To summarize, arrows represent strength and masculinity, the ability to travel at great speed, to reach out and communicate, to look forward and remain true to a purpose and succeed in striking a target (reaching a goal) and finally the ability to soar – reach out to the Gods in heaven for quest of a deeper meaning or aspiration. As an extension of this, arrows are seen as a symbol of masculinity, power and warlike capabilities. Hence the expression “Straight as an Arrow”. This ability to aspire, that is, “soar” to the heavens, is a particularly strong symbolism.Īrrows also represent a singularity or purpose – a way of going directly from Point A to Point B, as if piercing the heart of a matter, without a lot of dithering about what has happened in the past. They could also represent the ability of a person to free his or her spirits and travel far and wide across the galaxy in his dreams. Arrows could represent the ability of the higher spirits to travel wide and fast. The symbol is extended in a number of ways. For example, with Cupid, the cherubic little God succeeds when the lead tip of an arrow hits his target’s first – it is both a symbol of reaching out to communicate and completing the purpose of the trip. In this image, the arrow is a symbol of traveling fast, being able to traverse great distances and the ability to reach out and communicate, eventually touching someone. The more popular interpretations usually revolve around the quality of the arrow when shot from a bow or crossbow – traveling at great speed outward or upward. What is the Spiritual Meaning of Arrows?Īrrows can symbolize a lightning strike from the heavens. Let us examine further how arrows have been used in different cultures. It’s clear from these and other imageries that arrows represent the ability to reach out, communicate and travel at great speeds. The Greek Goddesses Diana and Artemis both carried bows and arrows. The God of Love, Cupid, uses a bow and arrow to snare his “victims”. The Zodiac sign of Sagittarius depicts a centaur shooting an arrow. Just to re-iterate there’s much more information on Jeffrey Archer’s version of A Quiver Full of Arrows than its original biblical application.Arrows are a popular symbol in mythology. The opposition might hope the candidate ‘has more than one arrow in their quiver’ as an expression of doubt about what they have just heard. You may find this phrasing used in politics where one or other individual has to talk their way out of a tight spot. In many religions children are considered a sign of wealth but at what cost? says: In God’s eyes, having a “quiver” well-stocked with children is good! What can we learn from God’s simple analogy? Why does it refer to children as “arrows in the hand of a warrior”? Perhaps this inspired metaphor can help us rethink our perspective on children.”įor modern language purposes it means to have one of a number of resources or strategies that can be drawn on or followed, the Oxford Reference adds. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them’). “In British humorous usage, quiverful can mean a large number of offspring (originally with biblical allusion to Psalm 127:5, ‘Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant: even so are the young children. The word is recorded from Middle English, and is ultimately of West Germanic origin. There is very little available on the history of the idiom in that exact phrasing but there is more on ‘quiver.’Īccording to Oxford Reference, a quiver is “An archer’s portable case for holding arrows. With millions of fans and high praise from the writing community claiming him to be among the top ten writers of all time and, according to the late Larry King “the best writer alive” it’s no wonder the idiom is well-used. In Archer’s Quiver Full of Arrows he gives his fans 12 short stories to choose from. Thanks to prolific author Jeffrey Archer the idiom ‘a quiver full of arrows’ penetrated our language to a great extent after 1980 when he published a book with this title.Ī quiver full of arrows means to have more than one option available to utilise.
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