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כִּידוֹן

𐤊𐤉𐤃𐤅𐤍

kîydôwn

H3591 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כיד to strike, to thrust, to hurl

Definition

A spear or lance used as a weapon of war, typically a thrusting or throwing weapon with a pointed tip, sometimes referencing a specific type distinct from other Hebrew terms for spear. The term may also denote a javelin but usually carries the nuance of a spear used in battle, especially by warriors or soldiers. Its semantic range includes the sense of 'throwing weapon' or 'projectile' intended for combat.

Semantic Range

spear, lance, javelin, throwing weapon, (rarely) dart; always a weapon for striking or throwing in combat contexts

Root / Etymology

From the root כיד (k-y-d), related to striking or thrusting, though the precise root is debated. It may be related to כִּיד (kiyd), which can refer to a missile or striking implement. The form כִּידוֹן is a derived noun likely denoting an instrument for striking, paralleling similar Semitic parallels for weapon types. The connection with חֲנִית (ḥănît, 'spear') is based on functional similarity but the etymology is otherwise distinct.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כִּידוֹן appears in contexts describing weaponry, particularly in narratives regarding battles. It is typically translated as 'spear' or 'javelin,' but some translations render it 'dart' or 'lance.' There is some overlap in usage with other terms such as חֲנִית (ḥănît, 'spear') and רָמַח (ramaḥ, 'javelin'), but כִּידוֹן may indicate either a lighter or a more specialized weapon, as inferred by context. In the period of the monarchy, it is associated with professional soldiers or champions (e.g., Goliath's weapon in 1 Samuel 17:6, 45). Later translation traditions sometimes used the term 'target' for כִּידוֹן, reflecting misunderstanding or variant traditions about the word's meaning; in Hebrew usage, however, it consistently refers to an offensive weapon. English translations may gloss over the distinction between כִּידוֹן and other Hebrew words for spears and javelins, so some nuance is lost in translation. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, the word does not clearly refer to a shield or 'target' as a defensive object, contrary to some older English versions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as כִּיד; (perhaps smaller than חֲנִיתlemma חֲניִת second vowel, corrected to חֲנִית); properly, something to strike with, i.e. a dart; lance, shield, spear, target.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כיד (k-y-d) — to strike, to thrust, to hurl

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3589 כִּיד his crushing blow
H3590 כִידוֹד struck-off sparks of
H3592 כִּידוֹן Kidon

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3591-04 וְ/כִיד֥וֹן vekhidon HC/Ncmsc and a javelin and thrusting-spear 4
H3591-01 בַּ/כִּיד֤וֹן bakidon HRd/Ncmsa the javelin battle-spear 3
H3591-03 וּ/בְ/כִיד֑וֹן uvekhidon HC/R/Ncmsa and with a javelin and with a thrusting-spear 1
H3591-02 כִּידֽוֹן kidon HNcmsa of a javelin striking-spear 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3591-01 Joshua 8:18 בַּ/כִּיד֤וֹן bakidon HRd/Ncmsa the javelin battle-spear
H3591-01 Joshua 8:18 בַּ/כִּיד֥וֹן bakidon-2 HRd/Ncmsa the javelin battle-spear
H3591-01 Joshua 8:26 בַּ/כִּיד֑וֹן bakidon HRd/Ncmsa in-the-javelin battle-spear
H3591-04 1 Samuel 17:6 וְ/כִיד֥וֹן vekhidon HC/Ncmsc and a javelin and thrusting-spear
H3591-03 1 Samuel 17:45 וּ/בְ/כִיד֑וֹן uvekhidon HC/R/Ncmsa and with a javelin and with a thrusting-spear
H3591-04 Jeremiah 6:23 וְ/כִיד֞וֹן vekhidon HC/Ncmsa and-javelin and thrusting-spear
H3591-04 Jeremiah 50:42 וְ/כִידֹ֞ן vekhidon HC/Ncmsa and-lance and thrusting-spear
H3591-04 Job 39:23 וְ/כִידֽוֹן vekhidon HC/Ncmsa and javelin and thrusting-spear
H3591-02 Job 41:21 כִּידֽוֹן kidon HNcmsa of a javelin striking-spear
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