In the biblical context, the concept of "defend" encompasses both divine protection and human responsibility to uphold justice and righteousness. The term is often associated with God's role as a protector of His people and the call for believers to stand up for truth and justice.

Divine Defense

The Bible frequently portrays God as a defender of His people. In the Old Testament, God is depicted as a shield and fortress for those who trust in Him. Psalm 18:2 declares, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." This imagery emphasizes God's role as a protector against physical and spiritual adversaries.

God's defense is also evident in His deliverance of Israel from their enemies. In Exodus 14:14 , Moses reassures the Israelites, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." This passage highlights God's active role in defending His people, requiring their trust and faith in His power.

Human Responsibility to Defend

While God is the ultimate defender, Scripture also calls believers to participate in defending the oppressed and upholding justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs, "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy." This passage underscores the responsibility of God's people to advocate for those who cannot defend themselves.

The New Testament continues this theme, urging believers to stand firm in their faith and defend the truth of the Gospel. In 1 Peter 3:15 , Christians are exhorted, "But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, but respond with gentleness and respect." This verse highlights the importance of being ready to articulate and defend one's faith while maintaining a Christ-like demeanor.

Spiritual Warfare

The concept of defense extends into the spiritual realm, where believers are called to stand against the forces of evil. Ephesians 6:11-13 instructs, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand." This passage emphasizes the need for spiritual preparedness and reliance on God's strength to defend against spiritual attacks.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of "defend" encompasses both divine protection and human responsibility. God is portrayed as the ultimate defender of His people, while believers are called to uphold justice, defend the oppressed, and stand firm in their faith. Through divine and human defense, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of protection and advocacy in both physical and spiritual realms.1. (v. t.) To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.

2. (v. t.) To prohibit; to forbid.

3. (v. t.) To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies.

4. (v. t.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit.

626. apologeomai -- to give an account of oneself, hence to defend ...
... to give an account of oneself, hence to defend oneself. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apologeomai Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ol-og-eh'-om-ahee) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/626.htm - 8k

292. amunomai -- to ward off
... to ward off. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: amunomai Phonetic Spelling:
(am-oo'-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I defend Definition: I ward off, defend ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/292.htm - 5k

1344. dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous
... declare righteous. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dikaioo Phonetic Spelling:
(dik-ah-yo'-o) Short Definition: I make righteous, defend the cause of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1344.htm - 9k

1314. diaphulasso -- to guard carefully
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diaphulasso Phonetic Spelling: (dee-af-oo-
las'-so) Short Definition: I guard carefully, protect, defend Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1314.htm - 7k

1556. ekdikeo -- to vindicate, to avenge
... to avenge. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekdikeo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-dik-eh'-o) Short Definition: I give justice over, defend, avenge, vindicate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1556.htm - 7k

379. anapologetos -- without excuse
... 379 () then refers to something that completely lacks merit. [379 () comes
from " privative" ("not") and ("to defend, excuse"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/379.htm - 8k

1598. ganan -- to cover, surround, defend
... 1597, 1598. ganan. 1599 . to cover, surround, defend. Transliteration: ganan
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-nan') Short Definition: defend. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1598.htm - 5k

8199. shaphat -- to judge, govern
... root Definition to judge, govern NASB Word Usage acting like a judge (1), already
he is acting (1), argue our case (1), decide (1), defend (3), deliver (1 ...
/hebrew/8199.htm - 6k

5526. cakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... cover, defense, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up Or sakak
(Exod. 33:22) {saw-kak'}; a primitive root; properly, to ...
/hebrew/5526.htm - 5k

3467. yasha -- to deliver
... avenging, defend, deliverer, help, preserve, rescue, be safe,. A primitive
root; properly, to be open, wide or free, ie (by implication ...
/hebrew/3467.htm - 6k

7682. sagab -- to be (inaccessibly) high
... defend, exalt, be excellent, be, set on high, lofty, be safe, set up on high,.
A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially ...
/hebrew/7682.htm - 6k

5337. natsal -- to strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered ...
... to snatch away, at all, defend, deliver self, escape, without fail, part,
pluck,. A primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a ...
/hebrew/5337.htm - 6k

5975. amad -- to take one's stand, stand
... 2), appointed (15), arise (11), arisen (1), arose (3), attend* (1), attended (1),
broke (1), changed (1), confirmed (2), continue (1), defend (2), delay (2 ...
/hebrew/5975.htm - 7k

1777. din -- to judge
... root Definition to judge NASB Word Usage administer (1), defend (1), dispute (1),
execute judgment (1), govern (1), judge (9), judges (2), plead (2), pled (1 ...
/hebrew/1777.htm - 6k

7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... roob}; a primitive root; properly, to toss, ie Grapple; mostly figuratively, to
wrangle, ie Hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend -- adversary, chide ...
/hebrew/7378.htm - 6k

To Defend the Weak, or to Help Strangers, or to Perform Similar ...
... Book II. Chapter XXI. To defend the weak, or to help strangers, or to perform
similar duties? To defend the weak, or to help strangers ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxi to defend the.htm

Whether an Advocate is Bound to Defend the Suits of the Poor?
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an
advocate is bound to defend the suits of the poor? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an advocate is bound.htm

Seek Ye a Patron to Defend?
... No. 98 Seek ye a Patron to defend? SAINTS, St. Peter Seek ye a Patron to defend?
Si vis Patronum quaerere. Translated by Father Caswall Nicola A. Montani. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 98 seek ye a.htm

Whether it is Lawful for the Accused to Defend Himself with ...
... OF SINS COMMITTED AGAINST JUSTICE ON THE PART OF THE DEFENDANT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for the accused to defend himself with calumnies? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 7.htm

Whether a Man who is Condemned to Death May Lawfully Defend ...
... OF SINS COMMITTED AGAINST JUSTICE ON THE PART OF THE DEFENDANT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
a man who is condemned to death may lawfully defend himself if he can? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man who is.htm

The Other Passages of Scripture which they Employ to Defend their ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 25 The other passages of Scripture which
they employ to defend their error are miserably wrested.? ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 25 the other passages.htm

By this News Sennacherim was Led to Return in Order to Defend his ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter LI. By this news Sennacherim
was led to return in order to defend his own territories? ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter li by this news.htm

Now, if These Arguments Hold Good, Why Should we not Defend...
... Chapter XIII. Now, if these arguments hold good, why should we not defend?
Now, if these arguments hold good, why should we not ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xiii now if these.htm

Friendship of Basil and of Gregory, the Theologian; Being Peers in ...
... Book VI. Chapter XVII."Friendship of Basil and of Gregory, the Theologian;
being Peers in Wisdom, they defend the Nicene Doctrines. ...
/.../chapter xvii friendship of basil and.htm

Concerning Paulinus and Meletius, Chief-Priests of Antioch; How ...
... XIII."Concerning Paulinus and Meletius, Chief-Priests of Antioch; how Eusebius and
Lucifer antagonized One Another; Eusebius and Hilarius defend the Nicene ...
/.../chapter xiii concerning paulinus and meletius.htm

Defend (38 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to
maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town ...
/d/defend.htm - 17k

Vindicate (18 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To maintain or defend with success; to prove to be valid; to assert
convincingly; to sustain against assault; as, to vindicate a right, claim, or title ...
/v/vindicate.htm - 11k

Protection (19 Occurrences)
... Protection (19 Occurrences). Luke 18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often
came to him, saying,'Defend me from my adversary!' (See NAS). ...
/p/protection.htm - 12k

Maintain (50 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish. ...
5. (vt) To affirm; to support or defend by argument. ...
/m/maintain.htm - 21k

Legal (13 Occurrences)
... replied. (WEY). Luke 18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to
him, saying,'Defend me from my adversary!' (See NAS). Luke ...
/l/legal.htm - 10k

Widow (71 Occurrences)
... Luke 18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying,'Defend me
from my adversary!' (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/w/widow.htm - 31k

Ward (27 Occurrences)
... guard during the day time. 14. (n.) To defend; to protect. 15. (n.) To defend
by walls, fortifications, etc. 16. (n.) To fend off; to ...
/w/ward.htm - 19k

Fortification (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of fortifying; the art or science
of fortifying places in order to defend them against an enemy. ...
/f/fortification.htm - 40k

Maim (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person on fighting
less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. ...
/m/maim.htm - 8k

Contest (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend;
as, the troops contested every inch of ground. 3. (vt) To ...
/c/contest.htm - 9k

Does the Bible call Christians to defend the faith / argue for the faith? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about self-defense? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian apologetics? | GotQuestions.org

Defend: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus