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Guard

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2876

טַבָּח

tab.bach — guard

1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman 1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food) 1b) guardsmen, bodyguard Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (טַבָּח "guardsman" H2877)

32 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5441

φυλακτήριος

phulaktērios — guard

φύλαξ, -ακος, ὁ (φυλάσσω), [in LXX for שָׁמַר, צוּר ;] a guard, keeper: Act.5:23 12:6, 19.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8104

שָׁמַר

sha.mar — to keep: obey

: obey/observe 1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a) watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep, preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded 1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed 1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H622

אָסַף

a.saph — to gather

1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to gather, collect 1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others) 1a3) to bring up the rear 1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to assemble, be gathered 1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2) 1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers 1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others) 1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4) 1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to gather (harvest) 1c2) to take in, receive into 1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst) 1d) (Pual) to be gathered 1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves

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GREEK · G32

ἄγγελος

angelos — angel

ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for מַלְאָךְ ;] 1. a messenger, one sent: Mat.11:10, Jas.22:25. 2. As in LXX, in the special sense of angel, a spiritual, heavenly being, attendant upon God and employed as his messenger to men, to make known his purposes, as Luk.1:11, or to execute them, as Mat.4:6. The ἄ. in Rev.1:20-2:1, al., is variously understood as (1) a messenger or delegate, (2) a bishop or ruler, (3) a guardian angel, (4) the prevailing spirit of each church, i.e. the Church itself. (Cf. Swete, Ap)., in l.; DB, iv, 991; Thayer, see word; Cremer, 18; MM, VGT, see word) (AS)

170 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5083

τηρέω

tēreō — to keep: observe

τηρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for שָׁמַר, נָצַר, etc. ;] 1. to watch over, guard, keep, preserve: Mat.27:36, Act.16:23, al.; ἑαυτόν, 2Co.11:9, 1Ti.5:22, Jas.1:27, Ju 21; before εἰς, Jhn.12:7, Act.25:21, 1Pe.1:4, 2Pe.2:4 2:9 3:7, Ju 6; ἐν, Jhn.17:11-12, Ju 21; ἐκ, Jhn.17:15, Rev.3:10; τ. πίστιν, 2Ti.4:7, Rev.14:12; τ. ἑνότητα τ. πνεύματος, Eph.4:3. 2. to watch, give heed to, observe: τ. σάββατον, Jhn.9:16; τ. ἐντολήν (-άς), Mat.19:17, Jhn.14:15 15:10, 1Ti.6:14, 1Jn.2:3-4 Jn 3:22 Jn 3:24 Jn 5:3, Rev.12:17 14:12; τ. λόγον (-ους), Jhn.8:51-52, 55 14:23-24 15:20 17:6, 1Jn.2:5, Rev.3:8, 10 22:7, 9; τ. νόμον, Act.15:5, Jas.2:10; τ. παράδοσιν, Mrk.7:9; τ. ἔργα, Rev.2:26; τ. γεγραμμένα, Rev.1:3 (cf. δια-, παρα-, συν-τηρέω) SYN.: φυλάσσω, implying custody and protection: τ. expresses the idea of watchful care and "may mark the result of which φ. is the means" (Thayer see word) (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4931

מִשְׁמֶ֫רֶת

mish.me.ret — charge

1) guard, charge, function, obligation, service, watch 1a) guard, watch, house of detention or confinement 1b) keeping, preserving 1c) charge, injunction 1d) office, function (ceremonial)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5341

נָצַר

na.tsar — to watch

1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch, guard, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)

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GREEK · G5438

φυλακή

phulakē — prison/watch: prison

φυλακή, -ῆς, ἡ (φυλάσσω) [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁמֶרֶת and cogn. forms, also for כֶּלֶא etc. ;] (a) actively, a guarding, guard, watch (Hom., Plat., Xen., al.): cogn. accusative, φυλάσσειν φυλακάς, to keep watch, Luk.2:8; (b) of those who keep watch (as also Lat. custodia), a guard; pl., sentinels, a guard (Hom., al.): Act.12:10; (with) of the place where persons are kept under guard, a prison (Hdt., Thuc., al.): Mat.14:10, Mrk.6:17, Luk.3:20, Act.5:19, 2Co.6:5, 1Pe.3:19, Rev.18:2, al.; (d) of the time during which guard was kept by night (Lest. vigilia; Anthol.), a watch: Mat.14:25 24:43, Mrk.6:48, Luk.12:38 (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3742

כְּרוּב

ke.ruv — cherub

1) cherub, cherubim (pl) 1a) an angelic being 1a1) as guardians of Eden 1a2) as flanking God's throne 1a3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant 1a4) as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1141

בְּנָיָ֫הוּ

be.na.yah — Benaiah

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.8.18; son of: Jehoiada (H3077); father of: Ammizabad (H5990) § Benaiah = "Jehovah has built" or "Yahweh has built up" 1) one of David's mighty warriors, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, a Levite, set by David over his bodyguard, later having remained faithful to Solomon during Adonijah's attempt on the crown, was raised into the place of Joab as commander-in-chief of the army 2) the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, one of David's thirty mighty warriors, and the captain of the eleventh monthly course 3) a Simeonite, a prince of the families of Simeon 4) a Levite in the time of David who played with a psaltery on Alamoth 5) a priest in the time of David, appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark 6) a Levite of the sons of Asaph 7) a Levite in the time of Hezekiah 8) Four Israelites in the time of Ezra who had taken strange wives 9) the father of Pelatiah

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GREEK · G5442

φυλάσσω

phulassō — to keep/guard: observe

φυλάσσω [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for שָׁמַר, also for נָצַר, etc. ;] to guard, watch; (a) to guard or watch: with cogn. accusative, φυλακάς, Luk.2:8; with accusative of person(s), Act.12:4 28:16; pass., Luk.8:29, Act.23:35; with accusative of thing(s), Act.22:20; (b) to guard or protect: with accusative, Luk.11:21, Jhn.12:25 17:12, 2Th.3:3, 1Ti.6:20, 2Ti.1:12 1:14, 2Pe.2:5; ἑαυτὸν ἀπό, 1Jn.5:21 (Westc., in l); metaphorically of law, precept, etc., to keep, preserve, observe: Mat.19:20, Luk.11:28 18:21, Jhn.12:47, Act.7:53 16:4 21:24, Rom.2:26, Gal.6:13, 1Ti.5:21. Mid., to be on one's guard (against), keep oneself from, beware of: with accusative, Act.21:25, 2Ti.4:15; before ἀπό., Luk.12:15; ἵνα μή, 2Pe.3:17; as in LXX (Exo.12:17, Lev.18:4, al.), of laws, etc., to keep, observe: ταῦτα πάντα, Mrk.10:20 (cf. δια-φυάσσω).† SYN.: τηρέω, q.v (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2608

חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ

cha.nan.yah — Hananiah

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.28.1; son of: Azzur (H5809H) § Hananiah = "God has favoured" 1) the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord. See also, 'Shadrach' (H07714 or H07715) 2) one of the 14 sons of Heman and chief of the 16th course 3) a general in the army of King Uzziah 4) father of Zedekiah in the time of Jehoiakim 5) son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah 6) grandfather of Irijah, the captain of the ward at the gate of Benjamin who arrested Jeremiah on the charge of deserting to the Chaldeans 7) a head of a Benjamite house 8) son of Zerubbabel from whom Christ derived His descent also called 'Joanna' by Luke 9) one of the sons of Bebai who returned with Ezra from Babylon 10) a priest, one of the makers of the sacred ointments and incense, who built a portion of the wall of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah 11) head of the priestly course of Jeremiah in the days of Joiakim 12) ruler of the palace at Jerusalem under Nehemiah and also, along with Hanani, the Tirshatha's brother, entrusted with the arrangements of guarding the gates of Jerusalem 13) Two post exilic Israelites

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4929

מִשְׁמָר

mish.mar — custody

1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance 1a) jail, prison, guard-house 1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding 1c) observances

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GREEK · G4755

στρατηγός

stratēgos — officer/magistrate

στρατηγός, -οῦ, ὁ (στραός, ἄγω), [in LXX chiefly for סָגָן (always in pl.), שַׂר ;] 1. a military commander, a general (Hdt., al.). 2. A civic commander, a governor, magistrate (Hdt., Xen., al.): Act.16:20, 22 16:35-36, 38. 3. The commander of the Levitical guard of the Temple, ὁ σ. τ. ἱεροῦ (EV, captain of the Temple): Act.4:1 5:24, 26; pl., Luk.22:4, 52.† SYN.: ἄρχων (cf. EGT on Act.16:20; Ramsay, St. Paul, 217). (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8018

שֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ

she.lem.yah — Shelemiah

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Ezr.10.39 § Shelemiah = "repaid by Jehovah" 1) a son of Bani who put away his foreign wife in the time of Ezra 2) another son of Bani who put away his foreign wife in the time of Ezra 3) father of Hananiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah 4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah in charge of the treasury 5) father of Jehucal or Jucal in the time of Zedekiah 6) Levite upon whom the lot for the East Gate fell; in the time of David 6a) also 'Meshelemiah' and 'Shallum' 7) father of Nethaniah and grandfather of Jehudi, who was the messenger sent to Baruch the scribe of Jeremiah 8) son of Abdeel and one the men commanded by king Jehoiakim of Judah to seize the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch 9) father of Irijah, the captain of the guard who arrested Jeremiah

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3774

כְּרֵתִי

ke.re.ti — Cherethite

Someone descended from Chereth(?), first mentioned at 1Sa.30.14 § Cherethites = "executioners" 1) a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners 2) either Cretans or proto-Philistines (in general)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5201

נָטַר

na.tar — to keep

1) to keep, keep guard, reserve, maintain 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to keep, maintain 1a2) to keep, guard Aramaic equivalent: ne.tar (נְטַר "to keep" H5202)

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GREEK · G4232

πραιτώριον

praitōrion — praetorium

πραιτώριον, -ου, τό (Lat. prætorium) 1. headquarters in a Roman camp, 2. The palace or official residence of the Governor of a province: Mat.27:27, Mrk.15:16 (see Swete, in l), Jhn.18:28, 33 19:9; τ. π. τ. Ἡρώδου, Act.23:35. 3. the Prætorian Guard: Php.1:13 (see Lft., in l; ICC, 51 f.).† (AS)

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Historical dictionary entry

(1.) Heb. tabbah (properly a “cook,” and in a secondary sense “executioner,” because this office fell to the lot of the cook in Eastern countries), the bodyguard of the kings of Egypt (Gen. 37:36) and Babylon (2 Kings 25:8; Jer. 40:1; Dan. 2:14). (2.) Heb. rats, properly a “courier,” one whose office was to run before the king’s chariot (2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). The couriers were also military guards (1 Sam. 22:17; 2 Kings 10:25). They were probably the same who under David were called Pelethites (1 Kings 14:27; 2 Sam. 15:1). (3.) Heb. mishmereth, one who watches (Neh. 4:22), or a watch-station (7:3; 12:9; Job 7:12). In the New Testament (Mark 6:27) the Authorized Version renders the Greek spekulator by “executioner,” earlier English versions by “hangman,” the Revised Version by “soldier of his guard.” The word properly means a “pikeman” or “halberdier,” of whom the bodyguard of kings and princes was composed. In Matt. 27:65, 66; 28:11, the Authorized Version renders the Greek kustodia by “watch,” and the Revised Version by “guard,” the Roman guard, which consisted of four soldiers, who were relieved every three hours (Acts 12:4). The “captain of the guard” mentioned Acts 28:16 was the commander of the Praetorian troops, whose duty it was to receive and take charge of all prisoners from the provinces.

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Guard in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →