Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Watchman
Subjects in this Topic:
woch´man (צופה, coÌ„pheh, ש×מר, shoÌ„meÌ„r, מצפּה, mecappeh, × ×¦×¨, noÌ„ceÌ„r): Used to designate a sentinel on the city walls (; ; ; ) or on the hilltops (). ; introduces another class, “the watchmen that go about the city,†and thus, it would seem, points to some system of municipal police. The distinction in meaning between the various words is clear, coÌ„pheh having the idea of “outlooker†and noÌ„ceÌ„r that of “careful watcher†(being applied even to besiegers from outside: , “watchersâ€), while shoÌ„meÌ„r also embraces the idea of “defending†or “guarding.†In mecappeh is to be taken generally in the sense of “watch.†In Sirach 37:14 σκοποÌÏ‚, skopoÌs, means simply “looker.â€