Bow

The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Gen. 21:20; 27:3; 48:22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (1 Chr. 8:40; 12:2; 2 Chr. 14:8; 17:17); so also were the Elamites (Isa. 22:6) and the Lydians (Jer. 46:9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (1 Chr. 5:18; 8:40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bow. Bows of steel (correctly “copper”) are mentioned (2 Sam. 22:35; Ps. 18:34). The arrows were carried in a quiver (Gen. 27:3; Isa. 22:6; 49:2; Ps. 127:5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached to them (Ps. 120:4). The bow is a symbol of victory (Ps. 7:12). It denotes also falsehood, deceit (Ps. 64:3, 4; Hos. 7:16; Jer. 9:3). “The use of the bow” in 2 Sam. 1:18 (A.V.) ought to be “the song of the bow,” as in the Revised Version.

(Genesis 37:10) The eastern mode of salutation, by kneeling upon one knee and bending the head forward till it touched the ground.

BOW . See Armor.

BOW, a posture. Gen 37:10. To bow down one's self is expressive of great reverence and humility. Gen 24:26, Gen 24:48; 1 Kgs 1:58 and 1 Kgs 2:19. It was a common mode of salutation in the East to kneel upon one knee and bow the head until it touched the ground. It is still the custom in many Eastern nations for subjects to kneel before the throne of the king and bow their heads slowly till they touch the earth.

BOW, a posture. Gen 37:10. To bow down one's self is expressive of great reverence and humility. Gen 24:26, Gen 24:48; 1 Kgs 1:58 and 1 Kgs 2:19. It was a common mode of salutation in the East to kneel upon one knee and bow the head until it touched the ground. It is still the custom in many Eastern nations for subjects to kneel before the throne of the king and bow their heads slowly till they touch the earth.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

An inclination of the head, or a bending of the body, in token of reverence, respect, civility, or submission; an obeisance; as, a bow of deep humility.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow. I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13.

2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled.

3. An ornamental knot, with projecting lops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string.

4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.

5. An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a stringed instrument.

6. An acrograph.

7. Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by hatters.

8. A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.

9. Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree. Bow bearer (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest who looked after trespassers. -- Bow drill, a drill worked by a bow and string. -- Bow instrument (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which the tones are produced by the bow. -- Bow window (Arch.) See Bay window. -- To draw a long bow, to lie; to exaggerate. [Colloq.]

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the stream or prow.

2. One who rows in the forward part of a boat; the bow oar. Bow chaser (Naut.), a gun in the bow for firing while chasing another vessel. Totten. - Bow piece, a piece of ordnance carried at the bow of a ship. -- On the bow (Naut.), on that part of the horizon within 45º on either side of the line ahead. Totten.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. Milton. The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. Prescott.

2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. Bacon. Not to bow and bias their opinions. Fuller.

3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 2 Kings ii. 15.

4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,; Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. Shak.

5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To bend; to curve. [Obs.]

2. To stop. [Archaic] They stoop, they bow down together. Is. xlvi. 2

3. To bend the head, knee, or body, in token of reverence or submission; -- often with down. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. Ps. xcv. 6.

4. To incline the head in token of salutation, civility, or assent; to make bow. Admired, adored by all circling crowd, For wheresoe'er she turned her face, they bowed. Dryden.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i.

2. To manage the bow.