נָצַר
na.tsar (H5341)
to watch
AI Word Study
# Natzar (נָצַר): The Hebrew Concept of Watching The Hebrew verb *natzar* appears 63 times throughout the biblical text with the fundamental meaning "to watch." This lexical data indicates a verb rooted in active observation and vigilance—the sense of maintaining careful attention over something or someone. The frequency of its occurrence (63 times) suggests this was a semantically important concept in biblical Hebrew, one that writers and speakers reached for regularly when describing acts of monitoring, guarding, or keeping watch. The verb's consistent translation as "to watch" points to a range of practical applications within biblical contexts. The concept encompasses both the literal physical act of surveillance—such as a watchman observing from a post—and more abstract notions of maintaining awareness or custody of something. Given the frequency of its use across the biblical corpus, *natzar* likely carried significance in describing both ordinary protective duties and metaphorical forms of attention or guardianship. Without additional lexical data on specific usage contexts, occurrences, or related noun forms, the precise semantic range and theological weight of *natzar* cannot be fully determined from the information provided. However, the verb's substantial biblical presence and straightforward definition establish it as a foundational term for expressing the idea of watchful attention in Hebrew biblical discourse.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.”
He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye.
He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
The children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against Yahweh their God; and they built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city;
He struck the Philistines to Gaza and its borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.
You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance.
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your loving kindness and your truth continually preserve me.
He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,
that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise Yah!
Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.
Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.
Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
This is my way, that I keep your precepts.
The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.
I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.
I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man:
Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
My son, don’t forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
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