What are Watchmen in the Bible?

Prayer / Watchmen

I was sitting around earlier wondering if watchmen are also seers. What’s the difference between a watchman and a seer? So I took a look at scripture and came to this conclusion:

Are watchmen seers? Yes, but not all watchmen are seers. Every seer is a watchman intercessor, tasked by the Lord to pray and keep watch. They may or may not also be a Seer.

A Seer is a prophet in the five-fold ministry whose gifting relies heavily on dreams, visions, and the manifest presence of God.

There is more to this question than a simple yes or no answer, and I’m sure someone could argue that all watchmen are seers–but let’s take a look at what scripture says:

What is a watchman in the Bible?

In the Bible, A watchman was hand-picked by God to keep watch and guard over a city or territory. Their role is to sound the alarm and alert the people of any impending dangers. 

Honestly, the website that explains it best can be found here.

Watchmen in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, watchmen were often stationed on the walls of cities to keep watch for invading armies or other threats. But in the New Testament, the concept of a watchman is used metaphorically to refer to those responsible for keeping spiritual watch over a group of people and warning them of any spiritual dangers or false teachings. 

In the book of Isaiah, God promises to appoint watchmen to keep watch over Jerusalem, who will call out to the people to repent and return to Him. 

The prophet Ezekiel also refers to himself as a watchman appointed by God to warn the people of Israel of their sins and the coming judgment if they do not repent. So may we all be watchful and obedient as watchmen to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from spiritual dangers.

Ezekiel as a Watchmen

Before we look into the different uses of the word watchmen in the Bible–I’d like us to look at Ezekial. Ezekial was a prophet who had some very knarly visions. He was a Seer. God also appointed him to be a watchman for Israel. He tells him straight up.

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 

Ezekial 3:17 

There are a couple of different meanings for the word watchman used in the Bible. In this instance, the Hebrew word צָפָה is used:

צָפָה First, to lean forward, i.e., to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe, await: — behold, espy, look up (well), wait for, (keep the) watch(-man).

Strongs h6822

Ezekial was both a Seer Prophet and a Watchman.

Is a Watchman a Seer?

I don’t think so, but that’s just my opinion. I know many intercessor watchmen who don’t seem to flow in visions or dreams or have their senses activated in the seer realm–but the Lord still speaks to them and warns them in prayer of things to come. 

All believers in Jesus have the Holy Spirit inside them and are called to watch and pray as Jesus commanded. Still, not all believers are called to be prophets. Not all believers have a calling to long hours on their knees in intercessory prayer–as a watchman does.

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

Mathew 26:41 ESV

More Old Testament Watchmen

In the past, watchmen would stand in a high place–like on a wall or in a tower. They would watch approaching enemy armies and sound an alarm when an enemy came–so the people could prepare for the danger and make themselves ready.

In 1 Samuel 14, Jonothan and his armor-bearer had just defeated the Philistines, and in verse 16, we read that “the watchmen of 

Saul looked. In this verse, the word watchmen refer to soldiers who kept a close watch and paid close attention to the enemy camp.

And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. 

1 Samuel 14:15-16

The Hebrew word in this verse is צָפָה (Strongs h6822) which means:

to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch, watch closely

Strongs h6822

Watchmen under Levitical Priests

Another word for watchmen is found in 2 Chronicles 23 during Jehoiada’s reforms. He set watchmen to serve under the Levites and burn incense in the house of the Lord. 

The Levites were priests and ministered to the Lord. Incense, in the Bible, is symbolic of the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8). Here, we see the word watchmen used in context to the priestly function and prayer.

And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the Lord under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. 

2 Chronicles 23:18

The Hebrew word for watchmen in that verse is פְּקֻדָּה which means:

Oversight, charge, office, overseer, class of officers.

Strongs h6486

Watchmen in the New Testament

The concept of a watchman in the New Testament is primarily used metaphorically. 

In the New Testament, the role of a watchman is often associated with spiritual leaders and teachers who are responsible for keeping watch over the spiritual well-being of a community and warning them of any false teachings or dangers. For example, in Acts 20:28-31, the apostle Paul describes himself as a “watchman” over the church in Ephesus, saying that he had “warned everyone night and day with tears.”

In Ephesians 4:11-12, the apostle Paul also refers to some of the leaders of the early church as “watchmen” when he says that Christ gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

In addition, Jesus himself refers to the role of a watchman in 

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 24:42-44

In these verses, Jesus uses the metaphor of a watchman to encourage his followers to be alert and ready for his return.

Books about Watchmen

In his book, The Elijah Task: A handbook for prophets and intercessors, John Loren Sanford does classify a prophet as a watchman:

A Christian prophet is a watchman. His task upon the walls of the city of God claims him entirely. God acts in and through all that we are. In everything a prophet is, the Spirit of God lives and moves and acts. The Christian prophet’s very life and breath are intercession within the church.

John Loren Sanford

Conclusion

The metaphor of the watchman is one that we can all learn from. As Christians, we are called to be spiritual watchmen for those around us. We are to watch over our families, friends, and communities, warning them of any spiritual dangers or false teachings. This is not an easy task, but it is one that God has called us to. so let us all resolve to be faithful watchmen, watching and praying for those around us.