Bible dictionaries

Champion

What Bible dictionaries say about “Champion”, one article after the other.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Champion - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(1 Sam. 17:4, 23), properly "the man between the two," denoting the position of Goliath between the two camps. Single combats of this kind at the head of armies were common in ancient times. In ver. 51 this word is the rendering of a different Hebrew word, and properly denotes "a mighty man."

Champion - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CHAMPION, n.

1. A man who undertakes a combat in the place or cause of another.

2. A man who fights in his own cause in a duel.

3. A hero; a brave warrior. Hence, one who is bold in contest; as a champion for the truth.

CHAMPION, v.t. To challenge to a combat.

Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)

The article in Easton + Webster 1828

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE 1915)

cham'-pi-un ('ish habenayim): In 1Sa 17:4,23 this unusual expression occurs in the description of Goliath. It means literally "the man of the two spaces," "spaces," or "space between," and is perhaps to be explained by the fact that there was a brook flowing through the valley separating the two armies. In 1Sa 17:51 the word champion is the rendering of the Hebrew gibbor, "mighty man."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia — James Orr, general editor and contributors; CrossWire SWORD module ISBE 2.2

The article in ISBE 1915