Answers about
guards and bodyguards in the Bible

Various Hebrew and Greek words have been translated as guard or bodyguard in English Bibles.

  1. Hebrew: טַבָּח —transliteration: tabbach —meaning: a butcher

    This properly refers to a butcher or a cook who slaughtered animals for food, and in a secondary sense an “executioner,” because this job fell to the butcher in Middle Eastern countries, and the bodyguard of the kings of Egypt and Babylon. Thus this word has been translated as bodyguard or guard, depending on the context, as in the following verses:

    Genesis 37:36; 2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 40:1; Dan. 2:14.

  2. Hebrew: רוּץ —transliteration: ruwts or ruts —meaning: to run, especially to rush

    This properly refers to a courier, one whose job was to run before the king’s chariot (2 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). However, the couriers also served as military guards (1 Samuel 22:17; 2 Kings 10:25).

    They were probably the same who under David were called Pelethites and Cherethites (1 Kings 14:27; 2 Samuel 15:1).

  3. Hebrew: מִשְׁמֶרֶת —transliteration: mishmereth

    This is one who watches (Neh. 4:22), or a watch-station (Neh. 7:3; 12:9; Job 7:12).

  4. Greek: σπεκουλάτωρ —transliteration: spekoulatór

    In the New Testament (Mark 6:27 KJV) the King James Version renders the Greek spekulator by the word “executioner,” and earlier English versions said “hangman,” however the Revised King James Version says “soldier of his guard.”

    These were the bodyguards of kings and princes.

  5. Greek: κουστωδία —transliteration: koustódia or kustodia

    This Greek word is related to the English words “custody” and “custodian,” and thus can apply to a Roman sentry who was to watch or guard someone assigned to their custody.

    In Matthew 27:65-66 KJV; Matt. 28:11 KJV, the King James Version translates this Greek word as “watch,” and the Revised King James Version by “guard,” the Roman guard, which consisted of four soldiers, who were relieved every 3 hours (Acts 12:4 KJV) — compare Matthew 27:65-66 NASB; Matt. 28:11 NASB; Acts 12:4 NASB.

    The “captain of the guard” mentioned in Acts 28:16 KJV was the commander of the Praetorian troops, whose duty it was to receive and take charge of all prisoners from the Roman provinces.

    Compare Acts 28:16 NASB

More information

Article Version: June 30, 2025