Guard

A watchman, sentinel or bodyguard for a king or ruler. The word is also used metaphorically.

Bodyguards for kings

1 Samuel 22:14 See also 1 Samuel 26:14–15, 1 Samuel 28:2; 2 Samuel 16:6, 2 Samuel 23:23 parallel 1 Chronicles 11:25; 1 Kings 1:8, 1 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 11:7–8; 2 Chronicles 12:11

Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house?

Guards at the tomb of Jesus Christ

Matthew 27:65–66 See also Matthew 28:4

“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Other examples of human guards

Nehemiah 4:9, Nehemiah 4:23; Luke 22:4 See also Genesis 37:36; 2 Kings 25:11 parallel Jeremiah 39:9; Jeremiah 51:12; Matthew 27:54; Luke 2:8, Luke 11:21, Luke 22:52, Luke 22:63; Acts 4:1, Acts 12:4, Acts 12:6, Acts 12:10, Acts 12:19, Acts 16:23, Acts 22:20, Acts 23:35, Acts 24:23, Acts 28:16; Philippians 1:13

So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.

Angelic guards

Psalm 91:11–12 See also Genesis 3:24; 1 Corinthians 4:15

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

The LORD guards his people himself

Deuteronomy 32:9–11; Psalm 97:10 See also Genesis 28:15; 1 Samuel 2:9; 2 Samuel 22:31 parallel Psalm 18:30; Psalm 1:6, Psalm 121:3–8; Proverbs 2:7–8, Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 27:3, Isaiah 31:5, Isaiah 52:12, Isaiah 58:8

But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance. He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.

Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Figurative references to guarding

Guarding one's conduct

Proverbs 4:23; 1 Timothy 4:16 See also Deuteronomy 4:9; Proverbs 7:2, Proverbs 16:17, Proverbs 19:16; Ecclesiastes 5:1; Malachi 2:15–16MAT Malachi 16:6, Matthew 16:11–12 Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 4:7; 2 Peter 3:17; 2 John 1:8

Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Guarding one's tongue

Psalm 141:3 See also Proverbs 13:3; James 3:3–8

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Christians are to guard the gospel

2 Timothy 1:14 See also Acts 20:30–31; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 4:14–15

Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Church leaders are to guard those in their care

Acts 20:28–31 See also Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:2

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.