Psalms 130:6 — Word Study
WLCנַפְשִׁ֥י לַֽאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃
BSAMy soulnephesh [living being, essence] [waits] for the LordʼĂdônây [Adonay, my Master] more than watchmen [wait]shâmar [those who keep, guard] for the morningbôqer [break of day, new beginnings] more than watchmen [wait]shâmar [faithfully watching, expecting] for the morningbôqer [dawn, light]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נַפְשִׁ֥י | self my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| לַֽאדֹנָ֑י | for [the] Lord | Preposition, noun proper |
| מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים | more than watchmen | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר | for the morning | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| שֹׁמְרִ֥ים | watchmen | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural |
| לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ | for the morning | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning. |
| KJV | My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. |
| ASV | My soul waiteth for the Lord More than watchmen wait for the morning; Yea, more than watchmen for the morning. |
| YLT | My soul [is] for the Lord, More than those watching for morning, Watching for morning! |
| WEB | My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. |
| BBE | My soul is watching for the Lord more than those who are watching for the morning; yes, more than the watchers for the morning. |
Translations agree on the essence of the verse, emphasizing the psalmist's anticipation and longing for the Lord.
The structure features a main clause with a comparative phrase and a repetition for emphasis, highlighting the psalmist's deep longing.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבֹּקֶר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 130:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of Hopegenerated
Psalm 130:6 illustrates the psalmist's deep yearning for the Lord, emphasizing the intensity of his waiting. This verse is part of a larger psalm that speaks of hope and redemption, where the psalmist encourages Israel to trust in the Lord's loving devotion and promise of redemption, as seen in verses 5 and 7. The imagery of watchmen waiting for the morning reinforces the theme of patient expectation in the face of darkness and uncertainty.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 63:6 | When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. |
| 2 | Psalm 119:147 | I rise before dawn and cry for help; in Your word I have put my hope. |
| 3 | Acts 27:29 | Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak. |
| 4 | Psalm 134:1 | Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD! |
| 5 | Isaiah 21:8 | Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נַפְשִׁ֥י, naf.Shigenerated
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) translates to 'soul' or 'living being.' It signifies the essence of a person, encompassing life, breath, and vitality. The parsing shows it as a feminine singular noun with a construct form, indicating possession — my soul. This word is central to biblical concepts of humanity and existence, often representing the whole person.
In this verse, the psalmist's soul is depicted as actively waiting for the Lord, suggesting a deep, personal connection and reliance on God. This waiting is not passive; it is filled with expectation and longing, as watchmen await the dawn.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb governing the verse is שֹׁמְרִ֥ים, watchmen, which serves as the subject of the comparison. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's soul waiting in a manner more intense than the watchmen's anticipation of morning. The Hebrew word order places the subject first, highlighting the psalmist's personal experience.
The sentence is built around the comparison, with the main clause stating the psalmist's waiting and the subordinate clauses detailing the watchmen's role and their expectation for the morning.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word נַפְשִׁ֥י is rendered as μου, which means 'my.' This choice maintains the personal aspect of the psalmist's expression, emphasizing individual longing.
The Greek translation captures the essence of waiting and expectation, aligning closely with the original Hebrew intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 130:6 expresses the psalmist's deep longing for the Lord, comparing it to the eager anticipation of watchmen waiting for the morning. This verse highlights the theme of hope and expectation, encouraging believers to trust in God's timing and faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Waiting for the Lord signifies a deep trust and reliance on God, indicating that the psalmist's hope and expectation are firmly placed in Him.
The comparison to watchmen emphasizes the intensity and urgency of the psalmist's longing for God, as watchmen are vigilant and expectant for the dawn.
The repetition underscores the depth of the psalmist's yearning and the certainty of hope in God's eventual deliverance, much like the certainty of morning following the night.
This verse encourages believers to cultivate patience and hope in their relationship with God, trusting that He will act in His perfect timing.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to wait on the Lord with greater hope and expectation?
- How can I be more like a watchman in my spiritual life, staying alert and expectant for God's movement?
- What practices can help me cultivate a deeper sense of waiting on God?
- How does understanding the psalmist's longing for the Lord impact my own relationship with Him?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 130:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMy soul [waiteth] for the Lord,.... This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and to show the vehement and constant disposition of his mind towards the Lord; as well as for the sake of what
Read John Gill on Psalms 130 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 130 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhether soldiers that keep the night watches in an army or city, or the priests or Levites who did so in the temple; who being wearied with hard service and want of convenient rest, diligently look for and fervently desire the morning, when they may be discharged. Compare .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 130 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 130:6 My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] they that watch for the morning.Ver. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord] Or, watcheth for the Lord, Heb. my soul to the Lord, an ecliptical, concise speech, importing strong affection, as doth also the following reduplication, Prae custodibus ad mane, prae custodibus ad mane. I say, more than they] Or, more than they that watch for the morning wait for the morning; wherein they may sleep, which by night they might not do.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 130 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) Watch for the morning.—Comp. Psalms 123:2 for another figure of the same earnest upward gaze. In the “watcher for the dawn” there may be an allusion to the Levite-sentinel whose duty it was to signal the first ray of dawn, and the moment for commencing the sacred rites of the Temple (Psalms 134:1), but the figure if general, as marking the impatience of a deeply agitated soul—a sufferer waiting for relief, a contrite sinner for forgiveness—is as striking as graceful. (See Deuteronomy 28:67.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 130 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. More than they that watch for the morning.] I believe the original should be read differently from what it is here. The Chaldee has, "More than they who observe the morning watches, that they may offer the morning oblation." This gives a good sense, and is, perhaps, the true meaning. Most of the Versions have "From the morning to the night watches." Or the passage may be rendered, "My soul waiteth for the Lord from the morning watches to the morning watches." That is, "I wait both day and night."
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 130 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. My soul (looketh) for the Lord, More than watchmen (look) for the morning, (Yea, more than) watchmen for the morning (R.V.). More anxiously than the watchman longs for the dawn which is to release him from his duty does the devout Israelite long for the end of the night of trouble and the dawn of a happier day. The repetition of watchmen for the morning gives a touch of pathetic earnestness. Most commentators suppose that military sentinels are meant by watchmen; but the Targum renders, “My soul waits for Jehovah, more than the keepers of the morning-watch which they keep in order to offer the morning sacrifice,” understanding the allusion to be to the custom that one of the Levites who…
Read Cambridge on Psalms 130 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMy soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning - More intently; more anxiously.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 130 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning.
My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning.
I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.
Tyndale line
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
My soul waiteth for the Lord More than watchmen wait for the morning; Yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
My soul looketh for the Lord, more than watchmen look for the morning; yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say , more than they that watch for the morning.
My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning.
Strictly literal
My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than the watchers [wait] for the morning, [more than] the watchers for the morning.
My soul [is] for the Lord, More than those watching for morning, Watching for morning!
My soul [is] for the Lord, || More than those watching for morning, || Watching for morning!
My soul [waiteth] for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning expect the morning.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Simplified
I long for the Lord to come, more than watchmen longing for the dawn to come, more than watchmen longing for the dawn to come.
My soul is watching for the Lord more than those who are watching for the morning; yes, more than the watchers for the morning.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show significant agreement, with five of the six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide variations, with some words fully restored by editors, but the core meaning remains consistent across the witnesses.
נַפְשִׁ֥י לַֽאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[הוחילי] [נפש׳י] [לאדוני] כשומרים [לבוקר] [שומרים] [לבוקר]
nothing on the leather here — 1 partly restored, 6 supplied entire by an editor.
הוחילי [נפש׳י] [לאדוני] [משומרים] [לבוקר] שומרים לבוקר
3 words on the leather — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 130:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
אֲדֹנָי (Adonay) means 'Lord' and is an emphatic form of another Hebrew word for lord. It is used specifically as a title for God, often in place of Yahweh to show reverence. Variations include אֲדֹנִי and אֲדֹנַי, which help distinguish divine from human references.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H136 אָדוֹן lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'
am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of
God only):--(my) Lord.
see HEBREW for 0113
אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) — Lord.
Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
Lord
There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.
(1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form “Jehovah” is retained only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.
(2.) Heb. ‘adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen. 24:14, 27), or a ruler of his subjects (45:8), or a husband, as lord of his wife (18:12).
The old plural form of this Hebrew word is ’adonai. From a superstitious reverence for the name “Jehovah,” the Jews, in reading their Scriptures, whenever that name…
[GOD]
This name belongs to God by preeminence; and in this sense ought never to be given to any creature. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with the Father, is often called Lord in Scripture, especially in the writing of Paul. The word LORD, in the English Bible, when printed in small capitals, stands always for JEHOVAH in the Hebrew. See JEHOVAH.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
Prep | V-Qal — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHR/Vqrmpa
Are of as early a date as cities, robbers, and wars, Ex 14:24 Jud 7:19. Jerusalem and other cities had regular guards night and day, So 3:1-3 5:7, to whose hourly cries Isaiah refers in illustration of the vigilance required by God in his ministers, Isa 21:8,11,12 62:6.
At this day the watchmen of Jerusalem "keep not silence," nor do they "hold their peace day nor night;" especially at night and when danger is apprehended, they are required to call to each other every few minutes, and the cry passes from one to another entirely around the city walls. Those of Sidon also do the same. Watchmen always had a station at the gate of a city and in the adjacent tower,
- Soldiers generally acted as
Mt 27:65,66
- Citizens sometimes acted as
- WERE STATIONED
. On watch towers
. On the walls of cities
. In the streets of cities
בֹּ֫קֶר (boqer) means 'morning' and is derived from the root word for 'dawn.' It encompasses the time of day when light begins to appear, marking the end of night and the start of a new day. The term can also refer to the next day or morning after a specific point in time. It is associated with brightness and joy following periods of distress.
בֹּ֫קֶר 214 n.m. morning
morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
morrow, next day
base
H1242 בֹּ֫קֶר morning . morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
. morrow, next day
1242 boqer bo'-ker
from 1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally,
morning:--(+) day, early, morning, morrow.
see HEBREW for 01239
בֹּ֫קֶר (bo.qer) — morning.
1) morning, break of day
1a) morning
1a1) of end of night
1a2) of coming of daylight
1a3) of coming of sunrise
1a4) of beginning of day
1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.)
1b) morrow, next day, next morning
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
mor'-ning: There are several Hebrew and Greek words which are rendered "morning," the most common in Hebrew being boqer, which occurs 180 times. It properly means "the breaking forth of the light," "the dawn," as in Ge 19:27; Jud 19:8,25,27. Another word with the same meaning is shachar (Ge 19:15; Ne 4:21; Isa 58:8). mishchar ("womb of the morning," Ps 110:3) is a poetical term derived from. the same root. See HIND OF THE MORNING. noghah, naghha' (Da 6:19 (Hebrew 20)), mean "brightness." hashkem, comes from…
- The second part of the day at the creation
Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31
- The first part of the natural day
- Ordained by God
- Began with first dawn
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine pluralHVqrmpa
Are of as early a date as cities, robbers, and wars, Ex 14:24 Jud 7:19. Jerusalem and other cities had regular guards night and day, So 3:1-3 5:7, to whose hourly cries Isaiah refers in illustration of the vigilance required by God in his ministers, Isa 21:8,11,12 62:6.
At this day the watchmen of Jerusalem "keep not silence," nor do they "hold their peace day nor night;" especially at night and when danger is apprehended, they are required to call to each other every few minutes, and the cry passes from one to another entirely around the city walls. Those of Sidon also do the same. Watchmen always had a station at the gate of a city and in the adjacent tower,
- Soldiers generally acted as
Mt 27:65,66
- Citizens sometimes acted as
- WERE STATIONED
. On watch towers
. On the walls of cities
. In the streets of cities
בֹּ֫קֶר (boqer) means 'morning' and is derived from the root word for 'dawn.' It encompasses the time of day when light begins to appear, marking the end of night and the start of a new day. The term can also refer to the next day or morning after a specific point in time. It is associated with brightness and joy following periods of distress.
בֹּ֫קֶר 214 n.m. morning
morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
morrow, next day
base
H1242 בֹּ֫קֶר morning . morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
. morrow, next day
1242 boqer bo'-ker
from 1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally,
morning:--(+) day, early, morning, morrow.
see HEBREW for 01239
בֹּ֫קֶר (bo.qer) — morning.
1) morning, break of day
1a) morning
1a1) of end of night
1a2) of coming of daylight
1a3) of coming of sunrise
1a4) of beginning of day
1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.)
1b) morrow, next day, next morning
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
mor'-ning: There are several Hebrew and Greek words which are rendered "morning," the most common in Hebrew being boqer, which occurs 180 times. It properly means "the breaking forth of the light," "the dawn," as in Ge 19:27; Jud 19:8,25,27. Another word with the same meaning is shachar (Ge 19:15; Ne 4:21; Isa 58:8). mishchar ("womb of the morning," Ps 110:3) is a poetical term derived from. the same root. See HIND OF THE MORNING. noghah, naghha' (Da 6:19 (Hebrew 20)), mean "brightness." hashkem, comes from…
- The second part of the day at the creation
Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31
- The first part of the natural day
- Ordained by God
- Began with first dawn