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.” <autott>deuteronomy_7:9|Deuteronomy 7:9</autott>

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." (<autott>pslam_121:7|Psalm 121:7</autott>)

Also often used for keeping God’s commandments or covenant, for example, "You shall therefore keep (שָׁמַר) My commandments." (<autott>deuteronomy_7:1|Deuteronomy 7:11</autott>). 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." (<autott>psalm_127:1|Psalm 127:1</autott>)

It can also mean "to keep in mind" or “to treasure up." The equivalent Greek word for this διετήρει (e.g. <autott>luke_2:19|Luke 2:19</autott>)

===== 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      |