Quick Definition
to keep: obey
Strong's Definition
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
Derivation: a primitive root;
KJV Usage: 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).
TWOT Reference: 2414
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
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) 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: look at. : look_at/watch 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: careful. : careful/dilligent 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
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
verb · אַשְׁמוּרָה · אַשְׁמֹרֶת · מִשְׁמָר · מִשְׁמֶרֶת · שֶׁמֶר · שָׁמְרָה · שְׁמֻרָה · שִׁמֻּרִים · יִשְׁמְרַי · שֹׁומֵר · שֹׁומֵר · שֶׁמֶר · שִׁמְרֹון · שֹׁמְרֹון · שִׁמְרִי · שְׁמַרְיָה · שְׁמַרְיָהוּ · שִׁמְרִית · שִׁמְרָת
See | verb qal, verb nif | ≈ ראה
to observe, to watch, to pay attention = action by which humans or deities carefully observe an object or event for a longer period of time
JDG 1:24 · JDG 7:19 · 1SA 1:12 · 1SA 19:11 · 2SA 11:16 · 2SA 20:10 · 1KI 20:39 · 2KI 9:14 · NEH 13:22 · JOB 10:14 · JOB 13:27 · JOB 14:16 · JOB 24:15 · JOB 33:11 · JOB 39:1 · PSA 17:4 · PSA 37:37 · PSA 56:7 · PSA 59:1 · PSA 59:10 · PSA 71:10 · PSA 130:3 · PSA 130:6 · PRO 8:34 · ECC 5:7 · ECC 11:4 · ISA 42:20 · JER 20:10 · JER 51:12 · ZEC 11:11
Confident | verb qal, verb pi | ≈ בטח · חֶסֶד | ≠ עזב
to trust in, to rely on = action by which humans put their trust in something or someone else
Endure | verb qal | ≈ נצר
to keep, to stick to (an event) = action by which humans or deities persist in a certain activity
1CH 29:18 · PRO 5:2 · PRO 19:8 · PRO 22:18 · JER 3:5 · AMO 1:11 · MAL 2:7
Engage | verb qal, verb hit
to obey, to follow, to keep = action by which humans or deities act in accordance with a certain (usually) prescribed pattern of behavior, such as a law, covenant, etc.
GEN 17:9 · GEN 17:10 · GEN 18:19 · GEN 26:5 · EXO 12:17 · EXO 12:17 · EXO 12:24 · EXO 12:25 · EXO 13:10 · EXO 15:26 · EXO 16:28 · EXO 19:5 · EXO 20:6 · EXO 23:15 · EXO 31:13 · EXO 31:14 · EXO 31:16 · EXO 34:11 · EXO 34:18 · LEV 8:35 · LEV 18:4 · LEV 18:5 · LEV 18:26 · LEV 18:30 · LEV 19:3 · LEV 19:19 · LEV 19:30 · LEV 19:37 · LEV 20:8 · LEV 20:22 · LEV 22:9 · LEV 22:31 · LEV 25:18 · LEV 26:2 · LEV 26:3 · NUM 1:53 · NUM 3:7 · NUM 3:10 · NUM 3:28 · NUM 3:32 · NUM 3:38 · NUM 8:26 · NUM 9:19 · NUM 9:23 · NUM 18:3 · NUM 18:4 · NUM 18:5 · NUM 18:7 · DEU 4:2 · DEU 4:6 · DEU 4:40 · DEU 5:1 · DEU 5:10 · DEU 5:12 · DEU 5:29 · DEU 6:2 · DEU 6:17 · DEU 6:17 · DEU 7:8 · DEU 7:9 · DEU 7:9 · DEU 7:11 · DEU 7:12 · DEU 7:12 · DEU 8:2 · DEU 8:6 · DEU 8:11 · DEU 10:13 · DEU 11:1 · DEU 11:8 · DEU 11:22 · DEU 11:22 · DEU 12:28 · DEU 13:5 · DEU 13:19 · DEU 16:1 · DEU 16:12 · DEU 17:19 · DEU 19:9 · DEU 23:24 · DEU 26:16 · DEU 26:17 · DEU 26:18 · DEU 27:1 · DEU 28:9 · DEU 28:13 · DEU 28:45 · DEU 29:8 · DEU 30:10 · DEU 30:16 · DEU 33:9 · JOS 22:2 · JOS 22:3 · JOS 22:5 · JOS 23:6 · JDG 2:22 · JDG 2:22 · JDG 13:14 · 1SA 13:13 · 1SA 13:14 · 2SA 22:22 · 2SA 23:5 · 1KI 2:3 · 1KI 2:3 · 1KI 2:43 · 1KI 3:6 · 1KI 3:14 · 1KI 6:12 · 1KI 8:23 · 1KI 8:24 · 1KI 8:25 · 1KI 8:58 · 1KI 8:61 · 1KI 9:4 · 1KI 9:6 · 1KI 11:10 · 1KI 11:11 · 1KI 11:34 · 1KI 11:38 · 1KI 13:21 · 1KI 14:8 · 2KI 11:5 · 2KI 11:6 · 2KI 11:7 · 2KI 17:13 · 2KI 17:19 · 2KI 18:6 · 2KI 23:3 · 1CH 10:13 · 1CH 12:30 · 1CH 22:12 · 1CH 23:32 · 1CH 28:8 · 1CH 29:19 · 2CH 5:11 · 2CH 6:14 · 2CH 6:15 · 2CH 6:16 · 2CH 7:17 · 2CH 13:11 · 2CH 23:6 · 2CH 34:21 · 2CH 34:31 · NEH 1:5 · NEH 1:5 · NEH 1:7 · NEH 1:9 · NEH 9:32 · NEH 10:30 · NEH 12:45 · JOB 22:15 · JOB 23:11 · PSA 18:22 · PSA 19:12 · PSA 37:34 · PSA 39:2 · PSA 78:10 · PSA 78:56 · PSA 89:29 · PSA 89:32 · PSA 99:7 · PSA 103:18 · PSA 105:45 · PSA 106:3 · PSA 119:4 · PSA 119:5 · PSA 119:8 · PSA 119:9 · PSA 119:17 · PSA 119:34 · PSA 119:44 · PSA 119:55 · PSA 119:57 · PSA 119:60 · PSA 119:63 · PSA 119:67 · PSA 119:88 · PSA 119:101 · PSA 119:106 · PSA 119:134 · PSA 119:136 · PSA 119:146 · PSA 119:158 · PSA 119:167 · PSA 119:168 · PSA 132:12 · PSA 146:6 · PRO 2:20 · PRO 4:4 · PRO 7:1 · PRO 7:2 · PRO 8:32 · PRO 19:16 · PRO 28:4 · PRO 29:18 · ECC 8:2 · ECC 8:5 · ECC 12:13 · ISA 26:2 · ISA 56:1 · ISA 56:2 · ISA 56:4 · ISA 56:6 · JER 5:24 · JER 8:7 · JER 16:11 · JER 35:18 · EZK 11:20 · EZK 17:14 · EZK 18:19 · EZK 18:21 · EZK 20:18 · EZK 20:19 · EZK 36:27 · EZK 37:24 · EZK 40:45 · EZK 40:46 · EZK 43:11 · EZK 44:8 · EZK 44:8 · EZK 44:14 · EZK 44:15 · EZK 44:16 · EZK 44:24 · EZK 48:11 · DAN 9:4 · DAN 9:4 · HOS 4:10 · HOS 12:7 · AMO 2:4 · MIC 6:16 · ZEC 3:7 · MAL 2:9 · MAL 3:7 · MAL 3:14
Know | verb qal | ≈ בין
to keep in mind, to remember = action by which humans keep processing information in their minds
Non-Engage | verb qal
Collocation: שׁמר יָד
to refrain (from an activity) literally: to keep one's hand; hence: = action by which humans refrain from engaging in a certain activity
Safe | verb qal, verb nif, verb hit
to be careful, to make sure, to take precautions = action by which humans ensure their own well-being by being watchful, by making sure that certain instructions are carried out, or by refraining from certain activities
GEN 24:6 · GEN 31:24 · GEN 31:29 · EXO 10:28 · EXO 19:12 · EXO 23:13 · EXO 23:21 · EXO 34:12 · NUM 23:12 · NUM 28:2 · DEU 2:4 · DEU 4:9 · DEU 4:23 · DEU 5:32 · DEU 6:3 · DEU 6:12 · DEU 6:25 · DEU 8:1 · DEU 8:11 · DEU 11:16 · DEU 11:32 · DEU 12:1 · DEU 12:13 · DEU 12:19 · DEU 12:30 · DEU 13:1 · DEU 15:5 · DEU 15:9 · DEU 17:10 · DEU 23:10 · DEU 24:8 · DEU 24:8 · DEU 24:8 · DEU 28:1 · DEU 28:15 · DEU 28:58 · DEU 31:12 · DEU 32:46 · JOS 1:7 · JOS 1:8 · JOS 6:18 · JOS 22:5 · JOS 23:11 · JDG 13:4 · JDG 13:13 · 1SA 19:2 · 1SA 21:5 · 2SA 22:24 · 2KI 6:9 · 2KI 6:10 · 2KI 10:31 · 2KI 17:37 · 2KI 21:8 · 1CH 22:13 · 2CH 19:7 · 2CH 33:8 · JOB 36:21 · PSA 18:24 · PRO 21:23 · ISA 7:4 · JER 9:3 · JER 17:21 · EZK 18:9 · EZK 20:21
Safe | verb qal, verb nif | ≈ חיה · ישׁע · נצל · נצר · סתר · עבד · פלט | ≠ כרת · עות · שׁלךְ · שׁמד
to watch over, to guard, to be in charge of, to take care of, to protect, to tend, to keep = causative action by which humans or deities make sure that an object is safe from harm; ◄ by observing the object and the surrounding area carefully and intervening when necessary
GEN 2:15 · GEN 3:24 · GEN 4:9 · GEN 28:15 · GEN 28:20 · GEN 30:31 · GEN 41:35 · EXO 21:29 · EXO 21:36 · EXO 22:6 · EXO 22:9 · EXO 23:20 · NUM 3:8 · NUM 6:24 · NUM 31:30 · NUM 31:47 · DEU 4:9 · DEU 4:15 · JOS 10:18 · JOS 24:17 · 1SA 2:9 · 1SA 7:1 · 1SA 9:24 · 1SA 17:20 · 1SA 17:22 · 1SA 25:21 · 1SA 26:15 · 1SA 26:16 · 1SA 28:2 · 1SA 30:23 · 2SA 15:16 · 2SA 16:21 · 2SA 18:12 · 2SA 20:3 · 2SA 22:44 · 1KI 2:4 · 1KI 8:25 · 1KI 14:27 · 2KI 12:10 · 2KI 22:4 · 2KI 22:14 · 2KI 23:4 · 2KI 25:18 · 1CH 9:19 · 1CH 9:19 · 2CH 6:16 · 2CH 12:10 · 2CH 34:9 · 2CH 34:22 · EZR 8:29 · NEH 2:8 · NEH 3:29 · NEH 11:19 · NEH 12:25 · EST 2:3 · EST 2:8 · EST 2:14 · EST 2:15 · EST 2:21 · EST 6:2 · JOB 2:6 · JOB 10:12 · JOB 29:2 · PSA 12:8 · PSA 16:1 · PSA 17:8 · PSA 25:20 · PSA 34:21 · PSA 37:28 · PSA 39:2 · PSA 41:3 · PSA 86:2 · PSA 91:11 · PSA 97:10 · PSA 116:6 · PSA 121:3 · PSA 121:4 · PSA 121:5 · PSA 121:7 · PSA 121:7 · PSA 121:8 · PSA 127:1 · PSA 127:1 · PSA 130:6 · PSA 140:5 · PSA 141:9 · PSA 145:20 · PSA 146:9 · PRO 2:8 · PRO 2:11 · PRO 3:26 · PRO 4:6 · PRO 6:22 · PRO 6:24 · PRO 7:5 · PRO 13:3 · PRO 14:3 · PRO 16:17 · PRO 19:16 · PRO 21:23 · PRO 22:5 · PRO 27:18 · ECC 3:6 · ECC 4:17 · ECC 5:12 · ECC 12:3 · SNG 3:3 · SNG 5:7 · SNG 5:7 · ISA 21:11 · ISA 21:11 · ISA 21:12 · ISA 62:6 · JER 4:17 · JER 31:10 · JER 35:4 · JER 52:24 · HOS 12:13 · HOS 12:14 · MIC 7:5 · ZEC 3:7 · MAL 2:15 · MAL 2:16
1 PSA 59:10 MT HOTTP-A NIV NJPS NJB NRSV REB GNT CEV | RSV זמר 2 EXO 19:12 the preposition מִן is missing here but clearly implied. 3 ECC 12:3 possibly an allusion to a person's arms or legs 4 PSA 89:29 MT-K אֶשְׁמֹור | MT-Q אֶשְׁמָר
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
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
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