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שָׁמַר
Meaning:
- To guard
- To protect
- To keep
- To observe
- To attend
The verb שמר occurs about 470 times in the Old Testament.
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.” (Psalm 121:7)
Also often used for keeping God’s commandments or covenant, for example, “You shall therefore keep (שָׁמַר) My commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:11plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigDeuteronomy 7:1
Hebrew כִּ֤י יְבִֽיאֲךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֶל הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּ֥ה בָא שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ וְנָשַׁ֣ל גּֽוֹיִם רַבִּ֣ים מִפָּנֶ֡יךָ הַֽחִתִּי֩ וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֨י וְהָאֱמֹרִ֜י וְהַכְּנַעֲנִ֣י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֗י וְהַֽחִוִּי֙ וְהַיְבוּסִ֔י שִׁבְעָ֣ה גוֹיִ֔ם רַבִּ֥ים וַעֲצוּמִ֖ים מִמֶּֽךָּ ESV “When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Ca…). 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.” (Psalm 127:1plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 127:1
Hebrew שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה אִם יְהוָ֤ה לֹא יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣יו בּ֑וֹ אִם יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא יִשְׁמָר עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר ESV A SONG OF ASCENTS. OF SOLOMON. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. NIV Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. ᾠδὴτῶν…)
It can also mean “to keep in mind” or “to treasure up.“ The equivalent Greek word for this διετήρει (e.g. Luke 2:19plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigLuke 2:19
Greek ἡ δὲ Μαρία πάντα συνετήρει τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα συνβάλλουσα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς. ESV But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. NIV But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. NLT but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.)