what do sword symbolises? i understand that in different culture different meaning of sword is present. please answer whatever you have in your mind, and please disregard culture differences.
2007-02-16 19:56:11 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Good complex question. The sword can symbolise violence, combat, or military intervention. Jesus' statement, "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword" uses the term in this sense. In Islam the Arabic expression Jihad bis saif 'struggle by the sword' means 'holy' war for Islam. Another example of this metaphorical significance comes in the old saying The pen is mightier than the sword -- attributed to Edward Bulwer-Lytton.
In the following cases, the sword stands for arms in general, and has often been retained as a symbol even after it had in operational practice been replaced with firearms etcetera.
Swords form a suit in Latin suited playing cards which include the Italian suited Tarot decks (replaced by spades in the French deck of modern playing cards and in modern French suited Tarot or Tarock decks.) In divinitory Tarot, the sword is often interpreted as representing air, as well as intelligence. It can also represent fire and will.
The sword often functions as a symbol of masculinity and particularly -since its form lends itself to this, especially in erect position- as a phallic symbol of virility. For example, "sword swallowing" is used as an euphemism of fellatio.
Swords are also used as emblem or insignia (in or on formal dress such as uniforms, badges, various objects, even coats of arms), especially: as symbol of power, such as a Sword of State, Sword of Mercy, Curtana and Sword of Justice (all can be used as regalia, in England five in total during the coronation);
as symbol of armed force, or of a corps entitled to use force as the strong arm of the law, as in military and police insignia, or of a unit (e.g. regiment) of such a corps - as these are numerous, inevitably many variations and combinations (two crossed swords, or with a laurel wreath, crown, national or under/patron's emblem etcetera) are used. on the flag of Saudi Arabia.
Its symbolic meaning is also reflected in the existence of prestigious titles, linking people of valor to it, such as:
Sword of religion
sword of the faith
Sword of the State
Sword of War
It can be awarded as an honorary attribute, like a decoration, known as sword of honour
Crossed swords have their own particular symbolism, and are in the Miscellaneous Symbols area of Unicode at U+2694 (⚔):
On a map: a site of battle
In genealogy or biography: signifying that a person was killed in action
It is also not unusual for swords to represent reason - as in "cutting through" a series of elements in a problem in order to leave only those with proven relevance, for example.
Symbol for bravery for fighting a just cause; the sword of Lady Justice symbolizes the need of justice to remain neutral in legal decisions.
The term a double-edged sword can be used as an expression for anything that can simultaneously help and hinder, as when, in swordfighting, a person can increase his leverage by putting his hand on the blade, which might win the contest but also result in a wound.
The Japanese Daisho- A pair of two swords, Katana and Wakizashi or Tanto- was symbolic of the Samurai's strength and honour.
Hope this help Good luck
2007-02-16 22:46:05 · answer #1 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looks like the KJV. Here's what my NKJV says: Psa 22:20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. (I just noticed that this is the psalm that the Christ began to cry out on the cross! Neat!) Also, Gill correctly interprets 'darling' as referring to the life/living body of the person praying. Here's his thoughts: he [Jesus] being forsaken by God, and deserted by his disciples; his soul was in darkness, sorrow, and distress, wherefore he prays it might be delivered "from the power of the dog"; either Satan is so called for his malice and envy, who had put it into the heart of Judas to betray him, and had filled the Pharisees with envy at him, and who through it delivered him to Pilate; or the impure, cruel, and wicked Roman soldiers, and in short all his crucifiers; called in the plural number "dogs" If you look back a few verses, you'll see another reference to dogs in verse 16. Prophetically-speaking, this is taken to mean either the Pharisees or the Roman soldiers. In other words, the dog is either Satan, or Satan working through humans. *edit* To voice_of_reason, 'unicorns' is a classic mistranslation of 'wild oxen'. Both have the same word in Hebrew (reh-ame or rame). Also, in Hebrew, the word here used for 'dog' is 'keleb', 'From an unused root meaning to yelp, or else to attack'.
2016-05-23 21:56:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can symbolize many things. The most obvious is that it can function as a symbol for war, battle, conflict. It can also be symbolic of the masculine--virility and sexuality (as the phallus).
2007-02-16 20:03:02 · answer #3 · answered by N 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weapons .bladed into the hilt or handle.strength,and diversity
2007-02-16 20:00:05 · answer #4 · answered by one10soldier 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋