In the biblical context, the concept of "defenders" encompasses both divine and human agents who protect, uphold, and fight for the cause of righteousness, justice, and the people of God. The role of a defender is deeply rooted in the character of God and is exemplified through various figures and narratives throughout Scripture.

Divine Defense

God is frequently depicted as the ultimate defender of His people. In the Old Testament, God is portrayed as a shield and protector. 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." This imagery emphasizes God's role as a steadfast protector who provides safety and deliverance from adversaries.

The theme of divine defense is also evident in the Exodus narrative, where God defends the Israelites against the Egyptians. In Exodus 14:14 , Moses reassures the people, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." Here, God acts as the defender of Israel, demonstrating His power and commitment to His covenant people.

Human Defenders

Throughout the Bible, God raises up individuals to serve as defenders of His people and His laws. These human defenders often act under divine guidance and empowerment. One prominent example is David, who, as a young shepherd, defended Israel by defeating Goliath, the Philistine giant. In 1 Samuel 17:45 , David proclaims, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." David's victory underscores the principle that true defense relies on faith in God's power rather than human strength alone.

The judges of Israel, such as Gideon and Deborah, also served as defenders. They were raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and to restore justice. Judges 6:14 records God's call to Gideon: "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?" These leaders exemplify how God equips and commissions individuals to act as defenders in times of need.

Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Defender

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the ultimate defender of humanity. He defends against the powers of sin and death through His sacrificial death and resurrection. In John 10:11 , Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." As the Good Shepherd, Jesus protects and defends His flock, offering eternal security and salvation.

Furthermore, Jesus serves as an advocate and intercessor for believers. 1 John 2:1 states, "But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." In this role, Jesus defends believers before God, ensuring their forgiveness and reconciliation.

The Role of Believers as Defenders

Believers are called to be defenders of the faith and to stand firm in spiritual battles. Ephesians 6:11-13 instructs, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand."

Believers are also called to defend the truth of the Gospel and to contend for the faith. Jude 1:3 urges, "I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all to the saints." This defense involves both a commitment to sound doctrine and a readiness to share and uphold the truth in the face of opposition.

In summary, the concept of defenders in the Bible encompasses God's protective nature, the role of divinely appointed leaders, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and the calling of believers to stand firm in faith and truth.1575. Gammadim -- "men of valor," defenders of Tyre
... 1574, 1575. Gammadim. 1576 . "men of valor," defenders of Tyre. Transliteration:
Gammadim Phonetic Spelling: (gam-mawd') Short Definition: Gammadim. ...
/hebrew/1575.htm - 6k

Wesley's Defenders
... Chapter 5. Wesley Refused Sacraments at Epworth; Cornwall and the Scilly Isles;
Natural Amphitheater at Gwennap; Wesley in Danger Wesley's Defenders. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesleys defenders.htm

Of Asking from the Emperors Defenders of the Churches.
... Canon LXXV. (Greek lxxviii.) Of asking from the Emperors defenders of the Churches.
Of asking from the Emperors defenders of the Churches. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxxv greek lxxviii of.htm

But You who Assert that You are the Defenders and Propagators of ...
... Book V. 31 But you who assert that you are the defenders and propagators
of their immortality? But you who assert that you are ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/31 but you who assert.htm

A Dissertation on the True and Genuine Sense of the Seventh ...
... Augustine himself; then may I be permitted by a most deserved right to admonish
the defenders of that other sentiment, that they reflect frequently and ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/a dissertation on the true.htm

Critical Review of the Johannean Problem.
... [1085] And when Dr. Strauss, in his Leben Jesu (1835), renewed the denial, a host
of old and new defenders arose with such powerful arguments that he himself ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 84 critical review of.htm

Introduction.
... It was known that there had been such early defenders of the faith, and that Quadratus
had seen persons who had been miraculously healed by Christ; but beyond ...
/.../kay/the apology of aristides the philosopher/introduction.htm

In the Sunless Crypt
... There she saw the flash of swords, swung afar off, spears brandished and
the running hither and thither of defenders on the wall. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xviii in the sunless.htm

Phial the Third, on the Rivers and Fountains of Waters of the ...
... The rivers and fountains of waters in the world of the beast, are the ministers
and defenders of the antichristian jurisdiction; whether ecclesiastical, as the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/phial the third on the.htm

The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
... 8. A special consideration of the three classes of precepts of no avail to the
defenders of free will.1. Precepts enjoining us to turn to God.2. Precepts which ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the arguments usually.htm

The Image of God in Man.
... This singular opinion has found many warm defenders in the Church from the
beginning. It originated with Origen, who with his brilliant ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/ix the image of god.htm

Defenders (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Defenders (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel 11:16 It happened,
when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned ...
/d/defenders.htm - 6k

Siege (63 Occurrences)
... It was sometimes necessary to establish a fortified camp, like that of Sennacherib
at Lachish to guard against sorties by the defenders. ...
/s/siege.htm - 51k

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)
... siege of the city Nebuchadnezzar depended mainly on starving it into surrender;
and we cannot withhold a measure of admiration for a body of defenders who, in ...
/z/zedekiah.htm - 49k

Josephus
... withstood the siege for 47 days with splendid courage, till Titus, assaulting under
cover of a mist, stormed the stronghold and massacred the weary defenders. ...
/j/josephus.htm - 13k

Gammadim (1 Occurrence)
... RV marg., "valorous men;" others interpret this word as meaning "short-swordsmen,"
or "daring ones", the name of a class of men who were defenders of the ...
/g/gammadim.htm - 7k

Flavius
... withstood the siege for 47 days with splendid courage, till Titus, assaulting under
cover of a mist, stormed the stronghold and massacred the weary defenders. ...
/f/flavius.htm - 13k

Relationships (1 Occurrence)
... Children were looked upon as a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3) and the defenders
of the home (Psalm 127:4, 5). In early life a child was more directly under ...
/r/relationships.htm - 38k

Defendest (1 Occurrence)

/d/defendest.htm - 6k

Defender (6 Occurrences)

/d/defender.htm - 8k

Children
... The birth of a male child was especially a cause for rejoicing (Psalm
128:3, Hebrew); more men, more defenders for the tribe. If ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

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