KJV dictionary & concordance
To curve, draw, or incline; especially to draw a bow by pulling its string, and figuratively to direct or incline something.
Definition sources
First occurrence: Psalms 11:2
Complete exact-word concordance
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
For loe, the wicked bende their bow, they make ready their arrow vpon the string: that they may priuily shoote at the vpright in heart.
1611 marginal noteHebr. in darknesse.
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bowes to shoote their arrowes, euen bitter words:
1611 marginal notePsal.11.3.
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.
And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the trueth vpon the earth: for they proceed from euil to euill, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
Come vp ye horses, and rage yee charets, and let the mightie men come forth, the Ethiopians and the Libyans that handle the shield, and the Lydians that handle and bend the bow.
1611 marginal noteHeb. Cush.
1611 marginal noteHebr. Put.
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the Lord.
Put your selues in aray against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her; spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD,
Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.
Call together the archers against Babylon: all yee that bend the bow, campe against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her worke; according to all that shee hath done vnto her: for shee hath bene proud against the LORD, against the Holy one of Israel.
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.
Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himselfe vp in his brigandine; and spare yee not her young men, destroy yee vtterly all her hoste.
There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
There was also an other great eagle, with great wings and many feathers, and behold, this Uine did bend her rootes towards him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that hee might water it by the furrowes of her plantation.
Source order
1 · KJV context and cross-references
Historical English dictionary sources
To crook; to make curved; to strain or move out of a straight line, as to bend a bow.
