אַשְׁמֻרָה
𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤓𐤄
ʼashmurâh
H821 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Period of time into which the night was divided for guard duty or keeping watch, specifically referring to one of the designated segments ('watches') of the night. In biblical texts, typically refers to a portion or interval into which nighttime hours were divided, particularly for organizing periods of military or priestly vigilance or for practical descriptions of nighttime activity.
Semantic Range
standards periods of night for guard duty, divisions of night for vigilance, intervals of nighttime referenced for prayer or reflection, periods of anticipated divine action or deliverance in poetry
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁמר (to keep, guard, observe). The word אַשְׁמֻרָה is a feminine noun derived from this root, likely formed after the pattern of action/result nouns, signifying the period in which watching or guarding is done. Variants (אַשׁמוּרָה, אַשׁמֹרֶת) reflect minor orthographic changes but share the same formation and meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, night-watches reflect ancient Near Eastern military and urban practice, dividing the nighttime hours into segments for assigned guards. Earlier Israelite practice typically recognized three night watches, while in later periods (influenced by Persian or Hellenistic custom) the night might be divided into four watches, as reflected in some post-exilic or Second Temple texts. The term is most commonly found in poetic or liturgical passages (e.g., Psalms) to evoke the experience of nighttime vigilance, and is distinct from other terms of measurement, like 'hour,' which do not appear in pre-exilic periods. English translations such as 'watch' or 'night watch' sometimes obscure the structured, shift-based nature of the Hebrew concept. Notably, the term designates the temporal interval itself rather than the act of watching, nor the individuals keeping watch (for which שׁוֹמֵר or צוֹפֶה are used).
Translation Consistency
The noun אַשְׁמֻרָה refers to a division/period of the night for guard or vigil. The most natural, common English rendering is “watch” (singular) — it covers the typical senses (a guard/watch period, plural watches) and matches the P2 evidence and SILEX range better than alternatives like “night” or a multi-word phrase.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or אַשׁמוּרָה; or אַשׁמֹרֶת; (feminine) from שָׁמַר; a night watch; watch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שׁמר (Shamur) — to guard, to keep, to observe, to watch
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4929 | מִשְׁמָר | in the guard-post |
| H4931 | מִשְׁמֶרֶת | in a guarding-duty |
| H8053 | שָׁמוּר | I will guard |
| H8069 | שָׁמִיר | in Shamir |
| H8111 | שֹׁמְרוֹן | in Watch-place |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H821-01 |
אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת | ashemurot | HNcfpa |
the night watches | night guard-watches | night guard-watches | 2 |
H821-02 |
בְּ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת | beashemoret | HR/Ncfsc |
in the watch | in a guard-watch | in the watch | 2 |
H821-03 |
בְּ֝/אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת | beashemurot | HR/Ncfpa |
in the watches | in guard-watches | in the watches | 1 |
H821-04 |
הָ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת | haashemoret | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-watch | the guard-watch | of the watch | 1 |
H821-05 |
וְ/אַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה | veashemurah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a watch | and a guard-watch | and a watch | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H821-02 |
Exodus 14:24 | בְּ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת | beashemoret | HR/Ncfsc |
in the watch | in a guard-watch | in the watch |
H821-04 |
Judges 7:19 | הָ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת | haashemoret | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-watch | the guard-watch | of the watch |
H821-02 |
1 Samuel 11:11 | בְּ/אַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת | beashemoret | HR/Ncfsc |
in the watch | in a guard-watch | in the watch |
H821-03 |
Psalms 63:7 | בְּ֝/אַשְׁמֻר֗וֹת | beashemurot | HR/Ncfpa |
in the watches | in guard-watches | in the watches |
H821-05 |
Psalms 90:4 | וְ/אַשְׁמוּרָ֥ה | veashemurah | HC/Ncfsa |
and a watch | and a guard-watch | and a watch |
H821-01 |
Psalms 119:148 | אַשְׁמֻר֑וֹת | ashemurot | HNcfpa |
watches | night guard-watches | night guard-watches |
H821-01 |
Lamentations 2:19 | אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת | ashemurot | HNcfpa |
the night watches | night guard-watches | night guard-watches |