Bible Dictionary
Bravery
“Bravery” in Isaiah 3:18 is an old English term meaning beauty, adornment, splendor, or elegance. It refers to the decorative ornaments of the daughters of Zion, not to courage.
Definition
Bravery is an old English term meaning comeliness, beauty, glory, honor, majesty, or splendor. In the biblical expression concerning the “bravery” of the daughters of Zion, it refers to attractive adornment rather than courage or fearlessness.
Biblical Usage
In Isaiah 3:18, “bravery” describes the beauty or splendor of the women’s ornamental dress, especially their tinkling ornaments or anklets. Modern translations render the expression as the beauty of their anklets.
Historical Background
The term is obsolete in this sense and survives in the King James wording. Its biblical usage reflects an older English meaning associated with beauty and adornment.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Isa. 3:18), an old English word meaning comeliness or beauty.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>brav'-er-i: tiph'arah or `tiph'ereth = "beauty," "glory," "honor" and "majesty," hence, "splendor of bravery." "The bravery of their tinkling ornaments" (Isa 3:18 the King James Version), "the beauty of their anklets" (American Standard Revised Version). Compare bravado, bravura.</p>