שִׁמֻּר (shim.mur)
shim.mur
vigil
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shim.mur refers to a period of night watch or vigilance. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Exodus 14:24, describing the timing of God’s intervention against the Egyptian army. In this context, it marks the specific moment just before dawn when the Lord looked down upon the Egyptian camp through the pillar of fire and cloud.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s connection to military or guard duties during the darkest hours. The text uses it to emphasize that divine action often arrives at the most unexpected time, turning a night of fear into a morning of deliverance. Translators typically render it as "watch" or "vigil," preserving the sense of a designated period of alertness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shim.mur describes a specific period of watchfulness, particularly during the night. It appears only once in Scripture, marking the moment God intervened to deliver His people from Egypt. This rare term reminds us that divine action often arrives when we least expect it, turning fear into hope.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in seasons of waiting. Just as the Israelites stood in uncertainty before the Red Sea, you may face times where help seems delayed. Yet God’s timing is perfect, bringing deliverance at the precise moment needed to strengthen trust in His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vigil<s>2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁמֻּרִ֥ים1×
- שִׁמֻּרִ֛ים1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 12:42
It is a night to be much observed to Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of Yahweh, to be much observed by all the children of Israel throughout their generations.
This verse establishes the theological framework for the 'night of vigil' as a permanent memorial of God's faithful deliverance, directly contextualizing the single occurrence of shim.mur in Exodus 14.