Watchman is a central figure featured predominantly in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, acting as an early warning system for the people. The Bible conveys a profound significance of the role of a watchman. It becomes synonymous with the task of being a prophet by the biblical authors, illustrating the call to accountability and responsibility for those assigned to this role.
Who Are the Watchmen in the Bible?
While the term “watchman” might conjure up images of a solitary figure perched on a city wall, vigilantly watching for approaching danger, the Bible broadens this concept considerably. In biblical times, the watchman’s duty wasn’t limited to literal surveillance. In several contexts, the Bible depicts the watchman as a steward of moral vigilance for a community, responsible for warning others of spiritual dangers and threats. Additionally, the prophet Ezekiel and prophet Isaiah refer to themselves as watchmen in their books, further extending the metaphor to encompass the work of prophets.
What Does the Bible Teach about the Watchman’s Role?
The Bible introduces the role of the watchman as key to the survival of a community. The primary task was to stay alert for potential threats, providing crucial warnings to help the community prepare and respond. Nevertheless, these warnings weren’t merely about physical dangers. Many a time, the watchman in the Bible was tasked with delivering divine messages, often warnings about spiritual peril. The Bible emphasizes the watchman’s responsibility to convey these warnings effectively, regardless of the audience’s response. If the community didn’t heed the warnings, the onus was on them, not the watchman.
Why Is the Concept of a Watchman Important in the Bible?
The responsibilities and moral weight assigned to the watchman role in the Bible underscore its significance. The weighty words directed at this role were not only for those in the physical role of a watchman but were also for those who acted as spiritual watchmen, such as prophets and religious leaders. The depiction of this role acts as a reminder and encouragement for believers not to be complacent. Instead, they should ‘keep watch’ over their faith and their community, staying vigilant for possible threats, both physical and spiritual. The watchman embodies the principles of vigilance, protection, and accountability – qualities still relevant today.
Where Does the Bible Discuss the Watchman Responsibility?
Throughout the Old Testament, the Bible presents the watchman concept with essential spiritual implications in several books, particularly in the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. This role is often used as a metaphor for the prophetic mission, contributing significantly to our understanding of the Bible’s messages. For instance, the book of Ezekiel delivers the well-known parable of the watchman. It asserts the importance of the watchman’s duty and stresses the potentially dire consequences of negligence. Meanwhile, the book of Isaiah uses this metaphor to deliver a message of redemption and restoration. Both instances underline the importance of the watchman role and embed it further in the biblical narrative.
When Does the Bible Reference the Watchman?
Biblical references to the role of the watchman occur throughout numerous books in the Old Testament, especially in prophecies or times of turmoil. For instance, in the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the watchman role is significantly featured during prophecies and warnings given to the people of Israel. Similarly, the book of Isaiah uses this metaphor during a prophecy of hope and redemption for the people in exile. Therefore, these contexts imply that the call to serve as a watchman traditionally went out during times of uncertainty, danger, or communal hardship, further solidifying the role’s importance in the Bible.
Below is our full list of bible verses on watchman (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Watchman
Ezekiel 33:1-33
Related Themes: Repentance
Ezekiel 3:17
“17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.”
Isaiah 62:6
“6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,”
Related Themes: Gatekeepers
Ezekiel 33:6
“6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
Related Themes: Ignorance
Isaiah 52:8
“8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.”
Nehemiah 4:9
“9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Jeremiah 51:12
“12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.”
Jeremiah 31:6
“6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.”
Ezekiel 33:3-6
“3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
Isaiah 21:5-12
“5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.10 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.”
Hebrews 13:17
“17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Discernment Reverence Manipulation Leadership
Ezekiel 33:1-9
“1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
Related Themes: Repentance
Isaiah 21:11-12
“11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come.”
Song of Solomon 3:3
“3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?”
Proverbs 8:34
“34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.”
Related Themes: Doors
Psalm 130:6
“6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
Related Themes: Morning
Nehemiah 7:3
“3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.”
John 10:3
“3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”
Psalm 127:1
“1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
Related Themes: Children Frustration Complaining Rest Labor
2 Kings 9:17
“17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?”
Song of Solomon 5:7
“7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.”
2 Samuel 18:25
“25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.”
2 Samuel 13:34
“34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.”
Ezekiel 33:8
“8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
Ephesians 6:18
“18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Related Themes: Perseverance Prayer Wisdom Holy Spirit Alert
Ezekiel 33:7
“7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”
2 Chronicles 20:24
“24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.”
2 Samuel 18:24
“24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.”
Psalm 130:5-6
“5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
Isaiah 21:6
“6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.”
