Lexical Summary shaqad: watching, watch, intent on doing Original Word: שָׁקַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hasten, remain, wake, watch for A primitive root; to be alert, i.e. Sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill) -- hasten, remain, wake, watch (for). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to watch, wake NASB Translation intent on doing (1), keep watch (1), keeps awake (1), kept the in store (1), lie awake (1), watch (2), watched (1), watching (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁקַד verb watch, wake (Phoenician שקר be circumspect; Late Hebrew שָׁקַד be insistent; see ᵑ7 שְׁקֵד = Biblical Hebrew); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Psalm 127:1, שָׁקַ֫דְתִּי Jeremiah 31:28; Psalm 102:8; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁק֑וֺד Job 21:32 (Me Bu יִשְׁוֹ֑דוּ), וַיִּשְׁקֹד Daniel 9:14, 1singular אֶשְׁקֹד Jeremiah 31:28; Imperative masculine plural שִׁקְדוּ Ezra 8:29; Infinitive construct לִשְׁקֹד Proverbs 8:34; Participle active שֹׁקֵד Jeremiah 1:12 +; plural construct שֹׁקְדֵי Isaiah 29:20; — 1 keep watch of, be wakeful over, ׳י subject, עַל person, to benefit or injure Jeremiah 31:28 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 44:27; עַל thing, to perform it Jeremiah 1:12; Daniel 9:14; so (men subject) שֹׁקְדֵי אָוֶן Isaiah 29:20; of leopard watching לְַעָֿרֵיהֶם Jeremiah 5:6 (to seize prey, figurative); of man watching (for admission) at (עַל) wisdom's doors Proverbs 8:34 ("" שָׁמַר); = keep guard over (עַל) Job 21:32, compare (absolute) וְשִׁמְרוּ ׳שׁ Ezra 8:29 and (of watchman, שֹׁמֵר) Psalm 127:1. 2 be wakeful, wake, as mourner, sufferer Psalm 102:8. — Lamentations 1:14 read perhaps Niph`al Perfect נִשְׁקַד עַלמְּֿשָׁעַי (ᵐ5 Bu) watch has been kept over my transgressions (compare 1 above), for ᵑ0 ׳נִשְׂקַד עֹל פ. — Pu`al denominative see infra. Topical Lexicon Overview of Watchfulnessשָׁקַד portrays active, alert, purposeful watching. In its twelve appearances the verb moves from human guardianship to the LORD’s sovereign oversight, weaving a theme of vigilance that runs through worship, wisdom, judgment, and hope. Guarding the Holy Trust (Ezra 8:29) “Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.” When Ezra entrusted silver and gold vessels to priestly hands, שָׁקַד defined the priestly calling: steadfast attention to what belongs to God. The scene anticipates New-Covenant stewardship of the gospel (1 Timothy 6:20), reminding leaders to watch doctrine and character with equal care. Vigilance in Domestic and Civic Life (Psalm 127:1) “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Here human effort is not dismissed but relativized. Night-long alertness counts only when subject to the higher guardianship of God. Congregations planning security, missions, or budgets draw encouragement: our labor is dignified yet dependent. Wisdom’s Daily Discipline (Proverbs 8:34) “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” שָׁקַד marks a learner who refuses passive religion. The verse elevates regular, eager attendance to the Word—an Old Testament echo of the Bereans who examined the Scriptures daily. Small-group discipleship, family worship, and personal devotions all mirror this posture. The Lonely Night of Affliction (Psalm 102:7) “I lie awake; I am like a lone bird on a housetop.” Suffering makes the psalmist a wakeful sentinel of his own misery. Pastoral care notes both honesty and faith: the sleepless watch becomes prayer, turning raw lament into appeal for God’s compassion (Psalm 102:1-2). The Limit of Human Effort (Job 21:32) “Yet he is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.” Even diligent guardianship cannot halt death’s advance. The verse undercuts worldly confidence, preparing hearts for the resurrection hope unveiled later in Scripture. Watching for Evil (Isaiah 29:20) “All who look for evil will be cut down.” שָׁקַד can describe corrupt attentiveness—men scanning for a chance to trip the righteous. The prophet assures believers that God will dismantle systemic injustice, an incentive to persevere in righteous conduct and intercession. Predatory Surveillance (Jeremiah 5:6) “A leopard is watching their cities.” Judgment falls through a vivid predator image; rebellion invites destruction that is already crouching at the gate. The metaphor counsels nations and churches alike against complacency in sin. Divine Watchfulness Over the Word (Jeremiah 1:12) “You have observed correctly… for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” God’s vigilant supervision guarantees prophetic fulfillment. Every promise and warning remains under His active surveillance until completed—underscoring the inerrancy and trustworthiness of Scripture. Covenant Judgment and Restoration (Jeremiah 31:28; Jeremiah 44:27) “Just as I watched over them to uproot… so I will watch over them to build and to plant.” “Behold, I am watching over them for harm and not for good.” The same verb frames both exile and renewal. The Babylonian catastrophe was no lapse in divine control; it was supervised discipline. The subsequent promise of re-planting Israel assures the church that chastening and comfort come from the same faithful hand. Historical Fulfillment and Theodicy (Daniel 9:14) “Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all that He has done.” Daniel recognizes that centuries of prophetic warnings, guarded by שָׁקַד, have broken upon Jerusalem exactly as written. God’s watchfulness vindicates His righteousness, reinforcing trust during present trials and future consummation. Prophetic Wordplay and Symbolism In Jeremiah 1 the LORD’s “watching” (שָׁקֵד) is tied to the vision of an almond branch (שָׁקֵד), the earliest-blooming tree in Israel. The pun dramatizes immediacy: just as the almond awakens first, God’s word is already springing to effect. Ministers may draw on this image to illustrate the certainty and timeliness of God’s actions. Ministerial and Devotional Applications • Stewards of sacred trust (Ezra 8:29) model transparent accountability. Eschatological Hope Because the LORD keeps watch over His word, every eschatological promise—including Christ’s return, final judgment, and new creation—stands under vigilant custody. Believers therefore “keep alert with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18), mirroring the very attribute that Strong’s 8245 ascribes to God Himself. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁקֹ֧ד אשקד וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ד וישקד יִשְׁקֽוֹד׃ ישקוד׃ לִשְׁקֹ֣ד לשקד שִׁקְד֣וּ שָׁקַ֣דְתִּי שָׁקַ֥דְתִּי שָׁקַ֬ד שֹׁ֥קְדֵי שֹׁקֵ֥ד שֹׁקֵ֧ד שֹׁקֵד֙ שקד שקדו שקדי שקדתי ’eš·qōḏ ’ešqōḏ eshKod liš·qōḏ lishKod lišqōḏ šā·qaḏ šā·qaḏ·tî šāqaḏ šāqaḏtî shaKad shaKadti shikDu shoKed Shokedei šiq·ḏū šiqḏū šō·qə·ḏê šō·qêḏ šōqêḏ šōqəḏê vaiyishKod way·yiš·qōḏ wayyišqōḏ yiš·qō·wḏ yishKod yišqōwḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 8:29 HEB: שִׁקְד֣וּ וְשִׁמְר֗וּ עַֽד־ NAS: Watch and keep [them] until KJV: Watch ye, and keep INT: Watch and keep until Job 21:32 Psalm 102:7 Psalm 127:1 Proverbs 8:34 Isaiah 29:20 Jeremiah 1:12 Jeremiah 5:6 Jeremiah 31:28 Jeremiah 31:28 Jeremiah 44:27 Daniel 9:14 12 Occurrences |
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