נָטַר
to guard; figuratively, to cherish (anger)
Definition
The Hebrew verb נָטַר (nâṭar) primarily means 'to guard' or 'to keep watch over,' often with a sense of careful, protective oversight. In Song of Songs 1:6 and 8:11-12, it describes tending a vineyard, a literal act of guarding. However, its most distinctive usage is figurative, meaning 'to cherish' or 'to keep' in the sense of maintaining a strong emotion over time, particularly anger or a grudge. This is powerfully seen in Leviticus 19:18's command not to 'bear a grudge' and in Nahum 1:2, where the Lord is described as one who 'reserves wrath' for his enemies.
Biblical Usage
נָטַר is used eight times in the Old Testament, appearing in legal, poetic, and prophetic books. Its literal sense of guarding a physical possession is found in the pastoral imagery of Song of Songs. Its figurative sense dominates, describing the human tendency to harbor resentment (Leviticus 19:18, Jeremiah 3:5, 3:12) and, most strikingly, God's deliberate retention of wrath (Nahum 1:2). In Psalm 103:9, it is used negatively—God 'will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever'—highlighting his mercy in contrast to the typical human or divine pattern.
Etymology
As a primitive root, נָטַר is the base for words related to guarding and keeping. It is cognate with other Semitic words for watching or observing. The core meaning of 'to guard' developed the specialized sense of 'to keep' something internally, like a memory or emotion, leading to its figurative use for cherishing anger.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant for understanding divine and human anger. It reveals that anger, whether human or divine, can be a carefully guarded, long-held state. This deepens the force of Leviticus 19:18's command against nursing grudges, framing it as a failure to release something one is guarding. Conversely, it intensifies the portrayal of God's holy wrath in Nahum 1:2 as a deliberate, reserved power, making his mercy in Psalms 103:9 all the more gracious. Understanding נָטַר illuminates the serious choice between guarding grievances or choosing forgiveness.
In an agrarian society, 'guarding' a vineyard (Song of Songs 8:11) was an act of protecting one's livelihood and inheritance, implying vigilance and long-term commitment. This tangible concept provided a powerful metaphor for the intangible act of 'guarding' an emotion. Cherishing anger was thus understood not as a fleeting feeling but as a sustained, watchful posture, akin to protecting a valuable asset, which gives the biblical commands against it greater weight.
שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — A broader term for 'keep, watch, observe,' often used for commandments; נָטַר implies a more focused, sometimes internalized guarding. נָצַר (nâtsar, H5341) — Also means 'to guard, watch, preserve,' frequently used for protecting something precious; נָטַר can carry a stronger connotation of retained emotion.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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