שׇׁמְרָה (shom.rah)
shom.rah
guard
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun shomerah denotes a state of guarding or watching, appearing in Scripture as a concrete action of protection. In Psalm 141:3, it describes the act of setting a watch over one’s mouth, framing speech not merely as communication but as territory requiring defense against harmful words.
Its root sense connects to keeping safe from danger or intrusion. While often translated simply as "guard," the word carries the weight of active vigilance rather than passive observation. It implies a deliberate effort to maintain integrity by restricting access, specifically here by controlling the power of speech to prevent sin.
This usage highlights the biblical view that silence is not empty but filled with protective intent. By placing a shomerah over the mouth, the psalmist acknowledges that words can easily lead one astray, making constant self-monitoring essential for spiritual safety and moral clarity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shomerah describes a deliberate act of guarding or watching over something valuable. In Psalm 141:3, the psalmist asks God to set a watch before his mouth. This image treats speech not just as a natural reflex, but as a territory that needs protection from harmful intrusion. It suggests that our words can easily lead us astray if left unchecked.
For your daily life, this offers a practical way to think about self-control. Instead of seeing restraint as a burden, view it as an act of care for your own spiritual safety. Asking God to help you guard your speech is a humble request for clarity and integrity in how you relate to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a guard1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁמְרָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 141:3
Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
This verse uniquely applies the noun shomerah to the mouth, framing speech as a guarded territory requiring active vigilance against sin.