Sheleṭ (שֶׁלֶט) means shield — a defensive weapon, often a small round shield or buckler. Related to shālaṭ (to have power, to dominate).
Second Samuel 8:7: 'David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer.' David's capture of enemy shields symbolized complete military dominance — the enemy's defense was now Israel's trophy. Song of Solomon 4:4 uses shields beautifully: 'Your neck is like the tower of David, built with courses of stone; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.' The shields represent both beauty and defense — strength adorning the beloved. For the believer, Ephesians 6:16 commands us to take up 'the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.'