Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the term "ward" is often used to denote a place of confinement or a position of watchfulness and protection. The concept of a "ward" appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions.
1.
Guardianship and Protection: The term "ward" is frequently associated with the idea of guarding or keeping watch. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "mishmar" is often translated as "ward," indicating a place of custody or a duty of protection. For example, in
Nehemiah 12:9, the Levites are described as having responsibilities in the temple, standing "opposite them in the service of the house of God, according to the command of David the man of God, one section corresponding to another" . This highlights the role of the Levites in maintaining spiritual vigilance and order.
2.
Imprisonment and Confinement: "Ward" is also used to describe a place of imprisonment. In
Genesis 40:3, Joseph is placed "in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined" . This usage underscores the physical aspect of being held in a secure location, often for punitive or protective reasons.
3.
Spiritual Watchfulness: Beyond the physical implications, "ward" can also imply a spiritual duty of watchfulness. In the New Testament, while the specific term "ward" is less frequently used, the concept of spiritual vigilance is prevalent. Believers are often exhorted to be watchful and alert, guarding their hearts and minds against spiritual dangers. This is akin to the role of a watchman, who stands guard over a city or community, ensuring its safety.
4.
Symbolic and Prophetic Usage: In prophetic literature, the idea of a "ward" can take on symbolic meanings. For instance, the watchmen in
Isaiah 62:6 are set upon the walls of Jerusalem, tasked with the duty of constant prayer and intercession: "On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent" . This reflects the spiritual responsibility of God's people to remain vigilant in prayer and intercession.
5.
Moral and Ethical Implications: The concept of a "ward" also carries moral and ethical implications. In
Proverbs 4:23, the admonition to "guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life" resonates with the idea of maintaining a vigilant watch over one's inner life. This underscores the importance of personal responsibility in safeguarding one's spiritual well-being.
In summary, the term "ward" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical confinement and protection to spiritual vigilance and moral responsibility. It serves as a reminder of the multifaceted nature of watchfulness, both in the physical and spiritual realms, and the importance of maintaining a diligent guard over what is entrusted to one's care.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A prison (
Genesis 40:3, 4); a watch-station (
Isaiah 21:8); a guard (
Nehemiah 13:30).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of guarding; watch; guard; guardianship; specifically, a guarding during the day. See the Note under Watch, n., 1.
2. (n.) One who, or that which, guards; garrison; defender; protector; means of guarding; defense; protection.
3. (n.) The state of being under guard or guardianship; confinement under guard; the condition of a child under a guardian; custody.
4. (n.) A guarding or defensive motion or position, as in fencing; guard.
5. (n.) One who, or that which, is guarded.
6. (n.) A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, a ward in chancery.
7. (n.) A division of a county.
8. (n.) A division, district, or quarter of a town or city.
9. (n.) A division of a forest.
10. (n.) A division of a hospital; as, a fever ward.
11. (n.) A projecting ridge of metal in the interior of a lock, to prevent the use of any key which has not a corresponding notch for passing it.
12. (n.) A notch or slit in a key corresponding to a ridge in the lock which it fits; a ward notch.
13. (n.) To keep in safety; to watch; to guard; formerly, in a specific sense, to guard during the day time.
14. (n.) To defend; to protect.
15. (n.) To defend by walls, fortifications, etc.
16. (n.) To fend off; to repel; to turn aside, as anything mischievous that approaches; -- usually followed by off.
17. (v. i.) To be vigilant; to keep guard.
18. (v. i.) To act on the defensive with a weapon.
19. (v. i.) Alt. of -wards
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WARDword: "Ward" and "guard" are two different spellings of the same word, and in consequence no clear line can be drawn between them. English Versions of the Bible, however, has used "guard" only in the sense of "a special body of soldiers" (Genesis 37:36, etc.), while "ward" is used, not only in this sense (Jeremiah 37:13; contrast 39:9), but also in a variety of others. So a "ward" may mean "any body of men on special duty," as1 Chronicles 9:23; the King James Version1 Chronicles 26:16Nehemiah 12:24, 25 (the Revised Version (British and American) "watch"), or the duty itself, asIsaiah 21:81 Chronicles 12:29 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "allegiance");1 Chronicles 25:8;1 Chronicles 26:12 (the Revised Version (British and American) "office," margin "ward");Nehemiah 12:45;Nehemiah 13:30 (the Revised Version (British and American) "charge"). Or "ward" may mean "guarded place," always in the phrase "put in ward." the Revised Version (British and American) has kept this phrase throughout (Genesis 40:3, etc.), changing it only inEzekiel 19:9, where "cage" better carries out the figure of the context.
The distinction of the older English between "watch" and "ward," as applying respectively to the night and to the day seems unknown in English Versions of the Bible. CompareIsaiah 21:8.
The affix "-ward," denoting direction and still used in such forms as "toward," "northward," etc., had a much wider range in Biblical English. So, "to God-ward" (Exodus 18:192 Corinthians 3:41 Thessalonians 1:8); "to thee-ward" (1 Samuel 19:4); "to us-ward" (Psalm 40:5Ephesians 1:192 Peter 3:9 the King James Version); "to you-ward" (2 Corinthians 1:12;2 Corinthians 13:3Ephesians 3:22 Peter 3:9 the Revised Version (British and American)); and inExodus 37:9, the King James Version "even to the mercy seatward" (the Revised Version (British and American) "toward the mercy-seat").
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
292. amunomai -- toward off... to
ward off. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: amunomai Phonetic Spelling:
(am-oo'-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I defend Definition: I
ward off, defend
...292a. amuno -- toward off
... amuno. 292b . toward off. Transliteration: amuno Short Definition: defended.... prefix)
and a prim. root mun- Definition toward off NASB Word Usage defended (1)...
1519. eis -- to or into (indicating the point reached or entered...
... entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial
phrases -- (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by...
5438. phulake -- a guarding, guard, watch
... 4). cage, hold, imprisonment,ward. From phulasso; a guarding or (concretely,
guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place...
1899. epeita -- thereafter
... afterward, then. From epi and eita; thereafter -- after that(-ward), then. see GREEK
epi. see GREEK eita. (epeita) -- 16 Occurrences. 1898b, 1899....
4722. stego -- to cover closely (so as to keep water out)...
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: stego Phonetic Spelling: (steg'-o) Short Definition:
I cover, conceal, bear with Definition: I cover, conceal,ward off, bear...
2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so,
through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost...
1534. eita -- then, next, therefore (an adv. denoting sequence)
... Of uncertain affinity; a particle of succession (in time or logical enumeration),
then, moreover -- after that(-ward), furthermore, then. See also epeita....
5209. humas -- you
... of humeis, qv. you Accusative case of humeis; you (as the objective of a verb or
preposition) -- ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own). see GREEK humeis....
2316. theos -- God, a god
... Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ho) the supreme Divinity; figuratively,
a magistrate; by Hebraism, very -- X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)....
Strong's Hebrew
4307. mattara -- a guard,ward, prison, target, mark... a guard,
ward, prison, target, mark. Transliteration: mattara or mattarah Phonetic
Spelling: (mat-taw-raw') Short Definition: guardhouse.
...4929. mishmar -- place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch...
... services (1). diligence, guard, office, prison,ward, watch. From shamar;
a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (fig...
8121. shemesh -- sun
... unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively,
a ray, ie (arch.) A notched battlement -- + east side(-ward), sun ((rising...
322. achorannith -- backwards
... backward, again. Prolonged from 'achowr; backwards -- back (-ward, again). see
HEBREW 'achowr. 321, 322. achorannith. 323 . Strong's Numbers.
6488. peqiduth -- oversight
... Word Origin from paqad Definition oversight NASB Word Usage guard (1).ward. From
paqiyd; supervision --ward. see HEBREW paqiyd. 6487, 6488. peqiduth. 6489...
6440. panim -- face, faces
... because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour,
fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front...
268. achor -- the hind side, back part
... Or (shortened) achor {aw-khore'}; from Achiyra'; the hinder part; hence (adverb)
behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West -- after(-ward), back (part...
5474. sugar -- a cage, prison
... Word Origin from sagar Definition a cage, prison NASB Word Usage cage (1).ward.
From cagar; an inclosure, ie Cage (for an animal) --ward. see HEBREW cagar....
4931. mishmereth -- a guard, watch, charge, function
... charge, keep, or to be kept, office, ordinance, safeguard,ward, watch. Fem. Of
mishmar; watch, ie The act (custody), or (concr.) The sentry, the post; obj....
314. acharon -- coming after or behind
... Or (shortened);acharon {akh-ar-one'}; from 'achar; hinder; generally, late or last;
specifically (as facing the east) western -- after (-ward), to come...
Library
Ward. LM
... 356Ward. LM. Psalm 46. (849) God is the refuge of his saints, When storms
of sharp distress invade. Ere we can offer our complaints...
The Life of Mr. Robert M'Ward.
... The Life of Mr. ROBERT M'WARD. Mr. Robert M'Ward was born in Glenluce.
After he had gone through his courses of learning at the...
Ward. LM Before Sermon.
... 38Ward. LM Before Sermon. Before Sermon. (122) Thy presence, gracious
God! afford: Prepare us to receive thy word; Now let thy...
I Will that Thou Beest Aye Climbing to Jesus-Ward...
... CHAPTER V. I will that thou beest aye climbing to JESUS-ward? I will that
thou beest aye climbing to JESUS-ward, and increasing...
In the New Testament the Catholic Church Forged for Herself a New...
... In the New Testament the Catholic Church forged for herself a new weapon with which
toward off all heresy as unchristian; but she has also found in it a court...
A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale
... Title Page. A COAL FROM THE ALTAR, TO KINDLE THE holy fire of Zeale. In a Sermon
preached at a generall Visitation at Ipswich. By SAMWARD Bach. of Divinity....
Dedication
... DEDICATION. To my reverend Friend Mr. SAMUELWARD. Sir, your Sermon which
I copied partly from your mouth, and partly from your notes...
The Sixt Part.
... separated adversaries; but unto the Prophet Hosea his cake, halfe baked upon the
hearth, having one side, that is, the one side to the world-ward, in publique...
A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale
A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale....
Letter W
... 1833 * Waller, William J. "Received 1825 * Walsh, Tracy R. "Received 1830, Located
1837 * Walters, Spencer "Received 1836 *Ward, Ariel "Received 1827...
Thesaurus
You-ward (9 Occurrences)You-
ward. You've, You-
ward. Yud-kay-vav-kay . Multi-Version
Concordance You-
ward (9 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 1:12
...Ward (27 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) A minor or person under the care of a guardian; as, award in chancery....
10. (n.) A division of a hospital; as, a feverward. 11....
Us-ward (4 Occurrences)
Us-ward. Usury, Us-ward. Uta . Multi-Version Concordance Us-ward
(4 Occurrences). Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the...
Thee-ward (1 Occurrence)
Thee-ward. Theeward, Thee-ward. Theft . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
THEE-WARD. the'-werd. "To thee-ward" (1 Samuel 19:4) = toward thee....
God-ward (3 Occurrences)
God-ward. God-taught, God-ward. Goel . Multi-Version Concordance
God-ward (3 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such...
Rear-ward (3 Occurrences)
Rear-ward. Rearward, Rear-ward. Re-ascend . Multi-Version Concordance
Rear-ward (3 Occurrences). Numbers 10:25 And the...
Side-ward (1 Occurrence)
Side-ward. Side-walls, Side-ward. Siding . Multi-Version Concordance
Side-ward (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 20:20 And I...
Prisoner (87 Occurrences)
... and Nehemiah), (4) mahaphekheth, "distorting," ie stocks or pillory (4 times),
(5) 'ecur, "bond," "fetters" (Ecclesiastes 4:14 Jeremiah 37:15); "ward" in the...
Prison (131 Occurrences)
... In the wilderness two persons were "put inward" (Leviticus 24:12; Numbers 15:34),
but it was only till the mind of God concerning them should be ascertained....
Theeward
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia THEE-WARD. the'-werd. "To
thee-ward" (1 Samuel 19:4) = toward thee. SeeWARD....
Resources
What is the hand of Hamsa? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is spiritual blindness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Christian leadership? | GotQuestions.orgWard: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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