מִשְׁמֶ֫רֶת

From the study of Ezekiel 44:16

Range of meaning

A noun from šāmar, 'guard, keep'. Its meanings include (1) a watch or guard post (2 Kgs 11:5–7; Neh 7:3); (2) something kept in custody or reserved (Exod 12:6; 16:23); (3) an obligation or duty entrusted to someone, often 'keep the charge of the LORD' (Gen 26:5; Lev 8:35; Deut 11:1); (4) in temple texts, the assigned duties of priests and Levites (Num 3–4; 18).

Against the English

KJV, BSB and ESV-type versions say 'charge'. WEB says 'instruction', which shifts it toward teaching or commandment and loses the picture of a guard post. NIV moves toward the guarding sense. 'Keep my charge' is accurate, but to modern ears it sounds vague or like being 'in charge'.

How it drifted

'Charge' once meant a duty laid on someone ('I give you this charge'). Today it more often means authority ('in charge'), a fee, or an accusation, so the duty-and-guard sense fades.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jacob Milgrom (Studies in Levitical Terminology I) argued that in the priestly texts of Numbers mišmeret often means literal guard duty: Levites and priests posted around the sanctuary to stop unauthorized people from coming close (Num 1:53; 3:7–8, 32, 38; 18:3–5). In Ezekiel 44 the word comes again and again: Israel did not keep the charge of God's holy things but put foreigners in charge of it (44:8). The Levites become 'keepers of the charge of the house' (44:14). The Zadokites 'kept the charge of my sanctuary' when Israel strayed (44:15). The LXX usually renders it with φυλακή/φύλαγμα ('guard, watch').

From the study of Deuteronomy 11:1

Range of meaning

From šāmar, 'guard, keep'. Its meanings include (1) a guard post or watch (2 Sam 20:3; Isa 21:8); (2) something kept or preserved (Exod 12:6, the Passover lamb 'kept' until the 14th; Exod 16:23, 32, manna 'kept'); (3) an assigned duty or service, especially the Levites' guard duty over the sanctuary (Num 1:53; 3:7–8; 18:3–5); (4) more generally, the obligation God has laid on someone to observe (Gen 26:5; Lev 8:35; 18:30; Josh 22:3; 1 Kgs 2:3).

Against the English

KJV, BSB, ESV and NASB say 'charge' in the older sense of a duty entrusted to someone, which is accurate. NIV and NLT say 'requirements' and WEB says 'instructions'. These are clear, but they lose the picture of standing guard and the deliberate echo with the verb 'keep'.

How it drifted

'Charge' meaning 'a responsibility entrusted to you' (as in 'the child in my charge') is fading. Many readers now hear 'charge' as an accusation or a fee.

Used elsewhere in the period

The idiom šāmar mišmeret, 'keep the keeping / guard the guard duty', is common in priestly texts (Num 3:7–8; 18:3–5; Lev 8:35). Jacob Milgrom argued that in those texts it originally meant literal guard duty around the sanctuary. Genesis 26:5 offers a close parallel list: Abraham 'kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws'. The LXX keeps the play on words with phylassō ta phylagmata, 'guard the things to be guarded'.

From the study of Habakkuk 2:1

Range of meaning

From šāmar, 'to guard, keep.' It means (1) a guard or watch, a place or post where guarding happens (Isa 21:8; Neh 7:3); (2) custody or keeping (Num 17:10, the rod 'kept'); (3) a charge, duty or obligation entrusted to someone. Examples are the Levites who 'keep the charge' of the tabernacle (Num 3:7–8), and Abraham, who 'kept my charge' (Gen 26:5).

Against the English

KJV 'my watch,' BSB 'my guard post,' WEB 'my watch,' YLT 'my charge.' 'Guard post' gets the place but loses the sense of a duty assigned. YLT's 'charge' gets the duty but loses the picture of the wall.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 21:8 is the closest parallel: a prophetic lookout cries, 'Upon the watchtower I stand continually by day, and at my post (ʿal-mišmartî) I am stationed all night,' using the same phrase and the same verb of stationing (niṣṣāb). In the priestly texts mišmeret is a technical word for assigned temple duty.