Bible Dictionary
VALIANT, VALIANTLY
Valiant means courageous, strong, or mighty, especially in warfare. In Scripture it commonly describes warriors and people of notable strength or bravery.
Definition
Valiant means courageous, strong, or mighty, especially in warfare. It may describe a warrior, a person of notable strength, or an act carried out with courage and might.
Biblical Usage
The Old Testament commonly applies the term to courageous men and men of war, including “mighty men of valor.” In Hebrews, “valiant in fight” is rendered “mighty in war” in the Revised Version.
Historical Background
The principal Hebrew word translated “valiant” means power or might. Other Hebrew terms are also rendered this way, and translations vary among “valiant,” “strong,” “man of valor,” and similar expressions.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>val'-yant, val'-yant-li (chayil; ischuros): "Valiant" in the Old Testament is for the most part the translation of chayil, "power," or "might," and is applied to the courageous and to men of war ("mighty men of valor"), as in 1Sa 14:52; 31:12; 2Sa 11:16, etc.; in some passages ben chayil, "a son of might" (Jud 21:10; 1Sa 18:17; 2Sa 2:7, etc.). A few other Hebrew words (gibbor, etc.) are thus rendered. In the New Testament the word occurs once in the King James Version (Heb 11:34, "valiant in fight"; the Revised Version (British and American) "mighty in war"). "Valiantly" is the translation of the same Hebrew word (Nu 24:18; Ps 60:12, etc.); in one case in the King James Version of chazaq (1Ch 19:13, the American Standard Revised Version "play the man," the English Revised Version "men"). In some instances the Revised Version (British and American) has variations, as "man of valor" for "valiant man" (1Sa 16:18), "valiant" for "strong" (1Ch 26:7,9; Jer 48:14, etc.).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>