נְטַר
to retain
Definition
The Aramaic verb נְטַר means to keep, guard, or retain something, often with a sense of careful preservation or maintenance. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 7:28, it describes Daniel 'keeping' or 'retaining' the matter of the vision in his heart, implying he held it securely in his memory and contemplation. This sense aligns with the idea of internalizing and safeguarding a significant revelation. The word carries a nuance of active, intentional custody rather than passive possession.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, specifically in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in Daniel 7:28, where Daniel concludes his account of a prophetic vision. The context is a personal, reflective response to a divine revelation. The usage indicates a mental and emotional act of preserving and pondering a weighty message received from God.
Etymology
נְטַר is an Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew root נָטַר (H5201). The Hebrew root נָטַר generally means to keep, guard, or watch, often with a connotation of vigilance or cherishing a grudge. The Aramaic form נְטַר shares this core semantic field of guarding and retaining but is used in a neutral or positive sense of preservation in its biblical context.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it captures the proper human response to divine revelation. Daniel's act of 'keeping' the vision (Daniel 7:28) models a posture of reverence, internalization, and obedience to God's word. It moves beyond mere hearing to active retention and meditation, a concept echoed in passages like Psalm 119:11 and Luke 2:19. Understanding this enriches reading by highlighting the responsibility to guard and cherish God's truth in one's heart.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, particularly in Aramaic legal and administrative texts, verbs for 'keeping' often related to fulfilling obligations, guarding property, or maintaining records. Daniel's use in a personal, visionary context applies this concept of faithful custody to spiritual matters, emphasizing the sacred duty to preserve divine communication.
שָׁמַר (shamar, H8104) — A more common Hebrew verb for 'keep, guard, observe,' with a very wide range of uses including physical protection and obedience to commands. נָצַר (natsar, H5341) — Means to watch, guard, or preserve, often used for protecting something valuable or keeping commandments. עָמַד ('amad, H5975) — Can mean to stand or take one's stand, sometimes overlapping in the sense of maintaining a position or covenant.
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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