מִשְׁמֶרֶת mishmeret (H4931) literally means “watch duty” and refers to a person or thing committed to the care of another; what is given to be watched over and protected. מִשְׁמֶרֶת mishmeret comes from the word מִשְׁמַר mishmar (H4929) which literally means “custody” in the sense of immediate charge and control exercised by a person or authority (cf. Genesis 40:3); a careful watching over as an office, guard, or prison. Both words come from the root word שָׁמַר shamar (H8104) which means “to guard” in the sense of the act or the duty of protecting or defending; to watch over or guard; to keep watch. שָׁמַר shamar is commonly translated as “keep” in most Bibles.
