קוֹבַע (qo.va)
qo.va
helmet
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qobe‘ refers specifically to a helmet, a piece of protective headgear worn in battle. With only one occurrence in the entire Old Testament, this word appears in 1 Samuel 17:5 during the description of Goliath’s armor. The text notes that he wore a bronze helmet on his head, highlighting it as part of the giant’s formidable and heavily fortified appearance.
Its rarity makes this single instance particularly significant. By including qobe‘ in the detailed inventory of Goliath’s gear, the narrative emphasizes the disparity between the Philistine champion and the young shepherd David. The helmet symbolizes total protection and military might, standing in stark contrast to David’s simple sling and faith. This solitary usage underscores the theme that human strength, no matter how well-armored, is insufficient against divine intervention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qobe‘ appears only once in the Old Testament, found in 1 Samuel 17:38. Here, King Saul tries to dress David in his own armor, including a heavy bronze helmet, before facing Goliath. This single mention highlights how human protection can sometimes feel like a burden rather than a help.
When we face overwhelming challenges, it is natural to look for every available shield or advantage. Yet this story reminds us that true safety does not come from the weight of our equipment, but from trust in God. David set aside the king’s armor because he relied on a different kind of strength—one rooted in faith rather than metal.
May you find peace knowing that your security rests in the Lord alone, not in the heavy burdens we try to carry ourselves.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a helmet of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ק֥וֹבַע1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 17:38
Saul dressed David with his clothing. He put a helmet of bronze on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
This verse shows Saul attempting to equip David with a bronze helmet, illustrating how human protection can sometimes hinder rather than help when it replaces reliance on God.