The term "brandish" in the Bible typically refers to the act of waving or flourishing an object, often a weapon, in a menacing or triumphant manner. This action is symbolic of power, authority, or impending judgment. The imagery of brandishing is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures to convey messages of divine intervention, human conflict, and spiritual warfare.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the concept of brandishing is often associated with God's judgment and the execution of His will. For instance, in Isaiah 31:8-9, the prophet speaks of the Assyrian army fleeing from the sword, which is brandished by the Lord: "Then Assyria will fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of mankind will devour them. They will flee from the sword, and their young men will become forced laborers. Their rock will pass away in terror, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard, declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem." . Here, the brandishing of the sword signifies divine intervention and the futility of opposing God's plans.

Another instance is found in Ezekiel 21:11, where the sword is sharpened and polished to be brandished: "The sword is given to be polished, that it may be handled; it is sharpened and polished, to be put into the hand of the slayer." . This passage underscores the readiness and inevitability of God's judgment upon the wicked.

Symbolism and Themes

The act of brandishing in the biblical narrative often symbolizes the readiness and authority to execute judgment or deliverance. It serves as a visual representation of power and the seriousness of the impending action. In a spiritual sense, it can also reflect the believer's readiness to engage in spiritual warfare, wielding the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).

Spiritual Warfare

In the context of spiritual warfare, brandishing can be understood as the believer's active engagement in the battle against spiritual forces of evil. The imagery of brandishing a weapon, particularly a sword, is a powerful reminder of the authority and power granted to believers through faith and the Word of God. It emphasizes the need for vigilance, preparedness, and reliance on divine strength in the face of spiritual challenges.

Conclusion

The biblical use of the term "brandish" serves as a vivid illustration of divine authority, judgment, and the call to spiritual readiness. Whether depicting God's intervention in human affairs or the believer's role in spiritual warfare, the act of brandishing underscores the power and seriousness of the actions being undertaken.1. (v.) To move or wave, as a weapon; as to brandish a shotgun; to shake or flourish.

2. (n.) To play with; to flourish; as, to brandish syllogisms.

3. (n.) A flourish, as with a weapon, whip, etc.

660. apotinasso -- to shake off
... Word Origin from apo and tinasso (to shake, brandish) Definition to shake off
NASB Word Usage shake...off (1), shook...off (1). shake off. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/660.htm - 6k5774. uwph -- to fly
... to fly. Transliteration: uwph Phonetic Spelling: (oof) Short Definition: brandish.
brandish, be wax faint, flee away, fly away, set, shine forth, weary ...
/hebrew/5774.htm - 5k

5774a. uph -- to fly
... root Definition to fly NASB Word Usage brandish (1), flew (4), flies (3), flies
away (2), fly (4), fly away (3), flying (6), set (1), swoop down (1). ...
/hebrew/5774a.htm - 5k

7477. raal -- to quiver, shake, reel
... terribly shake. A primitive root; to reel, ie (figuratively) to brandish -- terribly
shake. 7476, 7477. raal. 7478 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7477.htm - 5k

Psalm VII.
... heart shall have treasured up for themselves anger in the day of anger, and revelation
of the righteous judgment of God, [254] then He will brandish His sword ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm vii.htm

Humbly Inscribed to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, one of his ...
... has Death proclaim'd. A truce, and hung his sated lance on high? 'Tis brandish'd
still; nor shall the present year. Be more tenacious of her human leaf, 62. ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/humbly inscribed to his grace.htm

Seemingly from the Dawn of Man all Nations have had Governments...
... To kill a man lawfully was unpardonable. The most bare-faced duelist might almost
brandish his weapon. But the executioner was always masked. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 23 seemingly from the.htm

Chapter ix.
... stedfastness in the Lord his God, those heretical enemies of the Old Testament,
when they wish to mock at it with sacrilegious mouth, brandish this above other ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter ix 2.htm

That There is but one God, and that There Cannot be More.
... lyre; Jupiter will not claim medicine, nor ??sculapius the thunderbolt: he will more
easily endure it when thrown by another, than he will brandish it himself. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap ii that there is but.htm

Love Strong as Death
... They both approaching his sick-bed,. His watchful Angel o'er his head.
Brandish'd his bright angelic blade,. That neither could the saint invade. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/clxxxvi love strong as death.htm

Petilianus Said: "Here You have the Fullest Possible Proof that a ...
... in the streets, jesting, drinking, passing the whole night in company with women
who have no husbands, they have learned not only to brandish cudgels, but to ...
/.../chapter 89 194 petilianus.htm

Letter xvi. (AD 390)
... me it almost seems at this time as if a second campaign of Actium had begun, in
which Egyptian monsters, doomed soon to perish, dare to brandish their weapons ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xvi a d 390.htm

Epistle Liv. To Cornelius, Concerning Fortunatus and Felicissimus ...
... with which they daily wound themselves and their own life; I do not tremble at their
clubs and stones and swords, which they brandish with parricidal words: as ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle liv to cornelius concerning.htm

Letter iii. To Rufinus the Monk.
... in weakness." [55] He will hold out threats of death; but the reply will be: "I
desire to depart and to be with Christ." [56] He will brandish his fiery darts ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter iii to rufinus the.htm

Brandish (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To move or wave, as a weapon; as to brandish a shotgun; to shake or flourish.
2. (n.) To play with; to flourish; as, to brandish syllogisms. ...
/b/brandish.htm - 8k

Javelin (16 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV). Psalms 35:3 Brandish the spear and block those who
pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation." (See RSV NIV). ...
/j/javelin.htm - 12k

Wave (65 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To fluctuate; to waver; to be in an unsettled state; to vacillate.
5. (vt) To move one way and the other; to brandish. 6 ...
/w/wave.htm - 30k

Flourish (26 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles
or vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish. 11. ...
/f/flourish.htm - 18k

Bless (174 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences. 8. (vt) To esteem or
account happy; to felicitate. 9. (vt) To wave; to brandish. Int. ...
/b/bless.htm - 46k

Brandished (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Brandish. Multi-Version Concordance
Brandished (5 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 23:18 And Abishai ...
/b/brandished.htm - 8k

Branding (3 Occurrences)

/b/branding.htm - 7k

Swing (3 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword;
to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business. ...
/s/swing.htm - 9k

Shudder (8 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 32:10 Yes, I will make many peoples amazed at you, and their kings shall
be horribly afraid for you, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and ...
/s/shudder.htm - 8k

Block (22 Occurrences)
... I am Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 35:3 Brandish the
spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation." (WEB) ...
/b/block.htm - 16k

Are there beheadings recorded in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Brandish: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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