Original Word: נָצַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: natsar
Pronunciation: naw-tsar'
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-tsar')
KJV: besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man)
NASB: observe, preserve, keep, watch, keeps, besieged, guard
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)

besieged, hidden thing, keeper monument, observe, preserver,

A primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) Or a bad one (to conceal, etc.) -- besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to watch, guard, keep
NASB Translation
besieged (2), Besiegers (1), cunning (1), guard (2), guarding (1), guards (2), hidden things (1), keep (7), keep watch (1), keeper (1), keeps (3), kept (1), man (1), observe (10), observed (1), observes (1), preserve (10), preserves (1), reserve (1), secret places (1), tends (1), watch (4), watcher (1), watches (1), watchman (1), watchmen (1).

I. [נָצַר] verb watch, guard, keep (Late Hebrew id., observe; Assyrian naƒâru, watch over, protect; Old Aramaic נצר protect Lzb³²⁵ Cook⁸³; Palmyrene in proper name Vog^{150, 4} Cook¹²⁴; Aramaic נְמַר, (compare Wetzst in De^Job (2) on Job 27:18); Arabic look at, consider, examine (, overseer is Aramaic loan-word Frä¹³⁸); Sabean להנצרהמו to aid them Hal^{Rev. Sém. iv (1896), 71}; Ethiopic spectare, intueri, etc., Di⁷⁰¹; — compare also נטר); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix נְצָרָ֫תַם Psalm 119:129; 1singular נָצָ֑רְתִּי Psalm 119:22; Psalm 119:56; Psalm 119:100; 3masculine plural נָָֽצְרוּ Proverbs 22:12; Imperfect יִצִּר Proverbs 3:1; suffix יִצְּרֶ֫נְהוּ Ges^{§ 58}, 4 R.) Deuteronomy 32:10; feminine suffix תִּנְצְרֶ֑כָּה Proverbs 2:11 (Ges^{§ 58}, 4 R.); 1 singular אֶצֹּר Psalm 119:69; אֶצְּרָה Psalm 119:34; Psalm 119:115; אֶצֹּ֑רָה Psalm 119:145; suffix אֶצָּרְךָ Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:8 (Ges Bö Ew and others from יצר); אֶצֳּרֶ֑נָּה Isaiah 27:3; 3masculine plural יִצְּרוּ Proverbs 20:28; יִנְצֹ֑רוּ Deuteronomy 33:9 (on forms see Ges^{§ 66}, 2, R. I) + 15 t. Imperfect; Imperative נְצֹר Psalm 34:14 3t.; נִצְּרָה Psalm 141:3 (dagesh forte dirimens Ges^{§ 20}, 2 b); suffix נִצְּרֶ֑ה Proverbs 4:13; Infinitive absolute נָצוֺר Nahum 2:2; construct נְצֹר Proverbs 2:8; Participle נוֺצֵר Proverbs 28:7; נֹצֵר Exodus 34:7 7t.; suffix נֹצְרָהּ Isaiah 27:3; plural נוֺצְרִים 2 Kings 17:9; 2 Kings 18:8, etc.; passive נָצוּר Ezekiel 6:12; plural נְצוּרִים Isaiah 65:4 (ᵐ5 ἐν τοις σπηλαίοις, בַּמְּערוֺת); construct נְצוּרֵי (Kt נְצִירֵי only here) Isaiah 49:6; feminine נְצוּרָה Isaiah 1:8 (Di reads נְצוֺרָה Niph`al Participle √ צוּר); construct נְצֻרַת Proverbs 7:10; plural נְצֻרוֺת Isaiah 48:6 (Che reads בְּצֻרוֺת).

1 Watch, guard, keep, a vineyard Job 27:18 (compare Wetzst in De^Job (2) on the passage), Isaiah 27:3 (twice in verse), fig-tree Proverbs 27:18, fortification Nahum 2:2; נֹצְרִים watchmen Jeremiah 31:6; ׳מִגְדַּל נ tower of watchmen 2 Kings 17:9; 2 Kings 18:8; in ethical sense of men, guarding the mouth Proverbs 13:3, the way Proverbs 16:17 לֵב Proverbs 4:23; the tongue מֵרַע Psalm 34:14; with על, over the door of the lips Psalm 141:3; of God נֹצֵר הָאָדָם Job 7:20 (thou) watcher of men (iron.).

2 Guard from dangers, preserve, with accusative, subject God or his attributes Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 25:21; Psalm 31:24; Psalm 40:12; Psalm 61:8; Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:8; Proverbs 2:8; Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 22:12; נֹצֵר נֶפֶשׁ Proverbs 24:12; with accusative and מן from which Psalm 12:8; Psalm 32:7; Psalm 64:2; Psalm 140:2; Psalm 140:5. In Wisdom Literature subject is abstract: חבמה Proverbs 4:6; תבונה Proverbs 2:11; צדקה Proverbs 13:6; נְצוּרֵי ישׂראל Isaiah 49:6 preserved of Israel.

3 Guard with fidelity, keep, observe: of ׳י, נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לאלפים Exodus 34:7 (J); elsewhere of man observing the covenant Deuteronomy 33:9 (poem) Psalm 25:10, the divine law Psalm 78:7; Psalm 105:45; Psalm 119:2; Psalm 119:22; Psalm 119:33; Psalm 119:34; Psalm 119:56; Psalm 119:69; Psalm 119:100; Psalm 119:115; Psalm 119:129; Psalm 119:145; commands of parents Psalm 60:20; Psalm 28:7; and discipline of Wisdom Proverbs 3:1,21; Proverbs 4:13; Proverbs 5:2.

4 Guard, keep secret, dubious: נְצֻרוֺת secret things Isaiah 48:6; נְצוּרִים secret places Isaiah 65:4 (see forms above); נְצֻרַת לֵב secret, wily minded Proverbs 7:10 (of harlot, so RVm close, i.e. secretive).

5 Kept close, blockaded, dubious: הַנָּצוּר the blockaded (so Ew Hi Co Toy; but Ke Bth Kau preserved; Hi Co Bth Toy strike out והנשׁאר) Ezekiel 6:12; עִיר נְצוּרָה blockaded city Isaiah 1:8 (see form above); נֹצְרִים blockaders Jeremiah 4:16 (but ᵐ5 συστροφαι = צררים i.e. foes).

נְצוּרִים see I נצר

Qal Passive participle

Root Concept: Watchful Guardianship

נָצַר gathers the ideas of guarding, preserving, watching over, and maintaining. Whether the subject is God, the righteous, or wisdom itself, the verb consistently carries a note of intentional, covenant-conscious vigilance.

Occurrences and Canonical Spread

Approximately sixty-one times across Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. Its poetry-rich distribution (especially Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah) underscores both devotional and instructional purposes.

Guarding Covenant Faithfulness

The term first appears in direct connection with covenant grace. “maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations” (Exodus 34:7). The same covenant motif re-emerges in Deuteronomy 7:9; 33:9; Psalm 25:10. Divine “keeping” is never passive guardianship; it is the active, steadfast loyalty that undergirds every biblical promise.

Divine Preservation of His People

When God is the keeper, נָצַר highlights continual, comprehensive protection:
• “You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.” (Psalm 12:7)
• “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
• “I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it.” (Isaiah 27:3)

The verb thereby underlines the unbreakable security of those who trust in Him.

Human Responsibility to Guard God’s Word

Reciprocally, נָצַר expresses the believer’s duty:
• “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
• “He who guards his mouth protects his life.” (Proverbs 13:3)
• “They kept Your word and guarded Your covenant.” (Deuteronomy 33:9)
• “I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity.” (2 Samuel 22:24)

Moral endurance is portrayed not as passive avoidance but as active, vigilant stewardship.

Wisdom Literature Emphasis

Proverbs saturates everyday concerns with נָצַר’s urgency: paths (2:8), commandments (3:1), discretion (5:2), soul (16:17). Wisdom’s promise is practical: guarding yields life, flourishing, and protection from folly.

Prophetic Vision: The LORD as Keeper and the Servant Preserved

Isaiah extends the motif to the Servant of the LORD:

“I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people.” (Isaiah 42:6; cf. 49:8)

Here נָצַר shapes messianic hope—God guards the Servant who, in turn, guards His people by mediating covenant blessing.

Liturgical Use in the Psalms

Psalms employ נָצַר both as praise (acknowledging divine preservation) and petition (seeking continued care). The refrain “preserve me” (cf. Psalm 31:23) becomes a liturgical anchor for communal and personal trust.

Eschatological Dimensions

The prophetic future, secured by divine keeping, culminates in safeguarded peace (Isaiah 26) and an eternally watered vineyard (Isaiah 27). God’s guardianship ensures the irreversible triumph of righteousness.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Pastoral care: urge believers to “guard” inner life and speech, echoing Proverbs 4:23; 13:3.
• Intercession: pray on the grounds of Exodus 34:7—that God “maintain” covenant mercy.
• Discipleship: balance assurance (God keeps) with responsibility (we keep).

Intertextual Connections and New Testament Reflection

Greek tēreō (to keep) mirrors נָצַר in passages such as John 17:11 (“keep them in Your name”) and 1 Peter 1:5 (“protected by the power of God”). The continuity reinforces the Bible’s unified witness: salvation is secure because the Covenant-Keeper guards His people, who in turn guard His word.

Theological Synthesis

נָצַר weaves a single fabric: the LORD’s proactive fidelity, the believer’s responsive vigilance, and the Messiah’s safeguarded mission. From Sinai to the New Jerusalem, Scripture’s storyline is one of watchful guardianship—a God who keeps, a people who are kept, and a calling to keep that which has been entrusted.

אֱצֹּ֬ר אֶצֳּרֶֽנָּה׃ אֶצֹּֽרָה׃ אצר אצרה׃ אצרנה׃ וְ֝אֶצְּרָ֗ה וְאֶצְּרֶ֥נָּה וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ וְהַנָּצ֔וּר וְנֹצֵ֣ר וְתִצְּרֶֽךָּ׃ וּבַנְּצוּרִ֖ים וּנְצֻ֥רַת וּנְצֻר֖וֹת ואצרה ואצרך ואצרנה ובנצורים והנצור ונצר ונצרות ונצרת ותצרך׃ יִנְצְרֻֽהוּ׃ יִנְצֹ֗רוּ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ יִצְּר֑וּנִי יִצְּרֶ֖נְהוּ יִצְּרֽוּנִי׃ יִצְּרוּ־ יִצֹּ֥ר ינצרהו׃ ינצרו ינצרו׃ יצר יצרו־ יצרוני יצרוני׃ יצרנהו לְנֹצְרֵ֥י לִ֭נְצֹר לנצר לנצרי נְצָרָ֥תַם נְצֹ֣ר נְצֹ֥ר נְצוּרָֽה׃ נִ֝צְּרֶ֗הָ נִ֝צְּרָ֗ה נָ֣צְרוּ נָצ֣וֹר נָצָֽרְתִּי׃ נֹֽצְרָ֔הּ נֹצְרִ֖ים נֹצְרִ֥ים נֹצְרֵ֥י נֹצֵ֣ר נֹצֵ֥ר נֹצֵ֪ר נֹצֵֽר׃ נוֹצְרִ֖ים נוֹצֵ֣ר נוצר נוצרים נצור נצורה׃ נצר נצר׃ נצרה נצרו נצרי נצרים נצרתי׃ נצרתם תִּ֫צְּרֵ֥נִי תִּנְצְרֵ֑נִי תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי׃ תִּצְּרֶ֓נּוּ ׀ תִּצֹּ֖ר תִּצֹּ֣ר תִּצֹּ֥ר תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃ תנצרכה׃ תנצרני תנצרני׃ תצר תצרנו תצרני ’eṣ·ṣō·rāh ’eṣ·ṣo·ren·nāh ’ĕṣ·ṣōr ’ĕṣṣōr ’eṣṣōrāh ’eṣṣorennāh etzTzor etzTzorah etztzoRennah lə·nō·ṣə·rê lənōṣərê lenotzeRei lin·ṣōr linṣōr Lintzor nā·ṣā·rə·tî nā·ṣə·rū nā·ṣō·wr nāṣārətî nāṣərū nāṣōwr naTzareti Natzeru naTzor nə·ṣā·rā·ṯam nə·ṣōr nə·ṣū·rāh nəṣārāṯam nəṣōr nəṣūrāh netzaRatam neTzor netzuRah niṣ·ṣə·rāh niṣ·ṣə·re·hā niṣṣərāh niṣṣərehā nitztzeRah nitztzeReha nō·ṣə·rāh nō·ṣə·rê nō·ṣə·rîm nō·ṣêr nō·w·ṣêr nō·wṣ·rîm nōṣêr nōṣərāh nōṣərê nōṣərîm noTzer notzeRah notzeRei notzeRim notzRim nōwṣêr nōwṣrîm tin·ṣə·rê·nî ṯin·ṣə·rek·kāh ṯinṣərekkāh tinṣərênî tintzeRekkah tintzeReni tiṣ·ṣə·rê·nî tiṣ·ṣə·ren·nū tiṣ·ṣōr tiṣṣərênî tiṣṣərennū tiṣṣōr titztzeReni titztzeRennu titzTzor ū·ḇan·nə·ṣū·rîm ū·nə·ṣu·raṯ ū·nə·ṣu·rō·wṯ ūḇannəṣūrîm ūnəṣuraṯ ūnəṣurōwṯ uneTzurat unetzuRot uvannetzuRim veetztzareCha veetztzeRah veetztzeRennah vehannaTzur venoTzer vetitztzeReka wə’eṣṣārəḵā wə’eṣṣərāh wə’eṣṣərennāh wə·’eṣ·ṣā·rə·ḵā wə·’eṣ·ṣə·rāh wə·’eṣ·ṣə·ren·nāh wə·han·nā·ṣūr wə·nō·ṣêr wə·ṯiṣ·ṣə·re·kā wəhannāṣūr wənōṣêr wəṯiṣṣərekā yin·ṣə·ru·hū yin·ṣō·rū yinṣəruhū yinṣōrū yintzeRuhu yinTzoru yiṣ·ṣə·ren·hū yiṣ·ṣə·rū- yiṣ·ṣə·rū·nî yiṣ·ṣōr yiṣṣərenhū yiṣṣərū- yiṣṣərūnî yiṣṣōr yitztzeRenhu yitztzeru yitztzeRuni yitzTzorInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts