נִשְׁמְר֥וּ
𐤍𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤅
nishemeru
have been kept
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
1 Samuel 21:5 · Word #18
Lexicon H8104
| Lemma | שָׁמַר |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤔𐤌𐤓 |
| Transliteration | shâmar |
| Strong's | H8104 |
| In-context | have been kept |
Morphology HVNp3cp
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | N — Niphal — Simple passive or reflexive |
| Conjugation | p — Perfect — Completed action |
| Person | 3 — 3rd person — Third person ("he/she/they") |
| Gender | c — Common — Common (both genders) |
| Number | p — Plural — Plural |
SIBI-P1 H8104-24
they were guarded
| Root | שׁמר (š-m-r) |
| Core Meanings | guarding, hedging about, watching, preserving, keeping |
| Semantic Range | to be guarded, be kept, be preserved, be observed, be watched over, be kept safe |
| Conceptual Significance | The root שׁמר frequently expresses covenantal vigilance—guarding commands, preserving life, or being kept by YHWH. In passive forms, it can highlight divine protection or the maintained state of obedience, underscoring themes of preservation and faithful watchfulness in Israel’s relationship with God. |
| Morphological Notes | Niphal perfect, 3rd person common plural. Niphal expresses passive or reflexive action of the Qal stem (“to guard/keep”). |
| Rendering Rationale | The Niphal stem conveys a passive or reflexive sense of the root שׁמר (“to guard, hedge about, keep watch”). As a perfect 3rd person common plural form, נִשְׁמְרוּ means “they were guarded” or “they were kept,” preserving both the passive voice and the plural subject indicated by the morphology. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root שׁמר (guarding, hedging about, watching, preserving, keeping)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H821-01 |
ashemurot | night guard-watches |
H821-02 |
beashemoret | in the guarding-watch of |
H821-03 |
beashemurot | in the guarding-watches |
Word Usage (469 occurrences of H8104)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 2:15 | וּ/לְ/שָׁמְרָֽ/הּ | uleshamerah | and to keep it |
| Genesis 3:24 | לִ/שְׁמֹ֕ר | lishemor | to guard |
| Genesis 4:9 | הֲ/שֹׁמֵ֥ר | hashomer | keeper |