Definition and Context
The term "watchings" in the biblical context generally refers to periods of wakefulness, often associated with prayer, vigilance, or spiritual alertness. It is derived from the practice of keeping watch, especially during the night, and is closely related to the concept of being spiritually awake and attentive to God's will.

Biblical References
The concept of watchings is found throughout the Bible, often in the context of prayer and spiritual readiness. In the Old Testament, watchings are associated with the night watches, which were divisions of the night used for keeping guard or for prayer. Psalm 63:6 states, "When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night." This verse highlights the practice of meditating on God during the night watches.

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasizes the importance of watchfulness in the context of prayer and spiritual preparedness. In Mark 13:33 , Jesus instructs, "Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come." This call to vigilance is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, urging believers to remain spiritually awake and prepared for His return.

Spiritual Significance
Watchings are often associated with prayer and fasting, serving as a means of drawing closer to God and seeking His guidance. In 2 Corinthians 6:5 , the Apostle Paul lists "watchings" among the hardships he endured for the sake of the Gospel, indicating the spiritual discipline involved in maintaining vigilance.

The practice of watchings is also linked to the idea of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:18 exhorts believers to "pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints." Here, watchfulness is connected to prayer as a means of standing firm against spiritual adversaries.

Historical and Cultural Context
In ancient Israel, the night was divided into watches, each lasting approximately three hours. These watches were times when guards would be particularly vigilant against any threats. This cultural practice of dividing the night into watches provided a framework for spiritual watchings, where individuals would dedicate specific times for prayer and meditation.

The early Christian church adopted similar practices, with many believers engaging in night vigils as a form of spiritual discipline. These vigils were times of extended prayer and worship, reflecting the early church's emphasis on spiritual readiness and devotion.

Practical Application
For contemporary believers, the concept of watchings can be applied through dedicated times of prayer and spiritual reflection. Setting aside specific times, whether during the night or day, to focus on prayer and seeking God's presence can enhance one's spiritual life and readiness. Watchings encourage believers to remain spiritually alert, fostering a deeper relationship with God and a heightened awareness of His work in their lives.

In summary, watchings in the biblical sense involve a commitment to spiritual vigilance, prayer, and readiness. They serve as a reminder of the importance of staying spiritually awake and attentive to God's will, both in anticipation of Christ's return and in daily life.(2 Corinthians 6:5), lit. "sleeplessnesses," the result of "manual labour, teaching, travelling, meditating, praying, cares, and the like" (Meyer's Com.).

The Answer to the Effect that Bad Men Cannot Possess True ...
... their order, that he might explain which follows what, and which gives birth to
what, after some others he proceeds as follows: "In watchings, in fastings, in ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi the answer to.htm

section 4
... of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. ... ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 4.htm

Examples of True Eloquence Drawn from the Epistles of Paul and the ...
... in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 7 examples of true eloquence.htm

Whether Religious are Bound to Manual Labor?
... to the curbing of concupiscence, inasmuch as it is a means of afflicting the body;
hence it is written (2:Cor.6:5,6): "In labors, in watchings, in fastings, in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious are bound to.htm

Spiritual Culture.
... themselves by "much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings." 2 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter xi spiritual culture.htm

Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment
... All the pains and passions, the sorrows and the groans, the humility and poverty,
the labors and watchings, the prayers and the sermons, the miracles and the ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/jeremy taylor christs advent.htm

Question on the Religious State
... Conferences of the Fathers[492] the opinion of S. Antony, who preferred that discretion
by which a man moderates all things to fasts and watchings and similar ...
/.../on prayer and the contemplative life/question clxxxvi on the religious.htm

This Affection the Martyrs of Christ Contending for the Truth did ...
... paying the last honors to the remains of the Saints, neither secretly to withdraw
any part thereof, (as the same history testifies,) did the watchings of cruel ...
/.../augustine/on care to be had for the dead /10 this affection the martyrs.htm

Second Sunday Before Lent
... in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday before lent.htm

First Sunday in Lent
... of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 in stripes,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6 in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/first sunday in lent.htm

Watchings (3 Occurrences)
...Watchings (3 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots,
in labors, in watchings, in fastings; (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT). ...
/w/watchings.htm - 7k

Fastings (6 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors,
in watchings, in fastings; (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/f/fastings.htm - 8k

Watchman (19 Occurrences)

/w/watchman.htm - 14k

Watching (111 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings,
in fastings; (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/w/watching.htm - 34k

Nights (27 Occurrences)
... Olives; (YLT). 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in
labors, in watchings, in fastings; (See NIV). 2 Corinthians ...
/n/nights.htm - 14k

Nakedness (50 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst,
in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/n/nakedness.htm - 26k

Labors (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). 2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots,
in labors, in watchings, in fastings; (WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV). ...
/l/labors.htm - 14k

Laboriousness (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Corinthians 11:27 in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness; (YLT). ...
/l/laboriousness.htm - 6k

Labours (19 Occurrences)
... WEY). 2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours,
in watchings, in fastings; (KJV DBY YLT). 2 Corinthians ...
/l/labours.htm - 12k

Weariness (44 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (KJV BBE WBS). ...
/w/weariness.htm - 19k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus