נָטַר
𐤍𐤈𐤓
nâṭar
H5201 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To guard or keep watch, particularly over emotions or intentions; to maintain, preserve, or hold onto, especially in reference to preserving anger or resentment. The word frequently indicates the active retention of emotion, most often used in the context of holding a grudge or bearing, keeping resentment, especially in prohibitions against the persistence of anger.
Semantic Range
to guard or keep (especially with intent), to retain (emotion, especially anger), to bear a grudge, to refuse to let go of resentment, to keep watch over (figuratively), to maintain (hostility or anger)
Root / Etymology
Root: נטר. The root meaning is 'to guard' or 'to keep watch.' The verb נָטַר in the qal stem generally carries the specific sense of guarding or preserving—particularly not in a neutral or positive sense (as in protecting), but with a focus on holding something back or keeping it from being released, especially emotion such as anger or resentment. It may be related to Aramaic cognates with similar senses of guarding or watching.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָטַר is attested primarily in poetic and wisdom literature, with prominent use in the sense of 'bearing a grudge' or 'keeping anger.' It differs from related verbs such as שָׁמַר (shamar, 'to guard, keep') in that it almost always refers to guarding in a figurative manner, especially in an emotional or psychological context, rather than with respect to physical objects or places. The word is often used negatively—'do not keep/retain anger,' particularly in prohibitions against the sustained harboring of resentment against others (cf. Leviticus 19:18, Nahum 1:2, Psalm 103:9). English translations such as 'to bear a grudge' or 'to keep anger' capture part of the meaning but may miss the ongoing, watchful intentionality implied by the Hebrew term. Usage is rare and poetic in the Hebrew Bible, with limited lexical scope, but carrying strong implications of emotional vigilance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to guard; figuratively, to cherish (anger); bear grudge, keep(-er), reserve.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נטר (n-ṭ-r) — guarding, keeping watch, preserving, retaining (especially anger)
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5201-02 |
הֲ/יִנְטֹ֣ר | hayinetor | HTi/Vqi3ms |
Will He reserve? | will he retain | 1 |
H5201-03 |
לַ/נֹּטְרִ֑ים | lanoterim | HRd/Vqrmpa |
to the keepers | to the grudge-keepers | 1 |
H5201-08 |
וְ/נוֹטֵ֥ר | venoter | HC/Vqrmsa |
and-reserving | and grudge-keeper | 1 |
H5201-06 |
נֹטֵרָ֣ה | noterah | HVqrfsa |
keeper of | she was kept | 1 |
H5201-04 |
לְ/נֹטְרִ֥ים | lenoterim | HR/Vqrmpa |
to the keepers | to the grudge-keepers | 1 |
H5201-07 |
תִטֹּר֙ | titor | HVqi2ms |
bear grudge | you retain | 1 |
H5201-05 |
נָטָֽרְתִּי | natareti | HVqp1cs |
have I kept | I have guarded | 1 |
H5201-09 |
יִטּֽוֹר | yitor | HVqi3ms |
keep | he will retain resentment | 1 |
H5201-01 |
אֶטּ֖וֹר | etor | HVqi1cs |
I-will-guard | I will retain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5201-07 |
Leviticus 19:18 | תִטֹּר֙ | titor | HVqi2ms |
bear grudge | you retain |
H5201-02 |
Jeremiah 3:5 | הֲ/יִנְטֹ֣ר | hayinetor | HTi/Vqi3ms |
Will He reserve? | will he retain |
H5201-01 |
Jeremiah 3:12 | אֶטּ֖וֹר | etor | HVqi1cs |
I-will-guard | I will retain |
H5201-08 |
Nahum 1:2 | וְ/נוֹטֵ֥ר | venoter | HC/Vqrmsa |
and-reserving | and grudge-keeper |
H5201-09 |
Psalms 103:9 | יִטּֽוֹר | yitor | HVqi3ms |
keep | he will retain resentment |
H5201-06 |
Song of Songs 1:6 | נֹטֵרָ֣ה | noterah | HVqrfsa |
keeper of | she was kept |
H5201-05 |
Song of Songs 1:6 | נָטָֽרְתִּי | natareti | HVqp1cs |
have I kept | I have guarded |
H5201-03 |
Song of Songs 8:11 | לַ/נֹּטְרִ֑ים | lanoterim | HRd/Vqrmpa |
to the keepers | to the grudge-keepers |
H5201-04 |
Song of Songs 8:12 | לְ/נֹטְרִ֥ים | lenoterim | HR/Vqrmpa |
to the keepers | to the grudge-keepers |