Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the role of a watchman was crucial for the safety and security of a city or community. Watchmen were stationed on city walls or towers to keep a vigilant eye for any approaching danger, such as enemy armies or other threats. The concept of the watchman is rich with spiritual and prophetic significance throughout the Scriptures.
Old Testament ContextThe Hebrew word for watchman is "tsaphah," which means to look out or to keep watch. In the Old Testament, watchmen were often appointed to guard cities and alert the inhabitants of any impending danger. For instance, in
2 Samuel 18:24-27, a watchman is described as standing on the city wall, observing and reporting the approach of a runner. Similarly, in
2 Kings 9:17-20, a watchman on the tower in Jezreel reports the approach of Jehu's company.
The role of the watchman is also metaphorically applied to the prophets of Israel. In
Ezekiel 3:17, God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman for the house of Israel, saying, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me." This passage highlights the spiritual responsibility of the watchman to warn the people of God's impending judgment and call them to repentance.
Prophetic and Spiritual SignificanceThe watchman's duty to warn and protect is a recurring theme in the prophetic books.
Isaiah 21:6-8 describes a watchman who is instructed to "go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees." The watchman sees riders and calls out, fulfilling his duty to alert the people. This imagery underscores the watchman's role as a vigilant observer and communicator of divine messages.
In
Isaiah 62:6-7, the watchmen are depicted as intercessors who "never keep silent day or night" and "give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." Here, the watchmen are not only guardians but also persistent prayer warriors, advocating for God's purposes to be fulfilled.
New Testament ApplicationWhile the specific term "watchman" is not as prevalent in the New Testament, the concept of spiritual vigilance is emphasized. Jesus instructs His disciples to "watch and pray" in
Matthew 26:41, highlighting the importance of spiritual alertness and readiness. Similarly, in
1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul exhorts believers to "stay awake and be sober," drawing on the imagery of a watchman to encourage spiritual preparedness.
The role of a watchman can also be seen in the pastoral responsibilities of church leaders.
Hebrews 13:17 speaks of leaders who "keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account." This reflects the watchman's duty to care for and protect the spiritual well-being of the community.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of the watchman serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual vigilance, prophetic responsibility, and pastoral care. Whether in the context of ancient Israel or the New Testament church, the watchman is a guardian, intercessor, and communicator of divine truth, charged with the solemn duty of warning, protecting, and guiding God's people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One set to watch; a person who keeps guard; a guard; a sentinel.
2. (n.) Specifically, one who guards a building, or the streets of a city, by night.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WATCHMANwoch'-man (tsopheh, shomer, metsappeh, notser): Used to designate a sentinel on the city walls (2 Samuel 18:252 Kings 9:18Psalm 127:1Isaiah 62:6) or on the hilltops (Jeremiah 31:6).Songs 3:3;Songs 5:7 introduces another class, "the watchmen that go about the city," and thus, it would seem, points to some system of municipal police. The distinction in meaning between the various words is clear, tsopheh having the idea of "outlooker" and notser that of "careful watcher" (being applied even to besiegers from outside:Jeremiah 4:16, "watchers"), while shomer also embraces the idea of "defending" or "guarding." InIsaiah 21:6 metsappeh is to be taken generally in the sense of "watch." In Sirach 37:14 skopos, means simply "looker."
W. M. Christie
Greek
4649. skopos -- awatchman, a mark (on which to fix the eye)... a
watchman, a mark (on which to fix the eye). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: skopos Phonetic Spelling: (skop-os') Short Definition: a goal
...Strong's Hebrew
6822. tsaphah -- to look out or about, spy, keep watch... tsaphah. 6823 . to look out or about, spy, keep watch. Transliteration: tsaphah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-faw') Short Definition:
watchman. Word Origin a prim.
...8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... care (1), take heed (5), take note (1), take...heed (1), waiting (1), waits (1),
watch (11), watched (1), watches (3), watching (3),watchman (4), watchmen (7...
4412. melunah -- a lodge, hut
... Definition: shack. Word Origin from lun Definition a lodge, hut NASB Word Usage
shack (1),watchman's hut (1). cottage, lodge. Feminine...
5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... 1), observes (1), preserve (10), preserves (1), reserve (1), secret places (1),
tends (1), watch (4), watcher (1), watches (1),watchman (1), watchmen (1)....
Library
TheWatchman
... THEWATCHMAN.Watchman, what of the night?' 'The stars are out in the sky; And the
merry round moon will be rising soon, For us to go sailing by.'...
Report of theWatchman.
... CHRIST; HIS CHARACTER AND OFFICES. 200. " Report of theWatchman. 200.
7s. M. Bowring. Report of theWatchman. 1Watchman! tell...
Watchman, Tell us of the Night
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Sundays after Epiphany 106.Watchman, tell us of the night.
Eight 7's [404]Watchman: Lowell Mason, 1830. [405]Watchman (arranged):...
M. Bowring. Advent.
... Advent. 1Watchman! tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are; Traveller!
o'er yon mountain's height, See that glory-beaming star!Watchman!...
The Morning Breaketh
... THE MORNING BREAKETH. TEXT: "Watchman, what of the night? Thewatchman said,
The morning cometh, and also the night.""Isaiah 21:11-12....
Missionary Hymns.
... Tune"Boylston. "WATCHMAN, TELL US OF THE NIGHT.".... A few hymnals have named it
"Bowring," (and why not?) and some later ones simply "Watchman."....
On the Character and Teaching of the Bishop.
... great in the kingdom of God." [2615] For you bishops are to be guides and watchmen
to the people, as you yourselves have Christ for your guide andwatchman....
True Christianity Defended
... 1. "When I bring the sword upon a land, saith the Lord, if thewatchman blow the
trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet...
"And Watch unto Prayer. "
... "Watch." A Christian should watch. A Christian is awatchman by office.... What then
should his exercise and posture be? He should be awatchman....
The Wail of a Broken Heart
... And David sat between the two gates: and thewatchman went up to the roof over the
gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man...
Thesaurus
Watchman (19 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
WATCHMAN.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Watchman (19 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 13:34 But Absalom went in flight.
...Watchman's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceWatchman's (3 Occurrences). Job 27:18 His house has no
more strength than a spider's thread, or awatchman's tent. (BBE)....
Watch (203 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One who watches, or those who watch; awatchman, or a body of watchmen;
a sentry; a guard. 3. (n.) The post or office of...
Lookout (4 Occurrences)
... with peace? Fall in behind me!" Thewatchman said, "The messenger came to
them, but he isn't coming back." (See NIV). 2 Chronicles...
Warn (35 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made you awatchman to the house of Israel: therefore
hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me....
Gardener (4 Occurrences)
... Versions of the Bible (John 20:15), the translation of kepos and ouros, "warden"
or "keeper." It is likely that the man referred to was thewatchman or keeper...
Watchmen (40 Occurrences)
... (n.) Plural ofWatchman.... Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that
build it; except the LORD keep the city, thewatchman waketh but in vain....
Warned (63 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:17 that there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, 'Son of man, awatchman
I have given thee to the house of Israel, and thou hast heard from My...
Gatekeeper (5 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:26 And thewatchman seeth another man running, and thewatchman calleth
unto the gatekeeper, and saith, 'Lo, a man running by himself;' and the...
Dumah (4 Occurrences)
... Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night?Watchman,
what of the night?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)....
Resources
What are watchmen in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAre the teachings of Witness Lee and the Local Church biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to watch and pray? | GotQuestions.orgWatchman: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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