### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tsâphîyth**, represented by `{{H6844}}`, means **watchtower** or **sentry**. It is an exceedingly rare term, appearing only **1 time** in a single verse in the entire Bible. Its meaning is derived from the root verb `tsâphâh`, which signifies the act of watching or peering into the distance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H6844}}` is in [[Isaiah 21:5]], within a vivid and urgent prophetic scene: "Prepare the table, watch in the **watchtower**, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield." Here, the **watchtower** is the station for a sentinel whose duty of watching is juxtaposed with the seemingly relaxed activities of preparing a table, eating, and drinking. This contrast creates a sense of imminent danger and the need for vigilance even in moments of apparent peace, culminating in a sudden call to action.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of **tsâphîyth** is enriched by its connection to several words used in its immediate context and by its root:
* `{{H6822}}` **tsâphâh** (to observe, wait for, watchman): This is the root from which `{{H6844}}` is formed. It describes the act of a watchman, whether it is a prophet set as a **watchman** over Israel [[Ezekiel 3:17]], the LORD **beholding** the evil and the good [[Proverbs 15:3]], or a soul in prayer who will **look up** to God [[Psalms 5:3]].
* `{{H6186}}` **ʻârak** (to set in a row, arrange, put in order): This verb begins the command in [[Isaiah 21:5]]. It conveys a sense of deliberate arrangement, whether it is to **prepare** a table, **direct** one's prayer to the LORD [[Psalms 5:3]], or describe God's everlasting covenant as **ordered** in all things [[2 Samuel 23:5]].
* `{{H6965}}` **qûwm** (to rise, arise, stand): This word marks the climactic call to action in the verse. It is used to command a response, such as "Arise, shine" [[Isaiah 60:1]], and to affirm the certainty of God's counsel, which "shall **stand**" [[Proverbs 19:21]].
### Theological Significance
Despite its single usage, `{{H6844}}` taps into significant theological concepts, primarily through its root and context.
* **Prophetic Vigilance:** The watchtower is the place of the watchman (`tsâphâh`). God establishes prophets as watchmen to hear His word and warn His people ([[Ezekiel 3:17]], [[Ezekiel 33:7]]). The **watchtower** thus symbolizes the high and lonely post of prophetic responsibility, demanding constant spiritual alertness.
* **Imminent Judgment:** The scene in [[Isaiah 21:5]], which moves from feasting to a frantic call to arm, uses the image of the **watchtower** to underscore that judgment can arrive unexpectedly. It serves as a reminder to be prepared and watchful at all times.
* **Divine Foreknowledge:** The root word `tsâphâh` is used to describe God's own observation of humanity [[Proverbs 15:3]]. The concept of a **watchtower**, therefore, can be seen as a metaphor for God's sovereign and all-seeing perspective, from which nothing is hidden.
### Summary
In summary, **tsâphîyth** `{{H6844}}` is a term whose significance far outweighs its frequency. As **watchtower**, it functions as a potent symbol within its only biblical context. It represents a station of vigilance, responsibility, and readiness. Linked to the foundational verb for watching, `tsâphâh`, it connects a physical structure to the broader biblical themes of prophetic duty, divine observation, and the sober need for spiritual preparedness in the face of an uncertain future.
TRV