Observe
Observe
OBSERVE.Mar 6:20 Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him. The meaning of the Eng. word observed is reverenced. Tindales translation is gave him reverence. Cf. Shaks. 2 Henry IV. iv. iv. 30, he is gracious, if he be observed. But the more probable meaning of the Greek is protected him, or, as RV [Note: Revised Version.] , kept him safe.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Observe
ob-zurv (representing various words, but chiefly , shamar, to keep, to watch etc.): Properly means to take heed to, as in Isa 42:20, Thou seest many things, but thou observest not and from this sense all the usages of the word in English Versions of the Bible can be understood. Most of them, indeed are quite good modern usage (as observe a feast, Exo 12:17, etc.; observe a law Lev 19:37, etc.), but a few are archaic. So Gen 37:11, the King James Version His father observed the saying (the Revised Version (British and American) kept the saying in mind); Hos 13:7, As a leopard … will I observe them (the Revised Version (British and American) watch); Jon 2:8, observe lying vanities (the Revised Version (British and American) regard, but give heed to would be clearer; compare Psa 107:43). Still farther from modern usage is Hos 14:8, I have heard him, and observed him (the Revised Version (British and American) will regard; the meaning is care for); and Mar 6:20, For Herod feared John … and observed him (the Revised Version (British and American) kept him safe). In the last case, the King James Version editors seem to have used to observe as meaning to give reverence to.
Observation is found in Luk 17:20, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation ( , meta paratereseos). The meaning of the English is, so that it can be observed, but the exact force of the underlying Greek (visibly? so that it can be computed in advance?) is a matter of extraordinary dispute at the present time. See KINGDOM OF GOD.