821. ashmoreth or ashmurah

Lexicon

ashmoreth or ashmurah: Watch, Night Watch

Original Word: אַשְׁמֻרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ashmurah
Pronunciation: ash-mo-reth
Phonetic Spelling: (ash-moo-raw')
Definition: Watch, Night Watch
Meaning: a night watch

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

watch

Or bashmuwrah {ash-moo-raw'}; or -ashmoreth {ash-mo'-reth}; (feminine) from shamar; a night watch -- watch.

see HEBREW shamar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from shamar
Definition
a watch
NASB Translation
watch (4), watches (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אַשְׁמוּרָה, אַשְׁמֹ֫רֶת noun feminine watch (division of time); — absolute אַשְׁמוּרָה בֳּלּ֑יְלָה Psalm 90:4; ראֹשׁ אַשְׁמֹרֶת הַתִּיכוֺנָה Judges 7:19; construct אַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר Exodus 14:24 (J), 1 Samuel 11:11; plural absolute אַשְׁמֻרוֺת Lam 19:19; Psalm 63:7; Psalm 119:148.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning "to watch" or "to guard."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3722 (φυλακή, phylakē): Refers to a watch, guard, or prison. It is used in the New Testament to describe a watch or guard, similar to the concept of a night watch.
• G5438 (φυλακή, phylakē): Also denotes a watch, guard, or prison. This term is used interchangeably with G3722 in the context of keeping watch or being on guard.

These Greek terms reflect the continuity of the concept of vigilance and watchfulness from the Hebrew Scriptures into the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and physical readiness.

Usage: The term אַשְׁמֻרָה is used in the context of dividing the night into watches, typically for the purpose of maintaining vigilance or security. It is often associated with the practice of keeping watch during the night hours.

Context: The concept of night watches is rooted in ancient practices where the night was divided into segments to ensure continuous vigilance. In biblical times, the night was typically divided into three or four watches. Each watch was a period during which a watchman or group of watchmen would be responsible for guarding a city, camp, or other area of importance.

The term אַשְׁמֻרָה appears in several biblical passages, highlighting the importance of vigilance and readiness. For example, in Psalm 63:6 (BSB), the psalmist reflects on meditating on God during the night watches: "When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night." This verse underscores the spiritual discipline of maintaining awareness and devotion even during the quiet and solitary hours of the night.

The division of the night into watches also has military and practical implications, as seen in the story of Gideon in Judges 7:19 (BSB), where the changing of the guard during the middle watch is a strategic moment: "Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the guards had been changed."

The practice of night watches serves as a metaphor for spiritual alertness and readiness, reminding believers of the need to be watchful and prepared for the coming of the Lord, as emphasized in various New Testament passages.

Forms and Transliterations

אַשְׁמֻר֑וֹת אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת אשמרות בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת באשמרות באשמרת הָאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת האשמרת וְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה ואשמורה ’aš·mu·rō·wṯ ’ašmurōwṯ ashmuRot bə’ašmōreṯ bə’ašmurōwṯ bə·’aš·mō·reṯ bə·’aš·mu·rō·wṯ beashMoret beashmuRot hā’ašmōreṯ hā·’aš·mō·reṯ haashMoret veashmuRah wə’ašmūrāh wə·’aš·mū·rāh

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 14:24
HEB: וַֽיְהִי֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּשְׁקֵ֤ף
NAS: At the morning watch, the LORD
KJV: And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD
INT: become watch the morning looked

Judges 7:19
HEB: הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה רֹ֚אשׁ הָאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַתִּֽיכוֹנָ֔ה אַ֛ךְ
NAS: of the middle watch, when they had just
KJV: of the middle watch; and they had but
INT: of the camp the beginning watch of the middle when

1 Samuel 11:11
HEB: בְתוֹךְ־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּכּ֥וּ
NAS: at the morning watch and struck down
KJV: in the morning watch, and slew
INT: the midst of the camp watch the morning and struck

Psalm 63:6
HEB: עַל־ יְצוּעָ֑י בְּ֝אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת אֶהְגֶּה־ בָּֽךְ׃
NAS: I meditate on You in the night watches,
KJV: [and] meditate on thee in the [night] watches.
INT: on my bed watches meditate

Psalm 90:4
HEB: כִּ֣י יַעֲבֹ֑ר וְאַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה בַלָּֽיְלָה׃
NAS: it passes by, Or [as] a watch in the night.
KJV: when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.
INT: when passes Or a watch the night

Psalm 119:148
HEB: קִדְּמ֣וּ עֵ֭ינַי אַשְׁמֻר֑וֹת לָ֝שִׂ֗יחַ בְּאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
NAS: anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate
KJV: prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate
INT: anticipate my eyes watches may meditate your word

Lamentations 2:19
HEB: ק) לְרֹאשׁ֙ אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת שִׁפְכִ֤י כַמַּ֙יִם֙
NAS: At the beginning of the night watches; Pour
KJV: in the beginning of the watches pour out
INT: night the beginning watches Pour water

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 821
7 Occurrences

’aš·mu·rō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
bə·’aš·mō·reṯ — 2 Occ.
bə·’aš·mu·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
hā·’aš·mō·reṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·’aš·mū·rāh — 1 Occ.