shield
ma.gen denotes defensive battle equipment and, when applied to God, protection for those who seek refuge in him.
The term most often denotes defensive equipment carried, prepared, displayed, or used in military settings; it also describes God as the protection of those who take refuge in him.
Senses in use
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Defensive equipment in battle · dominant
Absolute singular and plural forms occur among weapons and soldiers. In 1 Chronicles 5:18 the APB renders men as bearing “shield and sword,” while Jeremiah 46:3 calls for preparation before advancing to battle; 1 Kings 14:27 describes bronze examples assigned to guards.
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A figure for God's protection · common
In clauses identifying God or the LORD, the noun describes protection connected with refuge, help, or trust. In Genesis 15:1 the APB renders the address to Abram, “I am a shield to you,” and in Psalm 28:7 it calls the LORD “my strength and my shield” after the speaker says his heart trusted in him.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with “shield” in scenes of weapons, guards, and warfare, and also in statements about God as help or refuge. In some verses it places “shield” beside “buckler,” but the translation does not mark a word-for-word correspondence.