Original Word: נָטִיעַ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: natia`
Pronunciation: naw-TEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-tee'-ah)
KJV: plant
NASB: plants
Word Origin: [from H5193 (נָטַע - plant)]

1. a plant

plant

From nata'; a plant -- plant.

see HEBREW nata'

Word Origin
from nata
Definition
a plant
NASB Translation
plants (1).

[נָטִיעַ] noun [masculine] plant; — only plural נְטִעִים Psalm 144:12 (figurative of vigorous sons).

Biblical Occurrence and Context

Psalm 144:12 is the sole Old Testament verse that employs נָטִיעַ. David prays, “Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace”. The imagery sets forth a vision of covenant prosperity in which the next generation grows straight, strong, and beautiful under God’s favor. The choice of a cultivated plant, rather than a wild shoot, hints at intentional care and deliberate nurturing.

Imagery of Planting in Scripture

1. Divine Gardener. From Eden, where “the LORD God planted a garden” (Genesis 2:8), to the prophetic hope that Israel would be “the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3), Scripture consistently portrays God as the One who establishes, tends, and secures His people.
2. Righteous Character. The righteous person “is like a tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3) and “will not fear when heat comes” (Jeremiah 17:8). Plant imagery stresses hidden roots, gradual growth, and enduring fruit.
3. National Destiny. When Israel obeyed, the nation enjoyed secure plantings (Amos 9:15); disobedience led to uprooting (Deuteronomy 29:28). Thus planting imagery carries covenantal weight.
4. Messianic Fulfillment. The Branch (Isaiah 11:1) and the True Vine (John 15:1–8) culminate the Old Testament motif by locating fruitfulness in union with Messiah.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Blessing: נָטִיעַ in Psalm 144:12 is part of a seven-fold blessing request (sons, daughters, storehouses, flocks, oxen, security, happiness). The flourishing plant represents family continuity—a visible sign that the covenant promise to Abraham (“I will greatly multiply your offspring,” Genesis 22:17) remains operative.
• Discipleship and Formation: Growth “in their youth” indicates that godly character must be cultivated early. Parents and the covenant community function as gardeners who shape tender shoots into sturdy trees.
• Corporate Witness: Healthy families produce a stable society. David’s prayer links domestic prosperity with national wellbeing, implying that private righteousness supports public peace.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Israel depended on viticulture, olive orchards, and grain farming. Successful transplantation of a shoot required water access, fertile soil, and protection from animals. A “plant nurtured in its youth” would later bear olives or grapes for decades. Listeners therefore heard in נָטִיעַ the promise of long-term productivity and generational continuity, not a fleeting blessing.

Ministry Implications and Personal Application

• Family Prayer. Psalm 144:12 encourages believers to pray specifically for sons and daughters to mature in godliness. Intercessory prayer for children is not optional but integral to covenant faithfulness.
• Intentional Nurture. As gardeners train vines, so pastors, parents, and mentors guide young believers through Scripture, worship, and discipline. Neglect invites wildness; careful nurture yields abundant fruit.
• Community Vision. Congregations that invest in youth ministry align with David’s prayer, anticipating that well-rooted disciples will strengthen the broader culture with truth and grace.

Christological and Eschatological Outlook

Jesus identifies Himself as the Vine, and His disciples as branches (John 15). Rooted in Him, believers bear “fruit that will last” (John 15:16). The final picture of redeemed humanity is an orchard: “On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit” (Revelation 22:2). נָטִיעַ, though appearing only once, points forward to this consummate harvest, assuring the church that every plant God establishes will flourish eternally.

כִּנְטִעִים֮ כנטעים kin·ṭi·‘îm kinṭi‘îm kintiImInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts