Generally, a standard raised in battle as a rallying point for armies. God is described as Israel's banner in recognition of his powerful defence of his people. The Messiah will raise a banner to rally the scattered exiles of Israel.
Israel's tribes identified by banners
Numbers 2:2 See also Numbers 1:52, Numbers 2:17, Numbers 2:34, Numbers 10:14
“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.
Banners carried into battle
Battle standards carried by armies
Psalm 20:5 See also Psalm 74:4; Song of Solomon 6:4; Isaiah 30:17 Banners to rally armies were often set up on the top of a hill; Jeremiah 4:21
May we shout for joy at your victory and raise a banner in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your petitions.
The LORD as Israel's banner
Exodus 17:15–16 The LORD is the rallying point for Israel and the source of the nation's confidence in battle. See also Psalm 60:4–6
And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”
God's banner raised against his people
Isaiah 5:25–26 God raises a banner to rally nations to battle against Israel. See also Jeremiah 4:6, Jeremiah 6:1
Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised. He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold— how speedily and swiftly they come!
God's banner raised against the nations
Isaiah 13:2–5 See also Isaiah 18:3, Isaiah 31:9; Jeremiah 50:2, Jeremiah 51:12, Jeremiah 51:27–28
Raise a banner on a barren hilltop; call aloud to them. Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have even summoned My warriors to execute My wrath and exult in My triumph. Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war. They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of His wrath— to destroy the whole country.
The Messiah as a banner to the peoples
Isaiah 11:10–12 See also Isaiah 49:22, Isaiah 62:10; Zechariah 10:8; John 12:32
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Other references to banners
Song of Solomon 2:4 The king's love is like a banner, displayed for all to see; Ezekiel 27:7 a banner made from embroidered linen
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.