Lexical Summary
shoer: Gatekeeper, doorkeeper
Original Word:שׁוֹעֵר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:show`er
Pronunciation:sho-AYR
Phonetic Spelling:(sho-are')
KJV: doorkeeper, porter
NASB:gatekeepers, gatekeeper, keeper
Word Origin:[active participle ofH8176 (שָׁעַר - thinks) (as denominative fromH8179 (שַׁעַר - gate))]
1. a janitor
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
doorkeeper, porter
Or shomer {sho-are'}: active participle ofsha'ar (as denominative fromsha'ar); a janitor -- doorkeeper, porter.
see HEBREWsha'ar
see HEBREWsha'ar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
shaarDefinitiona gatekeeper
NASB Translationgatekeeper (2), gatekeepers (33), gatekeepers* (1), keeper (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
37 (denominative from ); — absolute 2Chronicles 31:14, construct
2 Kings 7:10;
1 Chronicles 9:21, + feminine
2 Samuel 4:6 (for [] ) We Dr HPS Bu Now after (Th ); plural
2 Kings 7:11 +; construct 2Chronicles 23:4; —
porter of city gate
2 Kings 7:10,11 (2 Samuel 18:26 read Th We Dr and most);
portress of house
2 Samuel 4:6 (see above); elsewhere (34 t. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah) of gate-keepers in sanctuary
1 Chronicles 9:17,18,24 +; 4,000 in number,
1 Chronicles 23:5;
1 Chronicles 9:21;
1 Chronicles 9:22;
1 Chronicles 15:23,24; 2Chronicles 23:4;
Ezra 2:42.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and ScopeThe שׁוֹעֵר is the official “gatekeeper” or “doorkeeper” who stands guard at entrances to sacred or civic precincts. In the Old Testament the term is applied almost exclusively to Levites entrusted with guarding the gates of the tabernacle, the First Temple, and, after the exile, the restored Second Temple precincts. The office is mentioned about thirty-seven times, with the great majority clustered in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Old Testament Distribution
Genesis to Deuteronomy – none
Historical Books – scattered references (notably2 Kings 7:10–11;2 Kings 12:9)
1 Chronicles – extensive genealogical and administrative material (chapters 9, 15, 16, 23, 26)
2 Chronicles – accounts of royal reforms and Temple work (chapters 8, 23, 24, 29, 31, 34, 35)
Ezra – returnees and Temple exemptions (Ezra 2:42; 7:24; 10:24)
Nehemiah – wall dedication and covenant renewal (Nehemiah 7:1, 45; 10:29; 11:19; 12:25, 45)
Psalms – the attitude of humble preference for the post (Psalm 84:10, conceptually)
Historical Development
1. Early Monarchy
Gatekeepers appear in the days of David and Samuel when worship was centralized (1 Chronicles 9:22). From that point the office became hereditary within Levitical clans, primarily among the Korahites and the descendants of Obed-Edom.
2. First Temple Period
Solomon confirmed the Levitical divisions instituted by David (2 Chronicles 8:14). Gatekeepers guarded each of the Temple’s main thresholds, maintained order, collected freewill offerings (2 Kings 12:9), and barred anyone ceremonially unclean (2 Chronicles 23:19).
3. Reforms under Hezekiah and Josiah
During Hezekiah’s cleansing of the Temple, gatekeepers reopened shuttered doors (2 Chronicles 29:14). Under Josiah they supervised repairs and ensured funds reached the workmen (2 Chronicles 34:13).
4. Exile and Restoration
Though exiled with the rest of Judah, the gatekeepers remained a distinct body. Seventy-four of them are listed among the first returnees (Ezra 2:42). By Nehemiah’s day their number had risen, and they formed a key part of the city’s defense as well as its worship life (Nehemiah 7:1).
Levitical Appointment and Organization
• Genealogical Roots – Chiefly from the families of the Korahites (1 Chronicles 9:19) and the sons of Obed-Edom (1 Chronicles 15:23-24; 26:4-8).
• Numbering – Two hundred twelve were “enrolled… and David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust” (1 Chronicles 9:22).
• Rotations – They served in organized watches, sharing day and night duties (1 Chronicles 9:25-27).
• Chief Gatekeepers – Four principal men oversaw the main directions of approach: north, south, east, and west (1 Chronicles 9:24; 26:17-18).
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Guarding Access
“He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one who was unclean in any way could enter” (2 Chronicles 23:19). Their presence preserved the holiness of worship.
2. Oversight of Treasuries and Storerooms
Certain gatekeepers were given charge of vessels and supplies; others watched over the Temple treasury (1 Chronicles 26:20-22).
3. Collection of Offerings
Jehoiada placed a chest beside the altar “and the gatekeepers put it at the entrance to the house of the LORD” for receiving funds (2 Chronicles 24:8-10).
4. Participation in Processions and Praise
During David’s transport of the ark, gatekeepers blew trumpets and opened the way (1 Chronicles 15:23-24). In the wall-dedication ceremony ofNehemiah 12 they again combined watchfulness with worship.
5. Civil Functions
Outside of the Temple, city “porters” announced news (2 Kings 7:10-11) and controlled palace thresholds.
Post-Exilic Contributions
• Restoration of Worship – Ezra received an imperial decree exempting “priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants” from taxation (Ezra 7:24), underscoring their permanent role.
• Covenant Accountability – Gatekeepers signed the renewed covenant to observe the Law (Nehemiah 10:29).
• Sabbath Sanctity – Nehemiah relied on them to keep commercial traffic out of Jerusalem on the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:19-22, implied by function).
Spiritual Themes and Lessons
Watchfulness – The office enshrines the call to vigilance. Just as gatekeepers guarded sanctity, believers are to “keep [themselves] in the love of God” (Jude 21).
Humility and Honor –Psalm 84:10 proclaims, “Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” The verse captures the humble contentment of the שׁוֹעֵר.
Stewardship – Their trust over treasure foreshadows the principle that “it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Separation unto God – By admitting only the clean, they illustrate the New Covenant charge to maintain moral and doctrinal purity within the church (2 Timothy 2:19-21).
Christological and Ecclesial Implications
Jesus declared, “I am the door” (John 10:9), fulfilling in His own person what the gatekeepers symbolized: controlled access to the presence of God. In the church age, elders and teachers function spiritually as gatekeepers, guarding sound doctrine (Titus 1:9) and ensuring worthy participation in ordinances (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
Key References
1 Chronicles 9:22 – foundational appointment
1 Chronicles 26:12 – divisions “had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD”
2 Kings 12:9 – oversight of the offering chest
2 Chronicles 23:19 – protection of holiness
Ezra 7:24 – imperial exemption
Nehemiah 7:1 – placement after the wall’s completion
Nehemiah 12:25 – gatekeepers “standing guard at the storerooms of the gates”
Summary
The שׁוֹעֵר embodies a ministry of guarded access, faithful stewardship, and continual readiness. His presence at the gate upheld the holiness of worship in Israel’s past, foreshadowed the exclusivity of salvation through Christ, and models vigilant service for the people of God in every generation.
Forms and Transliterations
הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֗ים הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֜ים הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֔ים הַשֹּׁעֲרִֽים׃ הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר הַשּׁ֣וֹעֲרִ֔ים הַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֥ים הַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֨ים הַשּׁוֹעֵ֣ר השוער השוערים השער השערים השערים׃ וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֛ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִים֙ וְהַשּֽׁוֹעֲרִים֙ וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֖ים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֛ים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֥ים וְהַשּׁוֹעֲרִים֩ וְשׁוֹעֲרִֽים׃ והשוערים והשערים ושוערים׃ לְשֹֽׁעֲרֵ֖י לְשֹׁעֲרִ֑ים לְשֹׁעֲרִ֣ים לְשֹׁעֲרִֽים׃ לשערי לשערים לשערים׃ שֹׁעֲרִ֑ים שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים שֹׁעֵ֣ר שֹׁעֵ֥ר שֽׁוֹעֲרִים֙ שוערים שער שערים haš·šō·‘ă·rîm haš·šō·‘êr haš·šō·w·‘ă·rîm haš·šō·w·‘êr hashshoaRim hashshoEr haššō‘ărîm haššō‘êr haššōw‘ărîm haššōw‘êr lə·šō·‘ă·rê lə·šō·‘ă·rîm leshoaRei leshoaRim ləšō‘ărê ləšō‘ărîm shoaRim shoEr šō‘ărîm šō‘êr šō·‘ă·rîm šō·‘êr šō·w·‘ă·rîm šōw‘ărîm vehashshoaRim veshoaRim wə·haš·šō·‘ă·rîm wə·haš·šō·w·‘ă·rîm wə·šō·w·‘ă·rîm wəhaššō‘ărîm wəhaššōw‘ărîm wəšōw‘ărîm
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