סִרְיֹן
𐤎𐤓𐤉𐤍
çiryôn
H5630 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of protective armor covering the torso, generally constructed of interlocking metal scales, plates, or chain links. In biblical contexts, it denotes a soldier's body armor worn during battle to safeguard vital organs, especially the chest and abdomen. The term is used concretely for a physical piece of armor, not metaphorically, and does not distinguish specific styles (such as scale armor vs. chainmail) beyond indicating its function as a body defense garment.
Semantic Range
coat of mail, body armor, scale armor, chain armor, metallic torso protection, brigandine
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שריון (shiryōn), likely related to the core meaning of 'to cover' or 'to protect' though the root itself is only attested in this form. The initial ס (sin) is prosthetic and does not change the base root. Ultimately, the etymology is uncertain beyond this.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term סִרְיֹן (çiryôn) appears only in 1 Samuel 17:5,38, used to describe the armor worn by Goliath and later, Saul. The more common form שִׁרְיֹן (shiryōn) appears elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible and is synonymous in meaning. The distinction between these two forms is orthographic rather than semantic; both refer to the same type of body armor. The term indicates equipment used in the Iron Age Levant, broadly equivalent to the scale or chain armor developed in ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean military practice. The KJV's 'coat of mail' appropriately captures the concept, though the precise construction (scale vs. chain) cannot be clearly determined from the term alone. In later biblical history, armor terminology diversified as military technology developed, but סִרְיֹן/shiryōn remained the general term for torso-covering armor. No metaphorical uses are attested. Contract with מָגֵן (māgēn, 'shield'), which denotes a hand-held protective device rather than body armor; also contrast with כובע (kovaʿ, 'helmet'). English translations are generally accurate but may fail to communicate the specific technology or style of armor used in the Israelite period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for שִׁרְיוֹן; a coat of mail; brigandine.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שרי (š-r-y) — to cover, to shield, to protect
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8303 | שִׁרְיוֹן | Sirion |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5630-01 |
בְּ/סִרְיֹנ֑/וֹ | besireyono | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his brigandine | in his body-armor | 1 |
H5630-02 |
הַ/סִּרְיֹנֹֽת | hasireyonot | HTd/Ncmpa |
the armor | the protective armors | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5630-02 |
Jeremiah 46:4 | הַ/סִּרְיֹנֹֽת | hasireyonot | HTd/Ncmpa |
the armor | the protective armors |
H5630-01 |
Jeremiah 51:3 | בְּ/סִרְיֹנ֑/וֹ | besireyono | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his brigandine | in his body-armor |