שָׁמַר -- shamar: to keep, watch, preserve, part 1

I came across an interesting Hebrew root as I was studying the Garden of Eden narrative.

שָׁמַר -- shamar: to keep, watch, preserve

We first encounter this root in the command given by God to Adam to "keep" the garden. After their disobedience, Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden and cherubim and a flaming sword are placed before the tree of life to "keep" the way of the tree of life. The same root is used in both instances.

As readers of this blog will know very well by know, I'm intrigued and inspired by how seamlessly the Hebrew language embodies covenant concepts. This is yet another example of that.

This concept beautifully reflects an inherent balance in the nature of the relationship between God and His covenant people -- they keep their covenant by keeping His commandments and in turn they are kept and preserved under His watchful care.

Let's look at how words related to this root are used in the Book of Mormon. As I studied the the 469 instances of "shamar" in the Old Testament, I found it translated into these words (among many):

• Keep
• "keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments..." (1 Kings 2:3)
• Beware

• 20 ¶ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. (Exodus 23)

• Take heed
• "If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul..." (1 Kings 2:4) 
• Observe
• "And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying." (Genesis 37:11)
• To mark
• "he marketh all my paths" (Job 33:11)
• Preserve
• "the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever" (Psalm 37:28)

I'm not really trying to convince you of anything here, just outlining the various ways this root is used, and the balance that can be seen between those things that expected of the covenant people in terms of keeping/watching/preserving, and the keeping/watching/preserving that is promised from God as a blessing of covenant faithfulness.

This is a context which can also be found in the Book of Mormon. In the next post we'll look at examples of these same terms used in the Book of Mormon.