Watch — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Time unit for the division of the night in both the OT and NT. During the OT period, the night was divided into three military watches. The beginning or evening watch ran from sunset to roughly 10:00 pm (Lam 2:19); the middle or night watch was from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am (Jgs 7:19); and the morning watch was from approximately 2:00 am until sunrise (Ex 14:24; 1 Sm 11:11). During the Roman period, the number of watches was increased from three to four. These were either described by number (first, second, etc.) or as evening, midnight, cock-crowing, and morning (Mt 14:25; Mk 6:48). The respective watches ended at roughly 9:00 pm, midnight, 3:00 am, and 6:00 am. See Night.

Show passage in OET: LAM 2:19

OET-RV LAM 2:19

19 Arise, shout in the night at the beginning of the night watches.
⇔ Pour out your heart like water in front of my master.
⇔ Lift up your hands to him for the life of your children who are fainting with hunger at the end of every street.

OET-LV LAM 2:19

19 Arise cry _out in/on/at/with to_the_beginning _of the_night-watches pour _out like_water heart _of_your in _front _of the _presence _of my_master lift _up to_him/it palms _of_your on the _life _of children _of_your the _ones_enfeebled by_hunger at_the_head _of all _of the_streets.

Show passage in OET: JDG 7:19

OET-RV JDG 7:19

19 When Gid’on and the hundred men with him got to the edge of the camp, it was the beginning of the middle nightwatch and the fresh guards had just gotten into their places. Gid’on and his unit blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that they were carrying.

OET-LV JDG 7:19

19 And_ Gidˊōn and_one _hundred man who with_him/it _he _went in_the _edge _of the _camp the _beginning _of the _watch (the)_middle just just _(station) they _had _stationed DOM the_watchmen and_they _gave _a _blast on_trumpets and_they _smashed the_jars which were_in_hand _of_their.

Show passage in OET: EXO 14:24

OET-RV EXO 14:24

24 By now morning was coming and Yahweh looked down through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he caused confusion for the Mitsri army.

OET-LV EXO 14:24

24 And_he/it _was in_the _watch _of the _morning and_ YHWH _he _looked _down to the _camp _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) in_a _pillar _of fire and_cloud and_he _confused DOM the _camp _of Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: SA1 11:11

OET-RV SA1 11:11

11 The next day, Sha’ul divided his warriors into three divisions, and they attacked the Amoni camp before the sun rose. Then they slaughtered the Amonim until the hottest part of the day. Their remaining warriors were scattered so completely that no two of them were able to stay together.

OET-LV SA1 11:11

11 And_he/it _was from_the_next _day and_ Shāʼūl/(Saul) _he/it _assigned DOM the_people three companies and_they _came in_the _midst _of the _camp in_the _watch _of the _morning and_they _defeated DOM ˊAmmōn until the _heat _of the_day and_he/it _was those_who_remained and_they _were _scattered and_not they _remained among_them two together.

Show passage in OET: MAT 14:25

OET-RV MAT 14:25

25 In the early hours of the morning, Yeshua went out to them on the lake, walking on the surface.

OET-LV MAT 14:25

25 And in_the_fourth watch of _the night, he _came to them walking on the sea.

Show passage in OET: MRK 6:48

OET-RV MRK 6:48

48 He saw them struggling to row against the wind, and some time after 3am he came out to them, walking on the lake surface as if to walk past them.

OET-LV MRK 6:48

48 And having _seen them being _tormented in the time to _be _rowing, because/for the wind was contrary to _them, about the_fourth watch of _the night he _is _coming to them, walking on the sea, and was _wanting to _pass _by them.

Jump to OET LAM 2:19 section.

Jump to OET JDG 7:19 section.

Jump to OET EXO 14:24 section.

Jump to OET SA1 11:11 section.

Jump to OET MAT 14:25 section.

Jump to OET MRK 6:48 section.