Tall structures, normally constructed of brick or stone. They were chiefly used for observation of the surrounding countryside in order to warn of the approach of enemies or robbers.
Examples of watchtowers
Isaiah 32:14 See also Judges 8:17, Judges 9:51–52; 1 Chronicles 27:25; 2 Chronicles 14:7, 2 Chronicles 26:9–10, 2 Chronicles 26:15, 2 Chronicles 32:5; Nehemiah 3:25–27
For the palace will be forsaken, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become caves forever — the delight of wild donkeys and a pasture for flocks —
Destruction of towers synonymous with defeat
Ezekiel 26:4 See also Isaiah 30:25, Isaiah 32:14; Jeremiah 50:15; Ezekiel 26:9
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.
Watchmen stationed in towers
2 Kings 9:17–20 See also Isaiah 21:6–9; Lamentations 4:17
Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’” So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi— he is driving like a madman!”
Towers built as protection against thieves
Matthew 21:33 parallel Mark 12:1 See also Isaiah 5:1–2
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Towers of Jersualem
2 Chronicles 26:9, 2 Chronicles 32:5; Nehemiah 3:1, Nehemiah 3:11, Nehemiah 3:25–26, Nehemiah 12:38–39; Jeremiah 31:38; Zechariah 14:10; Luke 13:4
Towers as place-names and landmarks
Genesis 11:4–5 See also Genesis 35:21 “Migdal Eder” means “tower of the flock”; Judges 8:17, Judges 9:46, Judges 9:51
“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.” Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.
Parable of building a tower
Figurative use of towers
Symbolic of the security found in God alone
Proverbs 18:10 See also Psalm 48:3, Psalm 61:3
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Symbolic of God's judgment
Ezekiel 26:4 See also Jeremiah 50:15; Zephaniah 1:15–16
They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.
Associated with human beauty
Song of Solomon 4:4 See also Song of Solomon 7:4, Song of Solomon 8:9–10
Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.
The tower of Babel
The building of the tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1–4 The attempt to build the city and the tower is the result of human pride.; Genesis 11:5–9; Psalm 55:9
The confusion of Babel reversed at Pentecost
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.