harness

1. Hebrew: 'asar, “to bind;” hence the act of fastening animals to a cart (1 Sam. 6:7, 10; Jer. 46:4, etc.).

2. An old English word for “armor;” Hebrew: neshek (2 Chr. 9:24).

3. Hebrew: shiryan, a coat of mail (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chr. 18:33; rendered “breastplate” in Isa. 59:17).

4. The children of Israel passed out of Egypt “harnessed” (Exodus 13:18), i.e., in an orderly manner, and as if to meet a foe. The word so rendered is probably a derivative from the Hebrew hamesh (i.e., “five”), and may denote that they went up in five divisions—the van, center, two wings, and rear-guard.

More information

• Horses in the Bible
• Horsemen in the Bible
• Animals of the Bible
• About the ancient Hebrew language