In the biblical context, an archer is an individual skilled in the use of a bow and arrow, a weapon commonly used in ancient warfare and hunting. The term "archer" and references to archery appear throughout the Bible, illustrating both literal and metaphorical uses.

Old Testament References

Archery is frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, highlighting its significance in ancient Near Eastern culture. The first mention of an archer is found in Genesis 21:20, where Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, is described: "And God was with the boy, and he grew up and settled in the wilderness and became a great archer." This passage underscores the importance of archery skills for survival and defense in the wilderness.

The tribe of Benjamin was renowned for its skilled archers. In 1 Chronicles 12:2, the Benjaminites are described as "armed with bows and able to shoot arrows or to sling stones with either hand." This skill made them formidable warriors in Israel's military campaigns.

Archery also played a role in the narratives of Israel's kings. In 1 Samuel 31:3, during the battle against the Philistines, King Saul is critically wounded by archers: "The battle intensified against Saul, and the archers overtook him and wounded him critically." This event marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, leading to the rise of David as king.

Metaphorical Uses

Beyond its literal application, archery is used metaphorically in the Bible to convey spiritual truths. In Psalm 127:4, children are likened to arrows in the hands of a warrior: "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth." This imagery emphasizes the potential and influence of the next generation.

The prophet Jeremiah uses archery imagery to describe God's judgment. In Jeremiah 50:9, God declares, "For behold, I will stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from there she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed." Here, the precision and effectiveness of archers symbolize the certainty of divine retribution.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention archers, the imagery of arrows is present in the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:16: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." This passage uses the concept of arrows to represent spiritual attacks, highlighting the need for faith as a defense.

Cultural and Historical Significance

In ancient times, archers were integral to military strategy. The ability to strike from a distance provided a tactical advantage in battle. Archery required skill, precision, and practice, qualities that were highly valued in warriors. The depiction of archers in the Bible reflects the broader cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East, where archery was a respected and essential skill.

Overall, the role of the archer in the Bible serves as a reminder of the importance of preparation, skill, and reliance on God in both physical and spiritual battles.A shooter with the bow (1 Chronicles 10:3). This art was of high antiquity (Genesis 21:20; 27:3). Saul was wounded by the Philistine archers (1 Samuel 31:3). The phrase "breaking the bow" (Hosea 1:5; Jeremiah 49:35) is equivalent to taking away one's power, while "strengthening the bow" is a symbol of its increase (Genesis 49:24). The Persian archers were famous among the ancients (Isaiah 13:18; Jeremiah 49:35; 50:9, 14, 29, 42. (see BOW). (n.) A bowman, one skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.2443. hina -- in order that, that, so that
... 2443 ("for the purpose that") is "the (dramatic) way of expressing in Greek
(as compared for example to the plain infinitive)" (G. Archer). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2443.htm - 7k

1062. gamos -- a wedding
... This eschatological celebration is described in Mt 22:2-10 and Rev 19:7-9 -- "and
apparently occurs at the final day of the seven-year Tribulation" (G. Archer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1062.htm - 7k

932. basileia -- kingdom, sovereignty, royal power
... refers to the rule of Christ in believers' hearts -- which is a rule that "one day
will be universal on the physical earth in the Millennium" (G. Archer). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/932.htm - 7k

2315. theopneustos -- God-breathed, ie inspired by God
... written) under divine . [G. Archer, "2315 () is better rendered ' by God'
as the emphasis is upon " (, fn. 7, 29).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2315.htm - 8k

5525. choros -- a dance, chorus
... 5525 -- dancing, which in the Bible is viewed as (when done modestly, etc.). Indeed,
"dancing is even in the Bible" (G. Archer). Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5525.htm - 6k

5194. hualos -- a clear transparent stone, glass
... On both of its occasions in the NT, 5194 ("pure, transparent glass") refers to --
"apparently a metaphor (personification) of all the , serving as " (G. Archer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5194.htm - 7k

605. apokatastasis -- restoration
... restoration. Cognate: 605 (from 600 , "restore") -- , referring to the "
in the Messianic kingdom (Millennium)" (G. Archer). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/605.htm - 6k

4954. sussomos -- of the same body
... Father' when Christ baptized all true believers (OT, NT) in the Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost (see Mt 3:11; Lk 24:49; 1 Cor 12:13,27; Eph 4:4-6)" (G. Archer). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4954.htm - 7k

4819. sumbaino -- to come together, ie (of events) to come to pass
... His . Indeed, the two -- which means "everything (4819 ) as it should"
(G. Archer). [That is, on the "-level of the will of God. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4819.htm - 8k

2588. kardia -- heart
... 2588 -- ; "the center of our being" and the (, ; see P. Hughs, , 354); "-producer
that makes us tick" (G. Archer), ie our "desire-" that establish who we ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2588.htm - 7k

7228. rab -- an archer
... 7227b, 7228. rab. 7229 . an archer. Transliteration: rab Phonetic Spelling:
(rab) Short Definition: archer. Word Origin from rabab ...
/hebrew/7228.htm - 6k

7199. qashshath -- bowman
... 7198, 7199. qashshath. 7200 . bowman. Transliteration: qashshath Phonetic
Spelling: (kash-shawth') Short Definition: archer. ... archer. ...
/hebrew/7199.htm - 6k

2686. chatsats -- to divide
... chatsats. 2686a . to divide. Transliteration: chatsats Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-tsats') Short Definition: archer. archer, bands, cut off in the midst ...
/hebrew/2686.htm - 5k

7235b. rabah -- to shoot
... rabah. 7236 . to shoot. Transliteration: rabah Short Definition: archer. Word
Origin a prim. root Definition to shoot NASB Word Usage archer* (1). ...
/hebrew/7235b.htm - 5k

3384. yarah -- to throw, shoot
... archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, show, shoot,. Or (2 Chr.
26:15) yara; {yaw-raw'}; a primitive root; properly, to flow ...
/hebrew/3384.htm - 6k

1869. darak -- to tread, march
... archer, bend, come, draw, go over, guide, lead forth, thresh,. A primitive
root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string ...
/hebrew/1869.htm - 6k

1167. baal -- owner, lord
... 1), wrathful* (1). archer, babbler, bird, captain, chief man, confederate,
have to do, dreamer,. From ba'al; a master; hence, a husband ...
/hebrew/1167.htm - 6k

2671. chets -- arrow
... arrow (14), arrows (36), shaft (1), wound (1). archer, arrow, dart, shaft,
staff, wound. From chatsats; properly, a piercer, ie An ...
/hebrew/2671.htm - 6k

7235. rabah -- to be or become much, many or great
... A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect) -- (bring in) abundance (X
-antly), + archer (by mistake for rabab), be in authority, bring up, X continue ...
/hebrew/7235.htm - 6k

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

Whether the World is Governed by Anyone?
... 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 knows the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the world is governed.htm

The Agony, and the Consoler
... One of them was led out first, and his mother cried eagerly to the archer who
held his fettered hands: He is innocent; has he been set free?'. ...
/.../chapter iii the agony and.htm

And, not Content to have Ascribed These Carnal Unions to the ...
... 4198] as his mother, you say, and Jupiter, who wields the thunderbolt, was born
the golden and blazing Sun; of Latona and the same, the Delian archer, and Diana ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/22 and not content to.htm

The Gathering Storm
... shoulders?'. No more coward than you, sir captain,' said the archer; 'but this is
no time to bandy words.'. ... altercation. Bring the archer here.'. ...
/.../chapter i the gathering storm.htm

Joseph Attacked by the Archers
... Though all weapons are alike approved by the warrior in his thirst for blood, there
seems something more cowardly in the attack of the archer than in that of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/joseph attacked by the archers.htm

Marvellous History of the Death of a Gentleman who Died of Love on ...
... kissing them a thousand thousand times, with sighs of an infinite love, he began
to draw up to himself all the forces of his affections, as an archer draws the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii marvellous history of.htm

He Compares the Doctrine of the Platonists Concerning the Logos ...
... of the theories of Plotinus, and their connection with the doctrines of Plato and
of Christianity respectively, will be found in Archer Butler's Lectures on ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix he compares the doctrine.htm

Concerning Light, Fire, the Luminaries, Sun, Moon and Stars.
... The Scales, on the 25th of September. The Scorpion, on the 25th of October. The
Archer, on the 25th of November. Capricorn, on the 25th of December. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vii concerning light fire the.htm

Preface
... the Rev. Osmond Archer, to name two who happen to fall under our own knowledge,
has thus been left without acknowledgement. They ...
//christianbookshelf.org/conybeare/a grammar of septuagint greek/preface.htm

The Flag of the World
... Mr. William Archer even suggested that in the golden age there would be
penny-in-the-slot machines, by which a man could kill himself for a penny. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/v the flag of the.htm

Archer (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Archer (5 Occurrences). ... He lived in the wilderness, and
became, as he grew up, an archer. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/a/archer.htm - 9k

Daric
... 1. (n.) A gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a little more than
128 grains, and bearing on one side the figure of an archer. ...
/d/daric.htm - 8k

Ishmael (44 Occurrences)
... Ishmael settled in the land of Paran, a region lying between Canaan and the mountains
of Sinai; and "God was with him, and he became a great archer" (Genesis 21 ...
/i/ishmael.htm - 38k

Archers (15 Occurrences)

/a/archers.htm - 11k

Lad (66 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). Genesis 21:20 And God was with the lad; and
he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. ...
/l/lad.htm - 27k

Lifts (26 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:3 Against him who bends let the archer bend his bow, and against him
who lifts himself up in his coat of mail: and don't spare her young men ...
/l/lifts.htm - 13k

Groweth (29 Occurrences)
... YLT). Genesis 21:20 and God is with the youth, and he groweth, and dwelleth
in the wilderness, and is an archer; (YLT). Genesis 38 ...
/g/groweth.htm - 15k

Greatness (63 Occurrences)
... But it is used for "great" in other senses, eg "the great (God)" (Proverbs 26:10),
the Revised Version (British and American) "as an archer," margin "master ...
/g/greatness.htm - 35k

Wounding (24 Occurrences)
... innermost parts. (WEB DBY). Proverbs 26:10 Like an archer wounding all who
go by, is a foolish man overcome by drink. (BBE). Jeremiah ...
/w/wounding.htm - 13k

Woundeth (3 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Proverbs 26:10 As' an archer that woundeth all, So is he
that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by. (ASV). ...
/w/woundeth.htm - 7k

What is a sinner? | GotQuestions.org

What is a proverb in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Ishmael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Archer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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