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What the Bible Says About Watchmen

Overview

The Bible addresses watchmen across 35 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Isaiah, 2 Kings and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Watchman, Persia, Watchfulness and Babylon. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jehu, David, Zadok and Solomon.

Key Bible verses about watchmen

Old Testament

2 Kings

2 Kings 9:17

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?

2 Kings 9:18

So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.

2 Kings 9:19

Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.

2 Kings 9:20

And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously. driving: or, marching furiously: Heb. in madness

2 Kings 11:6

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. that: or, from breaking up

Isaiah

Isaiah 5:28

Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:

Isaiah 21:5

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

Isaiah 21:6

For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

Isaiah 21:7

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:

Isaiah 21:8

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: he: or, cried as a lion whole: or, every night

Isaiah 21:9

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.

Isaiah 21:11

The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Isaiah 56:10

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep

Isaiah 62:6

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, make: or, are the LORD's remembrancers

People in the Bible and watchmen

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying watchmen for yourself

  • Begin with 2 Samuel 18:24, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Isaiah, 2 Kings and 2 Samuel each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jehu, David and Zadok and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Watchman, Persia, Watchfulness and Babylon.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about watchmen?

The Bible addresses watchmen across 35 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Isaiah, 2 Kings and 2 Samuel. Closely related themes include Watchman, Persia, Watchfulness and Babylon. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jehu, David, Zadok and Solomon.

How many Bible verses are about watchmen?

The Bible references watchmen in 35 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention watchmen?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 2 Samuel 18:24: “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.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with watchmen?

Jehu, David, Zadok, Solomon and Pontius Pilate.

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