Topical Bible: Watched

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, the term "watched" often conveys the act of being vigilant, alert, or observant, both in a physical and spiritual sense. This concept is prevalent throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of being attentive to God's will, the movements of the enemy, and the unfolding of divine prophecy.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the idea of watching is frequently associated with the role of a watchman. Watchmen were stationed on city walls or towers to keep an eye out for approaching danger or to announce significant events. Ezekiel 33:7 states, "As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me." Here, the prophet Ezekiel is appointed as a spiritual watchman, tasked with warning the people of Israel about impending judgment and calling them to repentance.

The Psalms also reflect the theme of watching, often in the context of God's protective oversight. Psalm 121:3-4 declares, "He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." This passage reassures believers of God's constant vigilance and care over His people.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of watching takes on a heightened spiritual significance. Jesus frequently admonishes His disciples to be watchful, particularly in the context of His second coming. In Matthew 24:42 , Jesus warns, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come." This call to watchfulness is a reminder to live in a state of readiness and spiritual alertness, anticipating the return of Christ.

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 , urging believers, "So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober." Here, watching is associated with living a life of moral and spiritual vigilance, avoiding complacency and being prepared for the day of the Lord.

Spiritual Implications

The act of watching in the Bible is not merely a passive observation but involves active engagement and readiness. It is a call to prayer, discernment, and obedience. In Mark 14:38 , Jesus instructs His disciples, "Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." This highlights the necessity of spiritual watchfulness to resist temptation and align oneself with God's purposes.

Furthermore, the Book of Revelation emphasizes the importance of watching in the context of eschatological events. Revelation 16:15 states, "Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed." This passage underscores the blessing associated with being spiritually alert and prepared for the return of Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical theme of watching serves as a powerful reminder of the need for vigilance in the Christian life. It calls believers to be attentive to God's voice, aware of spiritual dangers, and prepared for the fulfillment of God's promises. Through watchfulness, Christians are encouraged to live faithfully and expectantly, grounded in the hope of Christ's return.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Watch.

Greek

2300. theaomai -- to behold, look upon
... origin Definition to behold, look upon NASB Word Usage look (1), look over (1),
looked (1), noticed (3), saw (5), see (3), seeing (2), seen (5), watched (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2300.htm - 8k

2334. theoreo -- to look at, gaze
... 1), look (1), looking (5), observe (3), observed (4), observing (3), perceive (2),
saw (8), see (16), seeing (2), seen (1), sees (4), watched (1), watching (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2334.htm - 9k

3906. paratereo -- to watch closely, to observe scrupulously
... Word Origin from para and tereo Definition to watch closely, to observe scrupulously
NASB Word Usage observe (1), watched (1), watching (2), watching...closely ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3906.htm - 7k

2335. theoria -- a viewing, hence a spectacle
... Cognate: 2335 (the root of the English terms "theatre," "theatrical") -- a spectacle,
something watched ("beheld, concentrated on"), used only in Lk 23:48. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2335.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4307. mattara -- a guard, ward, prison, target, mark
... mark, prison. Or mattarah {mat-taw-raw'}; from natar; a jail (as a guard-house);
also an aim (as being closely watched) -- mark, prison. see HEBREW natar. ...
/hebrew/4307.htm - 6k

6822. tsaphah -- to look out or about, spy, keep watch
... spy, keep watch NASB Word Usage destined (1), keep watch (3), lookout (1), looks
well (1), spies (1), watch (3), watch expectantly (1), watched (1), watching (2 ...
/hebrew/6822.htm - 6k

8104. shamar -- to keep, watch, preserve
... 1), sentries (1), spare (1), spies (1), take care (1), take heed (5), take note
(1), take...heed (1), waiting (1), waits (1), watch (11), watched (1), watches ...
/hebrew/8104.htm - 7k

8245. shaqad -- to watch, wake
... to watch, wake NASB Word Usage intent on doing (1), keep watch (1), keeps awake
(1), kept the in store (1), lie awake (1), watch (2), watched (1), watching (4 ...
/hebrew/8245.htm - 6k

Library

While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Christmas 71. While shepherds watched their flocks by night.
CM ... Nahum Tate, 1702. While shepherds watched their flocks by night,. ...
/.../christmas 71 while shepherds watched.htm

Von Himmel Kam Der Engel Schaar. To Shepherds, as they Watched by ...
... XXXII. Von Himmel kam der Engel schaar. To Shepherds, as they watched by Night.
A second Christmas Song, to the Tune, "Vom Himmel hoch." Melody, 1543. ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xxxii von himmel kam der.htm

The Sculptor's Work
... As I watched, he continued breaking large flakes and pieces from the stone; and
so far as I could see, he was just simply breaking it to pieces. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty the sculptors work.htm

King David's Little Boy.
... So he passed the dark night in praying and in sorrow, while the mother watched the
child by the light of a small lamp, and slaves stood outside the chamber ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/king davids little boy.htm

Eyes Right
... Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil." It is clear
that every part of our nature needs to be carefully watched lest in any way ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/eyes right.htm

I Should have Thought that this Statement, I Mean the Words, I ...
... of my own; I have only restored to Origen what was really Origen's, though found
in other parts of his works.' And let them see how God's mercy watched over me ...
/.../16 i should have thought.htm

Sunday Next Before Easter.
... us? And thus, we have not only not watched with Christ according to his
command, but have actually told him that we would not. But ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxiii sunday next before.htm

Political and Religious Life of the Jewish Dispersion in the West ...
... The connection between Jerusalem and Antioch was very close. All that occurred
in that city was eagerly watched in the Jewish capital. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi political and religious.htm

Let Him Deliver Him Now
... It is very painful to the heart to picture our blessed Master in his death-agonies,
surrounded by a ribald multitude, who watched him and mocked him, made ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/let him deliver him now.htm

About the Dragon and the Young Man.
... a certain woman in this place exceedingly beautiful; and as she was once passing
by, I saw her, and fell in love with her, and I followed and watched her; and ...
/.../unknown/acts of the holy apostle thomas/about the dragon and the.htm

Thesaurus

Watched (50 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Watch. Multi-Version Concordance Watched (50 Occurrences). ... (See NIV).
Matthew 27:36 and they sat and watched him there. (WEB KJV ASV WBS). ...
/w/watched.htm - 21k

Owner (56 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch
the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be ...
/o/owner.htm - 24k

Goodman (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered ...
/g/goodman.htm - 10k

Whether (239 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Mark 3:2 They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day,
that they might accuse him. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/w/whether.htm - 37k

Thief (41 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch
of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not ...
/t/thief.htm - 22k

Rizpah (4 Occurrences)
... Rizpah thereupon took her place on the rock of Gibeah (qv), and for five months
watched the suspended bodies of her children, to prevent them from being ...
/r/rizpah.htm - 10k

Dug (45 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch
the thief was coming, he would have watched and not have suffered his ...
/d/dug.htm - 20k

Closely (38 Occurrences)
... Closely (38 Occurrences). Mark 3:2 They closely watched Him to see whether He would
cure him on the Sabbath--so as to have a charge to bring against Him. ...
/c/closely.htm - 17k

Accuse (34 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Mark 3:2 They watched him, whether he
would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him. ...
/a/accuse.htm - 16k

Allowed (64 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch
of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not ...
/a/allowed.htm - 25k

Resources

What does the Bible say about voyeurism? | GotQuestions.org

What is the spirit of the law? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “Physician, heal thyself” in Luke 4:23? | GotQuestions.org

Watched: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Watched (50 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Matthew 26:16
And from that time he was watching for a chance to give him into their hands.
(See NIV)

Matthew 27:36
and they sat and watched him there.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Mark 3:2
They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Mark 12:41
Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.
(See RSV NIV)

Mark 14:11
They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.
(See NIV)

Luke 6:7
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:39
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Luke 14:1
And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Luke 20:20
They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 22:6
He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.
(See NIV)

Acts 1:11
who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."
(See NAS)

Acts 9:24
but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS)

Acts 28:6
But they expected that he would have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly, but when they watched for a long time and saw nothing bad happen to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
(WEB)

Revelation 11:12
I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.
(See NAS)

Genesis 24:21
The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
(See NIV)

Genesis 37:11
and his brethren are zealous against him, and his father hath watched the matter.
(YLT)

Exodus 2:11
It happened in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
(See NIV)

Exodus 3:16
Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and tell them,'Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt;
(See NIV)

Exodus 33:8
It happened that when Moses went out to the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent.
(WEB)

Deuteronomy 2:7
For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 32:10
He found him in a desert land, And in the waste, howling wilderness; He compassed him about, he watched over him, He preserved him as the apple of his eye.
(DBY)

Deuteronomy 33:9
who said of his father, and of his mother,'I have not seen him;' Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
(See NIV)

Joshua 4:11
It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.
(See NIV)

Judges 13:19
So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh: and the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 1:12
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.
(See JPS)

1 Samuel 17:55
When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I can't tell."
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 26:15
And David saith unto Abner, 'Art not thou a man? and who 'is' like thee in Israel? but why hast thou not watched over thy lord the king? for one of the people had come in to destroy the king, thy lord.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 26:16
Not good is this thing which thou hast done; Jehovah liveth, but ye 'are' sons of death, in that ye have not watched over your lord, over the anointed of Jehovah; and now, see where the king's spear 'is', and the cruse of water which 'is' at his bolster.'
(YLT)

2 Samuel 6:16
It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 11:16
And it came to pass as Joab watched the city, that he assigned Urijah to a place where he knew that the valiant men were.
(DBY)

2 Samuel 13:34
And Absalom fled. And the young man that watched lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came much people from the way behind him, from the hill-side.
(DBY)

1 Chronicles 15:29
It happened, as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
(See NIV)

Job 10:12
You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
(See NIV)

Job 15:22
He believeth not to return from darkness, And watched 'is' he for the sword.
(YLT)

Job 29:2
"Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 58:11
So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalm 59 For the Chief Musician; 'set to' Al-tashheth. 'A Psalm' of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
(ASV)

Psalms 59:1
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
(WEB JPS DBY WBS)

Psalms 102:7
I have watched, and I am As a bird alone on the roof.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of justice and righteousness in the state, marvel not at the matter; for one higher than the high watcheth, and there are higher than they.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 8:7
Even a stork in the heavens hath known her seasons, And turtle, and swallow, and crane, Have watched the time of their coming, And -- My people have not known the judgment of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 31:28
It shall happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 4:17
Our eyes do yet fail in looking for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 10:2
He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. He went in as I watched.
(WEB NIV)

Ezekiel 12:7
I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the even I dug through the wall with my hand; I brought it forth in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.
(See NIV)

Daniel 5:5
In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
(See NIV)

Daniel 7:4
The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings; while I was watching its wings were pulled off, and it was lifted up from the earth and placed on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
(See NIV)

Daniel 9:14
Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Hosea 12:13
And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.
(YLT)

Nahum 2:1
A crusher has come up before your face: keep a good look-out, let the way be watched, make yourself strong, let your power be greatly increased.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Watched

Related Terms

Angelic (6 Occurrences)

Watchers (16 Occurrences)

Watched (50 Occurrences)

Lone (1 Occurrence)

Late (24 Occurrences)

Watchman (19 Occurrences)

Flourish (26 Occurrences)

Target (14 Occurrences)

Er (8 Occurrences)