שָׁקַד (sha.qad)
sha.qad
to watch
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaqad describes a state of intense alertness, meaning to watch, wake, or remain vigilant. It appears ten times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Jeremiah, Psalms, and Proverbs. The word captures more than simple observation; it implies an active, often anxious, readiness to respond to what is happening.
Its range of meaning shifts depending on context. In Proverbs 6:4, it describes a sleepless vigilance for the sake of deliverance from harm. Conversely, in Jeremiah 14:17, it portrays the wakeful grief of a mourner who cannot rest due to sorrow. This duality shows that shaqad can denote protective watchfulness or painful, sleepless anxiety.
The root emphasizes a physical and mental state of being awake when one might otherwise sleep. Translators often render it as "watch" or "keep vigil," highlighting the tension between rest and duty. The word underscores the human experience of staying alert, whether for safety, justice, or in the face of loss.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shaqad captures a deep sense of alertness, describing a state where one stays awake to guard what matters most. It moves beyond simple observation into active protection. When we read that God watches over His word, it suggests a personal commitment to ensure His promises come to pass. This is not the distant gaze of an observer, but the engaged attention of a shepherd who will not let his flock go unprotected.
In our own lives, this concept invites us to consider what we are guarding. Are we watching over our hearts with the same intensity? The text reminds us that vigilance is often paired with love. Just as a parent stays awake for a child, or a worker guards valuable goods, shaqad reflects a care that refuses to rest until safety is assured. It offers comfort that the One who watches over Jerusalem does so with purpose and power.
While human watchfulness can lead to anxiety, divine watchfulness brings stability. Knowing that Yahweh watches over His word means we can trust in the reliability of Scripture. This assurance allows us to face uncertainty with peace, knowing that our God is actively involved in bringing His plans to completion. We are invited to rest in this vigilance rather than carrying the burden of control ourselves.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [am] watching2×
- watch1×
- someone will keep watch1×
- he has kept awake1×
- by/ keeping watch1×
- and/ he kept watch1×
- [will be] watching1×
- [those who] lie in wait1×
- I will keep watch1×
- I kept watch1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֹׁקֵד֙1×
- שֹׁקֵ֧ד1×
- שֹׁקֵ֥ד1×
- שֹׁ֥קְדֵי1×
- שָׁקַ֬ד1×
- שָׁקַ֣דְתִּי1×
- שִׁקְד֣וּ1×
- לִ/שְׁקֹ֣ד1×
- יִשְׁקֽוֹד\׃1×
- וַ/יִּשְׁקֹ֤ד1×
- אֶשְׁקֹ֧ד1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 1:12
Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”
This verse defines the word's primary theological use, showing God actively ensuring His spoken word achieves its intended result.
-
Psalms 127:1
A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
It highlights human futility in protection when divorced from divine oversight, emphasizing that true security comes only from God.
-
Jeremiah 31:28
It will 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 I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says Yahweh.
This passage contrasts God's past judgment with His future restoration, using the same verb to show consistent care in both destruction and building.
-
Proverbs 8:34
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Here the word describes a blessed attitude of attentive listening at Wisdom's door, linking vigilance with spiritual receptivity.