H6959 H6959
helmet; protective head-covering for battle, typically made of bronze or leather
This term denotes military headgear designed to protect warriors in combat. It appears when Saul arms David with bronze helmet before facing Goliath, and in Ezekiel's description of military forces equipped with helmets. The word may be a foreign loan-word, cognate with Ethiopic and Syriac terms for turbans or hoods, suggesting diverse ancient head-covering styles. The 1 Samuel passage specifies 'bronze helmet,' indicating metal construction, while Ezekiel's usage appears in cataloging warrior equipment. This essential defensive armor protected the vulnerable head from sword blows and projectiles.
Senses
1. sense 1 — 1 Samuel 17:38 describes Saul placing 'a bronze helmet' (qova' nechoshet) on David's head as part of full armor, while Ezekiel 23:24 lists 'helmet' among military equipment of invading forces. Spanish 'casco' (helmet), French 'casque,' German 'helmet' all confirm the protective headgear. The 1 Samuel context emphasizes David's inability to function in Saul's oversized armor, highlighting his youth and the equipment's unfamiliarity. Ezekiel's passage arrays enemy warriors with 'buckler, shield, and helmet' in judgment against Jerusalem. The term denotes standard military issue, essential defensive equipment for ancient infantry and chariot warriors, protecting the head in close combat. 2×
AR["خُوذَةَ", "وَخُوذَةٍ"]·ben["এবং-শিরস্ত্রাণ", "শিরস্ত্রাণ"]·DE["[וקובע]", "helmet-von"]·EN["and-helmet", "helmet-of"]·FR["et-casque", "helmet-de"]·heb["ו-קובע", "קובע"]·HI["और-टोप", "तोपि"]·ID["dan-ketopong", "helm"]·IT["[וקובע]", "helmet-di"]·jav["lan-ketoprak", "topong"]·KO["그리고-투구를", "투구"]·PT["capacete-de", "e-capacete"]·RU["и-шлем", "шлем"]·ES["casco-de", "y-casco"]·SW["kofia", "na-kofia-za-chuma"]·TR["miğfer", "ve-miğfer"]·urd["اور-خود", "ٹوپ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† קוֹבַע n.[m.] helmet (word of peculiar form, and dub. √; prob. foreign word; cf. Ethiopic ቆብዕ: turban, tiara, cowl, so Syriac ܩܽܘܒܥܳܐ;; 𝔗 קוֹבְעָא turban);—abs. ק׳ Ez 23:24; cstr. ק֫וֹבַע נְחשֶׁת 1 S 17:38.—Cf. also כּוֹבַע.