{
  "id": "dict_000712",
  "term": "Bow",
  "slug": "bow",
  "letter": "B",
  "entry_type": "biblical_object",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "An ancient weapon used for hunting and warfare; in Scripture it can also symbolize military strength, judgment, or God’s deliverance.",
  "simple_one_line": "A bow is a weapon for shooting arrows, often used in the Bible both literally and symbolically.",
  "tooltip_text": "An ancient ranged weapon that can represent strength, battle, judgment, or divine rescue depending on context.",
  "aliases": [
    "Bow (Weapon)"
  ],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Arrow",
    "Archery",
    "Quiver",
    "Sword",
    "Warfare",
    "War"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Genesis 27",
    "Psalm 46",
    "Psalm 57",
    "Isaiah 41",
    "Hosea 1",
    "Zechariah 9"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "In the Bible, a bow is first of all a practical weapon used for hunting and warfare. Biblical writers also use it figuratively to picture human strength, hostile power, judgment, or the Lord’s saving intervention.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "An ancient weapon for launching arrows; also a biblical symbol of strength, conflict, and deliverance.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Literal use: hunting and war",
    "Figurative use: power, danger, judgment, victory",
    "Meaning is controlled by context, not symbolism alone"
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "A bow in Scripture is a common ancient weapon associated with archery in war and, at times, hunting. In poetic and prophetic contexts it can symbolize human strength, hostile power, divine judgment, or the breaking of military might by God.",
  "description_academic_full": "A bow in Scripture is a common weapon made for shooting arrows, used in hunting, military conflict, and royal or warrior imagery. Many references are straightforward historical descriptions of armed men, battle, or equipment. In other passages, especially poetry and prophecy, the bow becomes a figure for military power, enemy threat, or the Lord’s judgment and deliverance. Because of that symbolic use, the term may carry theological significance in context, but it is not itself a doctrine or abstract theological concept. A sound treatment should therefore distinguish literal from figurative use and avoid reading symbolism into every occurrence.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Bows appear early in the biblical storyline as ordinary weapons in a world shaped by hunting and warfare. They are associated with warriors, enemies, kings, and covenant blessings. In some passages the bow is broken, strengthened, or brought low to show the rise or fall of human power under God’s rule.",
  "background_historical_context": "In the ancient Near East, the bow was a standard ranged weapon used by soldiers and hunters. It could be made from wood, horn, bone, or composite materials. Its effectiveness made it a fitting image for power, whether in the hands of a defender, an attacker, or a kingly force.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In Old Testament imagery, the bow often functions as part of the vocabulary of warfare, blessing, and judgment. Ancient readers would naturally hear both the literal military sense and the figurative sense when the bow appears in poetic or prophetic language.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Genesis 21:20",
    "Genesis 27:3",
    "Genesis 48:22",
    "Genesis 49:24",
    "1 Samuel 31:3",
    "2 Samuel 1:22",
    "Psalm 46:9",
    "Isaiah 41:2",
    "Hosea 1:5"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Psalm 57:4",
    "Jeremiah 49:35",
    "Zechariah 9:10",
    "Revelation 6:2"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Hebrew qeshet commonly means a bow. In the Greek Old Testament and New Testament, related terms also refer to the bow as a weapon; context determines whether the word is literal or figurative.",
  "theological_significance": "The bow can become a sign of human strength under God’s sovereignty, enemy threat under judgment, or the Lord’s power to save. In prophetic and poetic texts, God may break, strengthen, or supersede the bow, showing that military might is never ultimate.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The term itself names a concrete object, not an abstract concept. Its theological force comes from biblical usage: a real weapon becomes a symbol when the text places it within a larger claim about power, judgment, or deliverance.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not assume a symbolic meaning every time the word appears. Many references are purely literal. When the bow is used figuratively, the surrounding context should determine whether the emphasis is on military strength, judgment, covenant promise, or rescue.",
  "major_views_note": "There is little doctrinal dispute about the term itself. Differences usually concern whether a particular passage is literal, poetic, or prophetic in its use of the bow.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This is a biblical object, not a doctrine. Its interpretation should remain text-driven and should not be stretched into speculative symbolism or allegory.",
  "practical_significance": "The bow reminds readers that human power, military strength, and hostile threats are all under God’s rule. It also illustrates how Scripture turns ordinary objects into vivid pictures of divine judgment and mercy.",
  "meta_description": "Bow: an ancient biblical weapon used for hunting and warfare, and a symbol of strength, judgment, or deliverance in Scripture.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/bow/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/bow.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}