Watch (Noun and Verb), Watchers, Watchful, Watchings - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Watch (Noun and Verb), Watchers, Watchful, Watchings
[ A-1,Noun,G5438, phulake ]is used
(a) with the meaning a watch," actively, "a guarding," Luke 2:8, lit., "(keeping, phulasso) watches;"
(b) of "the time during which guard was kept by night, a watch of the night," Matthew 14:25; Matthew 24:43; Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38. See CAGE, HOLD, IMPRISONMENT, PRISON.
Note: Among the Jews the night was divided into three "watches" (See, e.g., Exodus 14:24; Judges 7:19), and this continued on through Roman times. The Romans divided the night into four "watches;" this was recognized among the Jews (See Mark 13:35).
[ A-2,Noun,G2892, koustodia ]
from Lat., custodia (cp. Eng., "custody"), is rendered "watch" in Matthew 27:65-Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:11, AV: See GUARD.
[ A-3,Noun,G70, agrupnia ]
"sleeplessness" (akin to B, No. 4), is rendered "watchings" in 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:27.
[ B-1,Verb,G1127, gregoreo ]
"to watch," is used
(a) of "keeping awake," e.g., Matthew 24:43; Matthew 26:38, Matthew 26:40-Matthew 26:41;
(b) of "spiritual alertness," e.g., Acts 20:31; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:10 (for which See WAKE); 1 Peter 5:8, RV, "be watchful" (AV, "be vigilant"); Revelation 3:2-Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15.
[ B-2,Verb,G5083, tereo ]
"to keep," is rendered "to watch," of those who kept guard at the Cross, Matthew 27:36, Matthew 27:54; Matthew 28:4, RV, "watchers" (AV, "keepers"), lit., "the watching ones." See HOLD, No. 8, KEEP, OBSERVE, PRESERVE, RESERVE.
[ B-3,Verb,G3906, paratereo ]
"to observe," especially with sinister intent (para, "near," and No. 2), is rendered "to watch" in Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20; Acts 9:24. See OBSERVE.
[ B-4,Verb,G69, agrupneo ]
"to be sleepless" (from agreuo, "to chase," and hupnos, "sleep"), is used metaphorically, "to be watchful," in Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 13:17. The word expresses not mere wakefulness, but the "watchfulness" of those who are intent upon a thing.
[ B-5,Verb,G3525, nepho ]
"to abstain from wine," is used metaphorically of moral "alertness," and translated "to watch," in the AV of 2 Timothy 4:5. See SOBER.