Bible Dictionaries
Watch, Watchers, Watchful, Watchings

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

is used (a) with the meaning "a watch," actively, "a guarding," Luke 2:8 , lit., "(keeping, phulasso) watches;" (b) of "the time during which guard was kept by night, a watch of the night," Matthew 14:25; 24:43; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38 . See CAGE , HOLD , IMPRISONMENT, PRISON.

Note: Among the Jews the night was divided into three "watches" (see, e.g., Exodus 14:24; Judges 7:19 ), and this continued on through Roman times. The Romans divided the night into four "watches;" this was recognized among the Jews (see Mark 13:35 ).

from Lat., custodia (cp. Eng., "custody"), is rendered "watch" in Matthew 27:65,66; 28:11 , AV: see GUARD.

"sleeplessness" (akin to B, No. 4), is rendered "watchings" in 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27 .

"to watch," is used (a) of "keeping awake," e.g., Matthew 24:43; 26:38,40,41; (b) of "spiritual alertness," e.g., Acts 20:31; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:6,10 (for which see WAKE); 1 Peter 5:8 , RV , "be watchful" (AV, "be vigilant"); Revelation 3:2,3; 16:15 .

"to keep," is rendered "to watch," of those who kept guard at the Cross, Matthew 27:36,54; 28:4 , RV, "watchers" (AV, "keepers"), lit., "the watching ones." See HOLD , No. 8, KEEP, OBSERVE, PRESERVE, RESERVE.

"to observe," especially with sinister intent (para, "near," and No. 2), is rendered "to watch" in Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; 14:1; 20:20; Acts 9:24 . See OBSERVE.

"to be sleepless" (from agreuo, "to chase," and hupnos, "sleep"), is used metaphorically, "to be watchful," in Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 13:17 . The word expresses not mere wakefulness, but the "watchfulness" of those who are intent upon a thing.

"to abstain from wine," is used metaphorically of moral "alertness," and translated "to watch," in the AV of 2 Timothy 4:5 . See SOBER.