Watchman — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Military or civil security person who had the responsibility to protect ancient towns or military installations from surprise attack or civil disasters (1 Sm 14:16; 2 Sm 18:24-27; 2 Kgs 9:17-20; Is 21:6-9). Watchmen also had the responsibility of announcing the dawning of a new day (Ps 130:6; Is 21:11-12). In a passage describing the function and responsibilities of the prophets, Ezekiel reported the watchman’s parallel responsibility to warn of impending danger. If the watchman (or prophet) failed in his task, he would be guilty of the blood of the people (Ez 33:2-9; cf. Jer 6:17; Ez 3:17; Hos 9:8). In contrast to the faithful prophets, Isaiah compared the leaders of Israel to blind watchmen who lacked the ability to see Israel’s danger, much less lead the people to repentance (Is 56:10; Mi 7:4). The prophets who served as Israel’s watchmen were the ones who first saw the coming destruction of Israel and also the ones who first announced their return to the land (Is 21:11-12; 52:8).

Show passage in OET: SA1 14:16

OET-RV SA1 14:16

16 Sha’ul’s (Saul’s) lookouts in Giveah (in Benyamite territory) saw to their surprise that their opponents were starting to scatter in every direction.

OET-LV SA1 14:16

16 And_ the_watchmen of_Shāʼūl/(Saul) at_Giⱱˊāh of _Binyāmīn _they _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the_multitude it _melted _away and_he/it _went and_here.

Show passage in OET: SA2 18:24–27

OET-RV SA2 18:24

24 Now David was sitting between the outer and inner gates. When the watchman had gone over the gate roof to the wall, he looked out and saw, wow, a man was running towards them alone.

OET-RV SA2 18:25

25 The watchman called down and informed the king, and the king said, “If he’s alone, he’ll be bringing news.”
¶ As the runner got closer,

OET-RV SA2 18:26

26 the watchman looked and saw another man running. He called down to the gatekeeper and said, “Look, there’s another man running alone.”
¶ “He’ll also be bringing news,” said the king.

OET-RV SA2 18:27

27 “The gait of the first runner is like that of Tsadok’s son Ahima’ats,” the watchman said.
¶ “He’s a good man and he’ll be bringing good news,” said the king.

OET-LV SA2 18:24

24 And_Dāvid was_sitting between the _two _of the_gates and_ the_watchman _he/it _went to the _roof of_the _gate to the_wall and_he _lifted _up DOM eyes _of_his and_he/it _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _man was_running for_him/it_being _alone.

OET-LV SA2 18:25

25 And_ the_watchman _he/it _called and_he _told to/for_the _king and_ the_king _he/it _said if for_him/it_being _alone news is_in_mouth _of_his and_he/it _went coming and_approaching.

OET-LV SA2 18:26

26 And_ the_watchman _he/it _saw a _man another running and_ the_watchman _he/it _called to the_gatekeeper and_he/it _said THERE a _man is_running for_him/it_being _alone and_ the_king _he/it _said also this _one is_bearing _news.

OET-LV SA2 18:27

27 And_ the_watchman _he/it _said I am_seeing DOM the _running _of the _first_one like_the _running _of ʼAḩīmaˊaʦ the _son _of Tsādōq/(Zadok) and_ the_king _he/it _said is_a _man good this and_near/to news good he _is _coming.

Show passage in OET: KI2 9:17–20

OET-RV KI2 9:17

17 The watchman was standing on the watchtower in Yizre’el, and he could see Yehu’s party in the distance as they began approaching the city, and he reported, “I can see a large group.”
¶ King Yoram ordered, “Send out a chariot and go and ask them if they’re coming in peace.”

OET-RV KI2 9:18

18 So the horse and chariot went out to meet them and called out, “The king wants to know if you’re all coming in peace?”
¶ But Yehu answered, “What’s that got to do with you? Turn around and follow us.”
¶ Meanwhile the watchman announced, “The messenger has met them, but he isn’t returning.”

OET-RV KI2 9:19

19 So the king sent out a second horse and chariot, and he approached and asked, “The king wants to know if you’re all coming in peace?”
¶ Again Yehu replied, “What’s that got to do with you? Turn around and follow us.”

OET-RV KI2 9:20

20 Then the watchman declared, “He also met with them but didn’t return. The leader is riding like Nimshi’s son Yehu, because he’s riding like crazy.”

OET-LV KI2 9:17

17 And_the_watchman was_standing on the_tower in_Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel) and_he/it _saw DOM the _crowd _of Yēhūʼ when_came_he and_he/it _said a _crowd _of I am_seeing and_ Yəhōrām _he/it _said take a _horseman and_send_him to_meet_them and_he _will _say peace.

OET-LV KI2 9:18

18 And_ the _rider _of the _horse _he/it _went to_meet_him and_he/it _said thus the_king he _says peace and_ Yēhūʼ _he/it _said what is_to_you and_to_peace go _around to after_me and_ the_watchman _he _reported to_say the_messenger he _came to they and_not he _has _turned _back.

OET-LV KI2 9:19

19 And_he _sent a _rider _of a _horse second and_he _came to_them and_he/it _said thus the_king he _says peace and_ Yēhūʼ _he/it _said what is_to_you and_to_peace go _around to after_me.

OET-LV KI2 9:20

20 And_ the_watchman _he _reported to_say he _came to to_them and_not he _has _turned _back and_the_driving is_like_the _driving _of Yēhūʼ the _son _of Nimshiy if/because with_madness he _drives.

Show passage in OET: ISA 21:6–9

OET-RV ISA 21:6

6 My master has told me to station a watchman who’ll tell what he sees.

OET-RV ISA 21:7

7 When he sees a rider or a pair of horses, or someone riding a camel or a donkey, he must pay attention—very careful attention.

OET-RV ISA 21:8

8 Then the watchman calls out,
⇔ “My master, I’ve stood day after day on this watchtower,
⇔ ≈ and spent the nights stationed at my post,

OET-RV ISA 21:9

9 so listen, a rider is coming with a pair of horses, and he brings the news that Bavel (Babylon) has fallen, yes fallen, and all its carved idols lie broken on the ground.”

OET-LV ISA 21:6

6 If/because thus he _has _said to_me my_master go station the_watchman that_which he _will _see let _him _tell.

OET-LV ISA 21:7

7 And_he _will _see a _rider a _pair _of horses a _rider _of a _donkey a _rider _of a _camel and_he _will _pay _attention attentiveness greatness _of attentiveness.

OET-LV ISA 21:8

8 And_ a _lion _he/it _called on a _watchtower my_master I am_standing continually by _day and_at post _of_my I am_stationed all _of the_nights.

OET-LV ISA 21:9

9 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE this a _rider _of a _man a _pair _of horses is_coming and_he _answered and_he/it _said it _has _fallen Bāⱱel it _has _fallen and_all the _images _of its _gods _of_her someone _has _broken to_ground.

Show passage in OET: PSA 130:6

OET-RV PSA 130:6

6 I wait for my master to help me—
⇔ more eagerly than the night guard looks forward to the morning.

OET-LV PSA 130:6

6 Self _of_my for_the_of_master more_than _watchmen for_morning watchmen for_morning.

Show passage in OET: ISA 21:11–12

OET-RV ISA 21:11

11 A message for Dumah:
¶ Someone’s calling me from Edom, “Watchman, how long will it be before the night is over?”

OET-RV ISA 21:12

12 “The morning’s coming but also the next night. If you all want to ask, ask now, then come back again later.”

OET-LV ISA 21:11

11 The _oracle _of Dūmāh to_me someone _is_calling from_Sēˊīr Oh _watchman what is_from_the_night Oh _watchman what is_from_the_night _of.

OET-LV ISA 21:12

12 The_watchman he _says morning it _will _come and_also night if you(pl)_will _enquire enquire return come.

Show passage in OET: EZE 33:2–9

OET-RV EZE 33:2

2 “Son of humanity, tell this to your people: ‘When I send an army against any country, then the people of that country choose one of their men to become a watchman for them.

OET-RV EZE 33:3

3 He looks for any attacker coming onto the land, and then he blows his horn to warn the people.

OET-RV EZE 33:4

4 If the people hear the sound of the horn but don’t take any notice, and if the attacker comes and kills them, then each one’s blood is on their own head.

OET-RV EZE 33:5

5 Yes, if someone heard the horn but paid no attention, that person’s blood is on them, but if those people do pay attention, they’ll save their own lives.

OET-RV EZE 33:6

6 However, if the watchman sees the attacker coming, but doesn’t blow the horn, that is, if the people weren’t warned, and if the attacker approaches and takes anyone’s life, then that person dies in their own sin, but I’ll require their blood from the watchman.’

OET-RV EZE 33:7

7 Now, talking to you, son of humanity: I’ve made you a watchman for the Israeli people. You’ll hear the words from my mouth and then warn them on my behalf.

OET-RV EZE 33:8

8 If I say to a wicked person, ‘You wicked person, you’re certainly about to die,’ and if you don’t announce it so as to warn that wicked person about their behaviour, then that wicked person will die in their sin, but it’ll be you that I hold responsible for their death.

OET-RV EZE 33:9

9 But if you warn the wicked person about their behaviour, so that they might turn back from it, and if that person doesn’t turn back from their behaviour, then they’ll die in their sin, but you yourself will have saved your own life.

OET-LV EZE 33:2

2 Oh _son _of humankind speak to the _children _of your _people _of_your and_you _will _say to_them a _land if/because I _will _bring on/upon_it(f) a _sword and_ the _people _of the_earth/land _they _will _choose a _man one from_ends _of_their and_they _will _make DOM_him/it to/for_them into_a _watchman.

OET-LV EZE 33:3

3 And_he _will _see DOM the_drought//sword/knife coming on the_earth/land and_he _will _give _a _blast on_trumpet and_he _will _warn DOM the_people.

OET-LV EZE 33:4

4 And_ the_one_who_hears _he _will _hear DOM the _sound _of the _trumpet and_not he _took _warning and_ the_sword _it _came and_it_took _him blood _of_his on_his _own _of_head it _will _be.

OET-LV EZE 33:5

5 DOM the _sound _of the _trumpet he _heard and_not he _took _warning blood _of_his in/on/over_him/it it _will _be and_he he _had _taken _warning life _of_his he _delivered.

OET-LV EZE 33:6

6 And_the_watchman if/because he _will _see DOM the_drought//sword/knife coming and_not he _will _give _a _blast on_trumpet and_the_people not it _was _warned and_ the_sword _it _came and_she/it _took from_them anyone he in_iniquity _of_his he _was _taken and_blood _of_his from_the _hand _of the _watchman I _will _require.

OET-LV EZE 33:7

7 And_you(ms) Oh _son _of humankind a _watchman I_have _appointed _you for_the _house _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_you _will _hear from_mouth _of_my a _message and_you _will _warn DOM_them from_me.

OET-LV EZE 33:8

8 When_say_I to_person Oh _wicked_person surely _(die) you _will _die and_not you _have _spoken to_warn the_wicked_person from_way _of_his that wicked_person in_iniquity _of_his he _will _die and_blood _of_his from_hand _of_your I _will _require.

OET-LV EZE 33:9

9 And_you(ms) if/because you _have _warned the_wicked_person from_way _of_his to_turn _back from_her/it and_not he _has _turned _back from_way _of_his he in_iniquity _of_his he _will _die and_you(ms) life _of_your you _have _delivered.

Show passage in OET: JER 6:17

OET-RV JER 6:17

17 I set watchmen over you.
⇔ Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet,
⇔ But they said, ‘We won’t pay attention.’

OET-LV JER 6:17

17 And_I _raised _up over_you(pl) watchmen pay _attention to_sound/voice a _trumpet and_they _said not we _will _pay _attention.

Show passage in OET: EZE 3:17

OET-RV EZE 3:17

17 “Son of humanity, I’ve made you a guard over the Israeli people, so listen to this message of mine and give them my warning.

OET-LV EZE 3:17

17 Oh _son _of humankind a _watchman I_appoint _you for_the _house _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_you _will _hear from_mouth _of_my a _message and_you _will _warn them from_me.

Show passage in OET: HOS 9:8

OET-RV HOS 9:8

8 The prophet is the watchman over Yisrael with my god,
⇔ but the bird-catcher’s traps are on all of his paths,
⇔ and there’s hostility in his god’s house.

OET-LV HOS 9:8

8 ʼEfrayim was_a _watchman with god _of_my a _prophet a _trap _of a _fowler is_on all _of ways _of_his animosity in_house _of his/its_god.

Show passage in OET: ISA 56:10

OET-RV ISA 56:10

10 All of its watchmen are blind—they don’t know what’s going on.
⇔ They’re all voiceless dogs, unable to bark.
⇔ They dream about lying down—enjoying a nap.

OET-LV ISA 56:10

10 Watchmen _of_its are_blind of _them _of_all not they _know of _them _of_all are_dogs dumb not they _are _able to_bark they_are_dreaming they_are_lying _down they_are_loving _of (of)_to_slumber.

Show passage in OET: MIC 7:4

OET-RV MIC 7:4

4 The best of them is like a thorn-bush.
⇔ ≈ The most upright is worse than a prickly hedge.
⇔ It’s the day foretold by your watchmen—
⇔ the day of your punishment.
⇔ Now is the time of their confusion.

OET-LV MIC 7:4