Description
The sheath was a case or bag about the size and shape of a sword, used to cover and to carry the sword. It could be made of a variety of materials, usually leather, but also cloth, metal, or even wood. It was normally attached to a circular strap or belt that could be hung over the shoulder or tied around the waist. In later Old Testament times, when iron swords were too heavy for a belt alone, the sheath was attached to a combination of a belt and a shoulder strap.
Usage
The sheath covered the blade of a sword in order to protect the blade and to protect the person carrying the sword and those around him from being cut accidentally.
Translation
In some languages “sheath” may be rendered “leather bag for a sword,” “covering for a sword,” or “something in which a sword is carried.”