H3591 H3591
A javelin or short throwing spear, a military weapon distinct from the longer hanit (lance/spear).
The noun kidon (כִּידוֹן) designates a javelin or short throwing spear, consistently distinguished in Hebrew from the hanit (חֲנִית), the heavier thrusting lance. The word is most memorable from Goliath's armament: he carried a kidon of bronze between his shoulders along with his great spear (1 Sam 17:6, 45). Joshua wielded one as a signal weapon, stretching it out toward Ai at God's command (Josh 8:18, 26). Jeremiah and Job pair it with other weapons in descriptions of military terror (Jer 6:23; 50:42; Job 39:23; 41:21). Spanish jabalina and French javelot capture the lighter, throwable nature of this weapon.
Senses
1. javelin, short spear (weapon) — A masculine noun for a light throwing spear or javelin, distinct from the hanit (חֲנִית, the heavier thrusting spear/lance). In the David-and-Goliath narrative, the giant's kidon of bronze hung between his shoulders as part of his triple weaponry — sword, spear, and javelin (1 Sam 17:6, 45). Joshua's kidon functioned as a tactical signal: 'Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai' (Josh 8:18, 26). Jeremiah pairs bow and kidon as the weapons of terrifying invaders (Jer 6:23; 50:42), while Job evokes its rushing sound in battle (Job 41:21). Spanish jabalina and French javelot consistently distinguish it from the heavier lance (lanza/lance), confirming the semantic contrast with hanit. 9×
AR["الرُّمْحِ.", "بِ-الرُّمحِ", "وَ-بِـ-مِزْرَاقٍ", "وَ-رُمْحٌ", "وَ-مِزْرَاقُ", "وَالرُّمْحَ", "وَالمِزْرَاقِ."]·ben["আর-বর্শা", "আর-বল্লম", "এবং-বর্ছা", "এবং-বর্শা", "এবং-বল্লম-দিয়ে", "বর্শা", "বল্লমের"]·DE["[וכידון]", "[וכידן]", "[כידון]", "mit-der-javelin", "und-Wurfspeer-von", "und-mit-Wurfspeer"]·EN["a-javelin", "and-javelin", "and-javelin-of", "and-the-javelin", "and-with-javelin", "with-the-javelin"]·FR["[וכידון]", "[וכידן]", "avec-le-javelot", "et-avec-javelot", "et-javelot-de", "et-וכידון", "כידון"]·heb["ב-כידון", "ו-ב-כידון", "ו-כידון", "כידון"]·HI["और-बरछि-से", "और-बरछी", "और-भल", "और-भाला", "बरछी-के", "भाले-को", "भाले-में"]·ID["dan-dengan-lembing", "dan-lembing", "dan-tombak", "dengan-lembing", "lembing"]·IT["[וכידון]", "[וכידן]", "a-javelin", "con-il-giavellotto", "e-con-giavellotto", "e-e-il-javelin", "e-giavellotto-di"]·jav["kaliyan-tombak", "lan-lembing", "lan-mawi-lembing", "lan-tumbak", "tumbak."]·KO["그리고-창을", "그리고-투창", "그리고-투창으로", "그리고-투창의", "에-그-창에", "에-그-창을", "투창의"]·PT["com-a-lança", "dardo.", "e-com-dardo", "e-dardo-de", "e-dardo.", "e-lança"]·RU["дротика", "и-дротик", "и-дротика", "и-копьё", "и-с-дротиком", "копьём", "с-копьём"]·ES["con-la-lanza", "jabalina", "y-con-jabalina", "y-jabalina", "y-jabalina-de", "y-lanza"]·SW["kwa-mkuki", "mkuki", "na-fumo", "na-kwa-fumo", "na-mkuki", "ya-mkuki"]·TR["ciritin", "mızrağıyla", "ve-ciritin", "ve-mızrak", "ve-pala", "ve-palayla"]·urd["اور-برچھی-کی", "اور-بھالا", "اور-بھالے-سے", "اور-نیزہ", "برچھی-کے", "نیزے-سے"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. כִּידוֹן n.[m.] dart, javelin (NH id.)—abs. כ׳ Jos 8:18 + 6 times; כִּידֹן Je 50:42; cstr. כִּידוֹן 1 S 17:6;—dart, javelin (distinct from חֲנִית spear, lance, q.v.), נטה בַּכּ׳ אשׁר ביד(ך) Jos 8:18(×2), cf. v 26; רַעַשׁ כ׳ Jb 41:21 the rushing sound of a dart; בְּחֶרֶב וּבַחֲנִית וּבְכ׳ 1 S 17:45 (weapons of Goliath), כ׳ נְחשֶׁת בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו v 6 (חֲנִית in v 7); + חֲנִית Jb 39:23 also; קֶשֶׁת וְכ׳ Je 6:23; 50:42.