What does שָׁקַד (šāqad) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַד (šāqad): Vigilant wakefulness—God watches over covenant promises; humans watch for judgment or deliverance.
Hebrew · H8245
שָׁקַד
To be alert , i.e. sleepless ; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill)
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שָׁקַדH8245
Pronunciationšāqad
What does שָׁקַד (šāqad) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַד (šāqad): Vigilant wakefulness—God watches over covenant promises; humans watch for judgment or deliverance.
Full entry for שָׁקַד (H8245) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8245?
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include am watching (1), and watch is kept (1), Guard them (1), I am watching (1), I lie awake (1).
Where does שָׁקַד (šāqad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Ezra 8:29. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (5), Psalms (2), Daniel (1), Ezra (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itam watching1×Jeremiah 1:12
and watch is kept1×Job 21:32
Guard them1×Ezra 8:29
I am watching1×Jeremiah 44:27
I lie awake1×Psalms 102:7
I watched1×Jeremiah 31:28
I will watch1×Jeremiah 31:28
in store1×Daniel 9:14
stand guard1×Psalms 127:1
watching1×Proverbs 8:34
who look1×Isaiah 29:20
will lie in wait1×Jeremiah 5:6
Show sample aligned rows
Ezra 8:29שִׁקְד֣וּtoGuard themVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralJob 21:32יִשְׁקֽוֹד׃toand watch is keptVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 102:7שָׁקַ֥דְתִּיtoI lie awakeVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 127:1שָׁקַ֬דtostand guardVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularProverbs 8:34לִשְׁקֹ֣דtowatchingPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructIsaiah 29:20שֹׁ֥קְדֵיtowho lookVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructJeremiah 1:12שֹׁקֵ֥דtoam watchingVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 5:6שֹׁקֵד֙towill lie in waitVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 31:28שָׁקַ֣דְתִּיtoI watchedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularJeremiah 31:28אֶשְׁקֹ֧דtoI will watchVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowEzra 8:29
Aligned rows12
Books represented7
Ezra1Job1Psalms2Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah5Daniel1
Source forms
אֶשְׁקֹ֧ד1x’eš·qōḏJeremiah 31:28
וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ד1xway·yiš·qōḏDaniel 9:14
יִשְׁקֽוֹד׃1xyiš·qō·wḏJob 21:32
לִשְׁקֹ֣ד1xliš·qōḏProverbs 8:34
שָׁקַ֬ד1xšā·qaḏPsalms 127:1
שֹׁקֵ֥ד1xšō·qêḏJeremiah 1:12
שֹׁקֵד֙1xšō·qêḏJeremiah 5:6
שֹׁקֵ֧ד1xšō·qêḏJeremiah 44:27
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular3xJeremiah 1:12, Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 44:27
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2xPsalms 102:7, Jeremiah 31:28
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xDaniel 9:14
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xProverbs 8:34
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural1xEzra 8:29
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular1xJeremiah 31:28
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 21:32
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct1xIsaiah 29:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Vigilant wakefulness—God watches over covenant promises; humans watch for judgment or deliverance.
Strong'sH8245
Lexical occurrences12 versesWord forms1 form10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 1:11-19Source Gloss
to be alert , i.e. sleepless ; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Vigilant wakefulness—God watches over covenant promises; humans watch for judgment or deliverance.
to be alert, i.e. sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill) BDB: watch Usage: hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
Participle activeIsa 29:20 · Jer 1:12 · Jer 5:6 · Jer 44:274×
PerfectJer 31:28 · Ps 102:8 · Ps 127:13×
ImperfectJer 31:28 · Job 21:322×
Sequential imperfectEzra 8:291×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God's vigilant oversight and readiness to perform his word
God's attentive supervision over both judgment and restoration
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁקַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.