helmets in the Bible

Hebrew: כּוֹבַע —transliteration: koba or kob'a —meaning: helmet —occurrences: 6

Greek: περικεφαλαία —transliteration: perikephalaia —meaning: helmet —occurrences: 2

This a protective cap for the defense of the head (1 Samuel 17:5, 38).

“Persia, Ethiopia, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;” —Ezekiel 38:5

In the New Testament the Greek equivalent word is used (Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thess. 5:8).

The Bible mentions helmets in two main ways:

Literal military helmets (e.g., Goliath's brass or bronze helmet in 1 Samuel 17:5; King Saul's helmet on David in 1 Samuel 17:38).
Metaphorically as spiritual armor: the “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17) or “helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8), protecting the mind in spiritual battle.

In the book of Isaiah, the Messiah (God) is prophesied as ready to defend His people, fully armed, wearing a helmet.

He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. —Isaiah 59:17

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