📖 Biblical Definition
Valiant — KJV for "brave, courageous, mighty in battle" — is one of the great masculine words of Scripture. Saul gathered "any strong man, or any valiant man" (1 Samuel 14:52); David’s mighty men in 2 Samuel 23 performed valiant deeds, killing lions in pits and breaking through Philistine lines for a drink of water. Hebrews 11:34 commends the saints who "out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Valiant is not bluster — it is courage wedded to skill, anchored in faith. The age that has lost the word has lost the virtue, and the church which cannot say it of her men is in trouble. "Be of good courage, and let us play the men" (2 Samuel 10:12).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Brave, courageous, mighty in battle.
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Brave, courageous, mighty in battle; a frequent KJV term for warriors, especially David's mighty men, the men of valor enrolled by Saul, and the faithful of Hebrews 11 who 'out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.'
📖 Key Scripture
2 Samuel 23:8 — "These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains."
Hebrews 11:34 — "Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight."
1 Samuel 14:52 — "And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Lost from common speech; with it the category of biblical warrior-courage has dimmed.
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Christianity needs the valiant. Hebrews 11 lists faithful who waxed valiant in fight. Faith does not make us passive; sometimes it requires the warrior's posture. Pray for valiant brothers and sisters in our generation.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew gibbor — mighty.
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['Hebrew', 'H1368', 'gibbor', 'mighty, valiant']
['Hebrew', 'H2428', 'chayil', 'valor, strength']
Usage
"Be valiant for the truth."
"Pray for valiant brothers."