In the biblical context, "defence" refers to protection, refuge, and the means by which individuals or nations are safeguarded from harm or danger. The concept of defence is both physical and spiritual, emphasizing reliance on God as the ultimate protector.

Old Testament

The Old Testament frequently portrays God as the defender of Israel and His people. In Exodus 14:14, during the Israelites' escape from Egypt, Moses assures them, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." This highlights the belief that God Himself acts as a warrior on behalf of His people.

The Psalms often depict God as a fortress and refuge. Psalm 18:2 declares, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Here, the psalmist uses vivid imagery to describe God's protective nature.

In the historical books, God’s defence is evident in battles where Israel triumphs against overwhelming odds. For instance, in 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faces a vast army, and God instructs him not to fear, for the battle is the Lord's. The subsequent victory without the need for combat underscores divine intervention as the ultimate defence.

New Testament

The New Testament shifts the focus from physical defence to spiritual protection. Ephesians 6:11-17 describes the "armor of God," which believers are to put on to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage emphasizes truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God as spiritual defences.

Jesus Christ is portrayed as the Good Shepherd who defends His flock. In John 10:11, Jesus states, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." This sacrificial defence underscores the ultimate protection offered through Christ’s atoning work.

Spiritual Defence

The Bible teaches that spiritual warfare requires divine defence. In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Paul writes, "The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." This passage highlights the necessity of relying on God's power rather than human strength.

Prayer is also a critical component of spiritual defence. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages believers to present their requests to God, promising that "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God as Defender

Throughout Scripture, God is consistently portrayed as the ultimate defender. Isaiah 41:10 reassures believers, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." This promise of divine support and protection is a cornerstone of biblical teaching on defence.

In summary, the biblical concept of defence encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, with a strong emphasis on God as the ultimate protector and refuge for His people.1. (n. & v. t.) See Defense.

2. (n.) The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger.

3. (n.) That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection.

4. (n.) Protecting plea; vindication; justification.

5. (n.) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

6. (n.) Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc.

7. (n.) Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

DEFENCE

de-fens'. See COURTS, JUDICIAL.

4992. soterios -- saving, bringing salvation
... salvation. Neuter of the same as soteria as (properly, concretely) noun; defender
or (by implication) defence -- salvation. see GREEK soteria. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4992.htm - 7k

627. apologia -- a speech in defense
... answer for oneself, clearing of self, defense. From the same as apologeomai; a plea
("apology") -- answer (for self), clearing of self, defence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/627.htm - 7k

626. apologeomai -- to give an account of oneself, hence to defend ...
... Middle voice from a compound of apo and logos; to give an account (legal plea) of
oneself, ie Exculpate (self) -- answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/626.htm - 8k

5526. cakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... saw-kak'}; a primitive root; properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to
fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect -- cover, defence, defend, hedge ...
/hebrew/5526.htm - 5k

4692. matsor -- siege enclosure, siege, entrenchment
... objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress;
or (subjectively) a fastness -- besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress ...
/hebrew/4692.htm - 6k

1220. betser -- precious ore, an ingot
... gold defense. From batsar; strictly a clipping, ie Gold (as dug out) -- gold defence.
see HEBREW batsar. 1219, 1220. betser. 1221 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1220.htm - 6k

4869. misgab -- a secure height, retreat, stronghold
... From sagab; properly, a cliff (or other lofty or inaccessible place); abstractly,
altitude; figuratively, a refuge -- defence, high fort (tower), refuge, Misgab ...
/hebrew/4869.htm - 6k

4043. magen -- a shield
... from ganan; a shield (ie The small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also
the scaly hide of the crocodile -- X armed, buckler, defence, ruler, + scale ...
/hebrew/4043.htm - 6k

8433. towkechah -- rebuke, correction
... And towkachath {to-kakh'-ath}; from yakach; chastisement; figuratively (by words)
correction, refutation, proof (even in defence) -- argument, X chastened ...
/hebrew/8433.htm - 5k

2646. chuppah -- a canopy, chamber
... chamber, closet, defense. From chaphah; a canopy -- chamber, closet, defence. see
HEBREW chaphah. 2645, 2646. chuppah. 2647 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2646.htm - 6k

6738. tsel -- a shadow
... defense, shadow. From tsalal; shade, whether literal or figurative -- defence,
shade(-ow). see HEBREW tsalal. 6737, 6738. tsel. 6739 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6738.htm - 6k

4581. maoz -- a place or means of safety, protection
... (also mauwz {maw-ooz'}); or mahoz {maw-oze'} (also ma,uz {maw-ooz'}; from azaz;
a fortified place; figuratively, a defence -- force, fort(-ress), rock, strength ...
/hebrew/4581.htm - 6k

The Defence
... THE DEFENCE. Now I have a closing sentence or two to add about Paul's reason for
singling out love as the supreme possession. It is a very remarkable reason. ...
/.../drummond/the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/the defence.htm

A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation
A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation. <. A Series
of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Hosea Ballou. ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/

The Defence of Uncalculating Love
... D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps. XVIII to XXVIII THE DEFENCE OF UNCALCULATING LOVE. ... But the
saying implies a stringent demand, as well as a gracious defence. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the defence of uncalculating love.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... A DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST; SHEWING, ... A
DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST; PROVING. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

September the Eighteenth the All-Round Defence
... SEPTEMBER The Eighteenth THE ALL-ROUND DEFENCE. "Thou ... 12. And that is a defence
against the enemies which would attack me in the rear. ...
/.../september the eighteenth the all-round.htm

Defence against the Arians.
... Defence Against the Arians. Introduction. 1. I supposed that, after so many
proofs of my innocence had been given, my enemies would ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/defence against the arians.htm

Introduction to De Decretis or Defence of the Nicene Definition.
... Introduction to de Decretis or Defence of the Nicene Definition. This
letter must have been written in the interval between the ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/introduction to de decretis or.htm

Defence Before Constantius.
... Chapter II. Defence Before Constantius. 1. Knowing that you have been a
Christian for many years [1282] , most religious Augustus ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/defence before constantius.htm

Truth the Defence of Thrones.
... Chapter II. 12. Truth the defence of Thrones. Had I been accused before
any other, I should have appealed to your Piety; as once ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/12 truth the defence of.htm

God the Glory and Defence of Sion.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:64. God the glory and
defence of Sion. 1 Happy the church, thou sacred place, The ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 127777778 god the glory.htm

Defence (48 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DEFENCE. de-fens'. See COURTS, JUDICIAL.
Multi-Version Concordance Defence (48 Occurrences). ...
/d/defence.htm - 20k

Wagon-defence (2 Occurrences)
Wagon-defence. Wagon, Wagon-defence. Wagons . Multi-Version
Concordance Wagon-defence (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 26:5 ...
/w/wagon-defence.htm - 7k

Defense (49 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Alt. of Defence. ... Philippians 1:16 These latter preach Him from love to me,
knowing that I am here for the defence of the Good News; (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/defense.htm - 20k

Stephen (13 Occurrences)
... It is the longest speech contained in the Acts, a place of prominence being given
to it as a defence. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STEPHEN. ...
/s/stephen.htm - 33k

Defending (6 Occurrences)
... else defending, (YLT NAS NIV). 2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, think ye that
to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we ...
/d/defending.htm - 8k

Millo (9 Occurrences)
... the Canaanite name of some fortification, consisting of walls filled in with earth
and stones, which protected Jerusalem on the north as its outermost defence. ...
/m/millo.htm - 14k

Preserveth (15 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the
excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. ...
/p/preserveth.htm - 10k

Solomon (277 Occurrences)
... works for the purpose of securing a plentiful supply of water for the city
(Ecclesiastes 2:4-6). He then built Millo (LXX., "Acra") for the defence of the ...
/s/solomon.htm - 101k

Sceptre (20 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). Psalms 60:7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim
also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre. (See JPS ASV). ...
/s/sceptre.htm - 17k

Regard (230 Occurrences)
... Acts 25:8 he making defence -- 'Neither in regard to the law of the Jews, nor in
regard to the temple, nor in regard to Caesar -- did I commit any sin.' (YLT). ...
/r/regard.htm - 36k

What does the Bible say about self-defense? | GotQuestions.org

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Defence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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