.
... 2. "For, lo, sinners have bent the bow, they have prepared their arrows in the quiver,
that they may in the obscure moon shoot at the upright in heart" (ver.2 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xi.htm

A New Kind of King
... All were in a quiver of expectation; and knowing that, Jesus Christ originates this
scene by His act of sending the two disciples into the village over against ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/a new kind of king.htm

The Debt of Iren??us to Justin Martyr
... But from the time of His coming the might of the quiver was captured, the land of
the Jews was given over into subjection to the Romans, and they had no longer ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/ii the debt of irenaeus.htm

A Strange Battle
... He is not the wisest of men who, facing all that life may bring and take away, all
that it must bring and take away, knows no quiver of nameless fear, but ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a strange battle.htm

Letter i. To Innocent.
... bound by the hair to a stake, her whole body is fixed more firmly than ever on the
rack; fire is brought and applied to her feet; her sides quiver beneath the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter i to innocent.htm

The Massacre
... Boy as he was, he had fought like a hero. He carried a drawn sword in his
hand, and a bow and quiver were slung over his back. Now ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the massacre.htm

The Apology of Aristides as it is Preserved in the History of ...
... They represent Apollo also as a jealous god, and besides as the master of the bow
and quiver, and sometimes of the lyre and flute, and as divining to men for ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/the apology of aristides as.htm

The Spirit of Power
... What would Elisha have done if he had had the quiver in his hand? ... Joash had
an unused quiver full of arrows, and he only smote thrice. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the spirit of power.htm

Under his Shadow.
... to Isaiah 49:2:""And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of
His hand hath He kid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/under his shadow.htm

Creation's Groans and the Saints' Sighs
... is misery on the land; and into the highest palaces as well as the poorest cottages,
death, the insatiable, is shooting his arrows, while his quiver is still ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/creations groans and the saints.htm

Quiver (9 Occurrences)
... person. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. QUIVER. kwiv ... Arrows are called bene
'ashpah, "sons of the quiver" (Lamentations 3:13). By identifying ...
/q/quiver.htm - 11k

Quivered (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Quiver. 2. (a.) Furnished with, or carrying,
a quiver. 3. (a.) Sheathed, as in a quiver. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/q/quivered.htm - 7k

Archery
... The arrows, "the sons of his quiver" (Lamentations 3:13 margin, the Revised Version
(British and American) "shafts"), were ordinarily, of course, carried in ...
/a/archery.htm - 9k

Kir (11 Occurrences)
... 4. Soldiers of Kir in Assyrian Army: The mention of Elam as taking the quiver, and
Kir as uncovering the shield, apparently against "the valley of the vision ...
/k/kir.htm - 17k

Shield (65 Occurrences)
... WEB YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 39:23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering
spear and the shield. (KJV WBS). Psalms 3:3 But you ...
/s/shield.htm - 28k

Bow (248 Occurrences)
... The arrows were carried in a quiver (Genesis 27:3; Isaiah 22:6; 49:2; Psalm
127:5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached ...
/b/bow.htm - 42k

Quake (23 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To shake, vibrate, or quiver, either from not being solid, as soft, wet
land, or from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the ...
/q/quake.htm - 12k

Quits (1 Occurrence)

/q/quits.htm - 6k

Venison (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Genesis 27:3 Now therefore, please take your weapons,
your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison. ...
/v/venison.htm - 10k

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