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שׇׁמְרָה

𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤄

shomrâh

H8108 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שמר to keep, to guard, to preserve, to observe

Definition

A period of guard duty or watch; a stint or division during which individuals are responsible for keeping watch, particularly for protecting persons, property, or places. The term denotes the scheduled time assigned to a guard, not the act of watching itself nor the person keeping watch. It can also refer to the group on duty or the office/site under surveillance in a military, cultic, or civil context.

Semantic Range

division of guard duty, period of watch, scheduled watch shift, organized guard rotation, formal division of sentry duty

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁמַר (to keep, guard, observe), with the –ָה ending marking a noun form, likely indicating an abstract quality or a designated period (e.g., 'guard-duty,' 'watch time').

Historical & Contextual Notes

שׇׁמְרָה occurs sparingly in the Hebrew Bible and is characteristic of organized, scheduled watch-keeping in institutional settings, especially in descriptions of temple or city guard duties (cf. 2 Kings 11:5–7; 1 Chron. 9:27). Unlike שָׁמַר which denotes the general act of guarding, or שֹׁמֵר (shomer), the guard/keeper, שׇׁמְרָה refers specifically to the designated period or division of watch-keeping, often emphasizing the systematized structure of such duties. In later periods this term retains its association with regimented watches, especially in cultic or military contexts. Standard English translations such as 'watch' may not convey the technical nature of the term's reference to scheduled duties rather than just vigilance. Later rabbinic literature continues to make similar distinctions between שׇׁמְרָה as the division/time and שֹׁמֵר as the person.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of an unused noun from שָׁמַר meaning a guard; watchfulness; watch.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שמר (sh-m-r) — to keep, to guard, to preserve, to observe

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3461 יִשְׁמְרַי He-preserves
H4929 מִשְׁמָר the guard-duty
H7763 שׁוֹמֵר the guarding one
H8068 שָׁמִיר like a hard-thorn
H8104 שָׁמַר in their guarding

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8108-01 שָׁמְרָ֣ה shamerah HNcfsa a guard Guard! 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8108-01 Psalms 141:3 שָׁמְרָ֣ה shamerah HNcfsa a guard Guard!
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