נָצִיר
properly, conservative; but used passively, delivered
Definition
The Hebrew noun נָצִיר (nâtsîyr) is derived from the root נָצַר (natsar), meaning 'to guard, keep, watch over, preserve.' Its primary sense is 'one who is guarded' or 'preserved,' carrying a passive nuance of being protected or kept safe. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 49:6, it is used in parallel with 'servant' to describe the one through whom God's salvation will reach the ends of the earth, strongly implying a person divinely preserved for a specific, redemptive purpose. While some older lexicons suggest an active sense like 'conservative,' the context and root derivation favor the passive meaning of 'preserved one' or 'guarded one.'
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 49:6. It is used in a profound prophetic context, where God addresses His 'servant' (a figure often associated with the Messiah or Israel as a nation) and calls him a 'light to the nations.' The term נָצִיר is applied in poetic parallelism to this servant, emphasizing his role as one preserved and protected by God to fulfill the grand mission of universal salvation. There are no other usage patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
נָצִיר is a noun derived from the common Hebrew root נָצַר (H5341, natsar), which means 'to guard, keep, watch, preserve.' This root appears frequently in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 121:7-8, 'The Lord will keep you...'). The noun form נָצִיר is a passive participle construct, literally meaning 'one who is guarded' or 'preserved.' Its meaning is directly tied to the protective and custodial action described by its root.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, נָצִיר is theologically significant as it describes a key agent in God's salvation history. In Isaiah 49:6, it identifies the 'servant' as a divinely preserved instrument for bringing God's light and salvation to the entire world. This connects to major biblical themes of election, covenant faithfulness, and missional purpose. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this crucial 'Servant Song' by highlighting that the servant's effectiveness stems not from his own power, but from God's prior and continuous act of preserving him for this global redemptive task.
In ancient Israelite culture, the concept of being 'guarded' or 'preserved' (from the root natsar) often had covenantal overtones. It implied protection under the auspices of a stronger party, like a king or deity, often for a specific purpose or duty. The use of נָצִיר for the servant in Isaiah would evoke this idea of a person under God's special protection and custody, set apart for a high-stakes mission. This differs from a modern individualistic understanding of preservation, emphasizing a corporate or representative role within God's plan for the nations.
שָׁמַר (shamar, H8104) — A more general synonym for 'keep' or 'guard,' but נָצַר (natsar) can imply a more focused, protective watching. עֶבֶד (eved, H5650) — 'servant'; in Isaiah 49:6, נָצִיר is in poetic parallelism with this term, describing the same figure but from the angle of being preserved for service.
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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