Watch

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

A. Nouns.

Mishmereth ( מִשְׁמֶרֶת , Strong'S #4931); Mishmâr ( מִשְׁמָר , Strong'S #4929), “watch; guard; post; confinement; prison; custody; division.” The first or feminine form of this word appears 78 times, while the masculine form is attested 22 times. These forms are scattered through biblical literature.

The noun mishmâr means a “military watch” over a city: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them [our enemies]” (Neh. 4:9). This word represents the place where a guard or watchman fulfills his task: “… And appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house” (Neh. 7:3). Someone who guards something keeps “watch” over it: “Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, … were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates” (Neh. 12:25). In Job 7:12 mishmâr means “watch” or “guard” in general (over a potentially dangerous criminal): “Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?”

Mishmâr can also represent a “place of confinement,” such as a jail: “And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound” (Gen. 40:3—the first occurrence of the word). Joseph put his brothers “into ward three days” (Gen. 42:17) and thereafter allowed 9 of them to return to Palestine to get Benjamin (an act supposedly proving they were not spies) while 1 of them remained in the Egyptian “prison” (Gen. 42:19). Under Mosaic law there were to be no prisons where people were held for extended periods after being convicted of a crime. Instead, those charged were held for a very short time (sometimes) immediately preceding trial until the trial could be arranged (Lev. 24:12). After the trial the guilty party was killed, punished, fined, or indentured until he worked out his fine. Mishmâr sometimes represents a group of attendants, especially in the temple. In this nuance the word may represent the temple guardunits: “To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward” (1 Chron. 26:16). However, in Neh. 12:24 the service rendered is the Levitical service in general, therefore, “division corresponding to division.” All these Levitical “divisions” constituted the full services of the temple (Neh. 13:14) The noun mishmereth appears with the same meanings as those just set forth. It can mean a “military watchman or guard” (cf. Neh. 7:3). In Isa. 21:8 the word signifies the place where one keeps watch: “… I am set in my wards whole nights.…” The phrase “to keep watch,” in the sense of to fulfill the function of a watchman or guard, appears with mishmereth in 2 Kings 11:5: “A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house.” Mishmereth represents a place of confinement in 2 Sam. 20:3: David put 10 of his concubines who had been defiled by Absalom into a house of confinement (NASB, “under guard”).

Mishmereth often is used to represent a more abstract idea than mishmâr , whereas mishmâr means the units of Levites who served the Lord (perhaps with the exception of Neh. 13:30, where mishmereth may mean “service-unit”). Mishmereth refers to the priestly or Levitical service itself: “Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord …” (Lev. 8:35). Num. 3:25 speaks of the duties of the Levites in the tent of meeting. The Levites were to “keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony” (Num. 1:53). The word, therefore, suggests both regularly prescribed act and obligation. The latter idea alone appears in Num. 8:26, where God allows Levites over 50 to serve in extraordinary circumstances, to keep an obligation.

This word often refers to divine obligation or service in general, a non-cultic obligation: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Gen. 26:5—the first occurrence of mishmereth  ; cf. Deut. 11:1).

B. Verb.

Shâmar ( שָׁמַר , Strong'S #8104), “to keep, watch.” This verb occurs 468 times in the Old Testament. The word means “to watch” in Job 14:16: “For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?”

King James Dictionary

WATCH, n. It is from the same root as wake, which see.

1. Forbearance of sleep. 2. Attendance without sleep.

All the long night their mournful watch they keep.

3. Attention close observation. Keep watch of the suspicious man. 4. Guard vigilance for keeping or protecting against danger.

He kept both watch and ward.

5. A watchman, or watchmen men set for a guard, either one person or more, set to espy the approach of an enemy or other danger, and to give an alarm or notice of such danger a sentinel a guard. He kept a watch at the gate.

Ye have a watch go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  Matthew 27 .

6. The place where a guard is kept.

He upbraids I ago, that he made him brave me upon the watch.

7. Post or office of a watchman.

As I did stand my watch upon the hill--

8. A period of the night, in which one person or one set of persons stand as sentinels or the time from one relief of sentinels to another. This period among the Israelites, seems to have been originally four hours, but was afterwards three hours, and there were four watches during the night. Hence we read in Scripture of the morning watch, and of the second, third and fourth watch the evening watch commencing at six oclock, the second at nine, the third at twelve, and the fourth at three in the morning.  Exodus 14 .  Matthew 14 .  Luke 12 . 9. A small time piece or chronometer, to be carried in the pocket or about the person, in which the machinery is moved by a spring. 10. At sea, the space of time during which one set or division of the crew remain on deck to perform the necessary duties. This is different in different nations.

To be on the watch, to be looking steadily for some event.

WATCH,

1. To be awake to be or continue without sleep.

I have two nights watchd with you.

2. To be attentive to look with attention or steadiness. Watch and see when the man passes. 3. To look with expectation.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.  Psalms 130 .

4. To keep guard to act as sentinel to look for danger.

He gave signal to the minister that watchd.

5. To be attentive to be vigilant in preparation for an event or trial, the time of whose arrival is uncertain.

Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  Matthew 24 .

6. To be insidiously attentive as, to watch for an opportunity to injure another. 7. To attend on the sick during the night as, to watch with a man in a fever.

To watch over, to be cautiously observant of to inspect, superintend and guard from error and danger. It is our duty constantly to watch over our own conduct and that of our children.

WATCH,

1. To guard to have in keeping.

Flaming ministers watch and tend their charge.

2. To observe in ambush to lie in wait for.

Saul also sent messengers to Davids house to watch him, and to slay him.  1 Samuel 19 .

3. To tend to guard.

Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida.

4. To observe in order to detect or prevent, or for some particular purpose as, to watch a suspected person to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

WATCH. — 1. The noun ‘watch’ in the Gospels represents (1) κουστωδία (Lat. custodia ) in  Matthew 27:65-66;  Matthew 28:11 Authorized Version (‘guard’ Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885). This word, which is said to have been the technical term for a company of 60 men, is used here to describe either the Roman soldiers, whom the chief priests and Pharisees obtained from Pilate, or the Temple guard, which he reminded them they already had and could employ to protect the sepulchre from being rifled. (2) φυλακή, where it denotes the divisions of the night either into 3 (Jewish and Greek; cf.  Luke 12:38 (?)* [Note: It is not unlikely that in this case the fourth watch is not named, simply because the return is not likely to be so long delayed. So Meyer, Alford, Bruce, etc.] ) or 4 (Roman; cf.  Mark 13:35) parts. The word in this sense occurs ( a ) in the account of our Lord’s walking upon the Lake of Galilee, which was ‘at the fourth watch,’ i.e. just before dawn ( Matthew 14:25,  Mark 6:48); ( b ) in His remarks upon the uncertainty and unexpectedness of the Presence (παρουσία) of the Son of Man ( Matthew 24:43,  Luke 12:38). (3) φυλακή in an active sense, denoting a watching or keeping watch ( Luke 2:8).

2. ‘Watch’ as a verb .—The duty of constant watchfulness (γρηγορεῖν) and vigilance (ἀγρυπνεῖν) is insisted upon by our Lord in two main connexions: ( a ) in regard to the particular, immediate need for it on the night of the Betrayal ( Matthew 26:38;  Matthew 26:40-41,  Mark 14:34;  Mark 14:38) and ( b ) in regard to the general attitude of disciples who await their Lord’s Return ( Matthew 24:42-43,  Mark 13:33-34;  Mark 13:37,  Luke 12:37;  Luke 12:39;  Luke 21:36).

As to the general attitude or frame of mind in which the Church is bidden by her Lord to look for His coming, the burden of His teaching is that ours must be the steadfast, active readiness of dutiful, trusty servants, who are not afraid of being caught idle or in mischief, when the Master appears and reveals His welcome, though awful presence.

C. L. Feltoe.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. i.) To remain awake with any one as nurse or attendant; to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever.

(2): ( n.) An allotted portion of time, usually four hour for standing watch, or being on deck ready for duty. Cf. Dogwatch.

(3): ( v. i.) One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.

(4): ( v. i.) To be expectant; to look with expectation; to wait; to seek opportunity.

(5): ( v. t.) To tend; to guard; to have in keeping.

(6): ( v. t.) To give heed to; to observe the actions or motions of, for any purpose; to keep in view; not to lose from sight and observation; as, to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature.

(7): ( v. i.) The act of watching; forbearance of sleep; vigil; wakeful, vigilant, or constantly observant attention; close observation; guard; preservative or preventive vigilance; formerly, a watching or guarding by night.

(8): ( v. i.) To be awake; to be or continue without sleep; to wake; to keep vigil.

(9): ( v. i.) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place; - said of a buoy.

(10): ( v. i.) The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.

(11): ( v. i.) To be attentive or vigilant; to give heed; to be on the lookout; to keep guard; to act as sentinel.

(12): ( v. i.) A small timepiece, or chronometer, to be carried about the person, the machinery of which is moved by a spring.

(13): ( n.) That part, usually one half, of the officers and crew, who together attend to the working of a vessel for an allotted time, usually four hours. The watches are designated as the port watch, and the starboard watch.

(14): ( v. i.) The period of the night during which a person does duty as a sentinel, or guard; the time from the placing of a sentinel till his relief; hence, a division of the night.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 31:49 (b) In this way GOD describes His gracious supervision over His people individually and collectively.

 Psalm 102:7 (b) Here we see the sorrow of soul in the Lord Jesus when He looked for some to take pity in His lonely sojourn and in the time of His great sorrow, only to find that all had forsaken Him and fled.

 Psalm 130:6 (b) This is emblematic of an earnest heart's desire for the return of the Lord. (See also  Matthew 24:42;  Matthew 25:13;  Mark 13:35;  Luke 21:36;  Acts 20:31).

 Proverbs 8:34 (b) This probably represents the attitude of heart wherein the soul seeks the Lord and expects constantly to see His face, and to hear His voice in sweet fellowship.

 Mark 13:33 (b) This is an attitude of heart wherein one is attentive to the possibilities of Satan's hindrances and to the opportunities for serving Christ

 Hebrews 13:17 (b) This is typical of the careful attention which the eiders of the church should show for the welfare of those entrusted to their care in the church.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Mark 13:35  Mark 4:9 Mark 7:3 Lamentations 2:19 Judges 7:19 Exodus 14:24

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A division of the night. See Hours .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

WATCH . See Time.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

in Heb. שִׁמִר , denoting "to cut into," thence "to impress on the mind," "to observe," "to watch," in the sense of keeping or guarding; or צָפָה , the original meaning of which is "to look out," thence "to watch;" as in English, "to keep a lookout," in the sense of spying or noticing. Watching must have been coeval with danger, and danger arose as soon as man became the enemy of man, or had to guard against the attacks of wild animals. Among a primitive and nomadic people this is especially necessary. Accordingly, we find traces of the practice of watching in early portions of the Hebrew annals. Watching must have been carried to some degree of completeness in Egypt, for we learn from  Exodus 14:24 that the practice had, at the time of the Exode, caused the night to be divided into different watches or portions, mention being made of the "morning watch" (comp.  1 Samuel 11:11). In the days of the Judges (vii, 19) we find "the middle watch" mentioned (see  Luke 12:38). At a later period Isaiah plainly intimates ( Isaiah 21:5-6) that there was a watch-tower in Jerusalem, and that it was customary on extraordinary occasions to set a watchman. Watchman were, however, even at an earlier day, customarily employed in the metropolis, and their post was at the gates ( 2 Samuel 18:24 sq.;  2 Kings 9:17 sq.;  Psalms 127:1;  Psalms 130:6;  Proverbs 8:34), where they gave signals and information, either by their voice or with the aid of a trumpet ( Jeremiah 6:17;  Ezekiel 33:6). At night watchmen were accustomed to perambulate the city ( Song of Solomon 3:3;  Song of Solomon 5:7). In the New Test. we find mention made of the second, the third, and the fourth watch ( Luke 12:38;  Matthew 14:25). On the watch at Christ's sepulchre ( Matthew 27:66), see the monographs cited by Volbeding, Index Priograzmmatun, page 67. (See Watchman).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

woch ( אשׁמרה , 'ashmurāh , אשׁמרת , 'ashmōreth  ; φυλακή , phulakḗ ): A division of the night. The night was originally divided into three watches (  Judges 7:19 ), but later into four, as we find in the New Testament ( Matthew 14:25;  Mark 6:48 ). We do not know the limits of the watches in the first division, but the middle watch probably began two hours before midnight and ended two hours after. The fourfold division was according to the Roman system, each of which was a fourth part of the night. See Time .

"Watch" is also the guard placed on watch ( משׁמר , mishmār ,   Nehemiah 4:9; κουστωδία , koustōdı́a , from Latin custodia ,  Matthew 27:65 ,  Matthew 27:66;  Matthew 28:11 ). It sometimes refers to the act of watching, as in  2 Kings 11:6 ,  2 Kings 11:7 ( משׁמרת , mishmereth );  Luke 2:8 ( phulakē ).

"Watch" is also used figuratively , as in   Psalm 141:3 for restraint  : "Set a watch, [[O Y]] ahweh, before my mouth" (שׁמרה , shomrāh ). See Ward .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Watching must have been coeval with danger, and danger arose as soon as man became the enemy of man, or had to guard against the attacks of wild animals. Accordingly we find traces of the practice of watching in early portions of the Hebrew annals. Watching must have been carried to some degree of completeness in Egypt, for we learn from , that the practice had, at the time of the Exodus, caused the night to be divided into different watches or portions, mention being made of the 'morning watch.' Compare . In the days of the Judges we find 'the middle watch' mentioned. See . At a later period Isaiah plainly intimates , that there was a watch-tower in Jerusalem, and that it was customary on extraordinary occasions to set a watchman. Watchmen were, however, even at an earlier day, customarily employed in the metropolis, and their post was at the gates (, sq.; , sq.;; ), where they gave signals and information, either by their voice or with the aid of a trumpet . At night watchmen were accustomed to perambulate the city . In the New Testament we find mention made of the second, the third, and the fourth watch . The space of the natural night, from the setting to the rising of the sun, the ancient Jews divided into three equal parts of four hours each. But the Romans, imitating the Greeks, divided the night into four watches, and the Jews, from the time they came under subjection to the Romans, following this Roman custom, also divided the night into four watches, each of which consisted of three hours . The terms by which the old Hebrew division of the night was characterized are,

the first watch, beginning of the watches

'the middle-watch'

'the morning-watch' .

The first extended from sunset to our ten o'clock, the second from ten at night till two in the morning, and the third from that hour till sunrise.