שָׁמַר

Meaning:

To guard

To protect

To keep

To observe

To attend

The verb שמר occurs about 470 times in the Old Testament.

Central in covenant language. God “keeps” His covenant promises, and His people are called to “keep” His commandments.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps (שֹׁמֵר) covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep (שֹׁמְרִים) His commandments.”

Thus, שָׁמַר expresses mutual faithfulness between God and His people — divine protection and human obedience.

Examples

Used for physical guarding or protection of people or things, for example: “The LORD will keep (שָׁמַר) you from all evil; He will keep your life.” ()

Also often used for keeping God’s commandments or covenant, for example, “You shall therefore keep (שָׁמַר) My commandments.” (). This usage implies not only obedience but careful, watchful attention.

Used for watchmen or people on guard duty, for example, “The LORD watches (שֹׁמֵר) over the city.” ()

It can also mean “to keep in mind” or “to treasure up.” The equivalent Greek word for this διετήρει (e.g. )

Grammatical forms

Qal Stem – Perfect (Past Tense)

Person	Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
1st sing.	שָׁמַרְתִּי	—	I kept
2nd sing.	שָׁמַרְתָּ	שָׁמַרְתְּ	you kept
3rd sing.	שָׁמַר	שָׁמְרָה	he/she kept
1st plural	שָׁמַרְנוּ	—	we kept
2nd plural	שְׁמַרְתֶּם	שְׁמַרְתֶּן	you (pl.) kept
3rd plural	שָׁמְרוּ	—	they kept

Qal Stem – Imperfect (Future/Incomplete)

Person	Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
1st sing.	אֶשְׁמֹר	—	I will keep
2nd sing.	תִּשְׁמֹר	תִּשְׁמְרִי	you will keep
3rd sing.	יִשְׁמֹר	תִּשְׁמֹר	he/she will keep
1st plural	נִשְׁמֹר	—	we will keep
2nd plural	תִּשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה	you (pl.) will keep
3rd plural	יִשְׁמְרוּ	תִּשְׁמֹרְנָה	they will keep

Qal Stem – Imperative (Command)

Person	Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
2nd sing.	שְׁמֹר	שִׁמְרִי	keep!
2nd plural	שִׁמְרוּ	שְׁמֹרְנָה	keep! (plural)

Qal Stem – Infinitives & Participles

Form	Hebrew	Meaning
Infinitive construct	לִשְׁמֹר	to keep
Infinitive absolute	שָׁמוֹר	surely keep
Participle (m.s.)	שֹׁמֵר	keeping
Participle (f.s.)	שֹׁמֶרֶת	keeping (f.)
Participle (m.pl.)	שֹׁמְרִים	keepers (m.)
Participle (f.pl.)	שֹׁמְרוֹת	keepers (f.)

Niphal Stem (Passive / Reflexive)

Person	Perfect	Imperfect	Meaning
1st sing.	נִשְׁמַרְתִּי	אֶשָּׁמֵר	I was kept / I guard myself
2nd sing. m/f	נִשְׁמַרְתָּ / נִשְׁמַרְתְּ	תִּשָּׁמֵר / תִּשָּׁמְרִי	you were kept / you will be kept
3rd sing. m/f	נִשְׁמַר / נִשְׁמְרָה	יִשָּׁמֵר / תִּשָּׁמֵר	he/she was kept / will be kept
1st plural	נִשְׁמַרְנוּ	נִשָּׁמֵר	we were kept
2nd plural m/f	נִשְׁמַרְתֶּם / נִשְׁמַרְתֶּן	תִּשָּׁמְרוּ / תִּשָּׁמֵרְנָה	you (pl.) were/will be kept
3rd plural m/f	נִשְׁמְרוּ	יִשָּׁמְרוּ / תִּשָּׁמֵרְנָה	they were/will be kept

Hithpael Stem (Reflexive / Cautious)

Person	Perfect	Imperfect	Meaning
1st sing.	הִתְשַׁמַּרְתִּי	אֶתְשַׁמֵּר	I kept myself / I was on guard
2nd sing. m/f	הִתְשַׁמַּרְתָּ / הִתְשַׁמַּרְתְּ	תִּתְשַׁמֵּר / תִּתְשַׁמְּרִי	you kept yourself / you will guard yourself
3rd sing. m/f	הִתְשַׁמֵּר / הִתְשַׁמְּרָה	יִתְשַׁמֵּר / תִּתְשַׁמֵּר	he/she kept self / will guard self
1st plural	הִתְשַׁמַּרְנוּ	נִתְשַׁמֵּר	we kept ourselves
2nd plural m/f	הִתְשַׁמַּרְתֶּם / הִתְשַׁמַּרְתֶּן	תִּתְשַׁמְּרוּ / תִּתְשַׁמֵּרְנָה	you (pl.) kept yourselves / will guard yourselves
3rd plural	הִתְשַׁמְּרוּ	יִתְשַׁמְּרוּ	they kept themselves / will guard themselves