נֵצֶר
𐤍𐤑𐤓
nêtser
H5342 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fresh shoot or sprout emerging from a plant, especially from a stump or root; by extension, a metaphorical use for a descendant or offspring, particularly one arising unexpectedly or with potential for renewal. The term highlights newness, vitality, and anticipated future growth within a familial or national context. In prophetic or poetic literature, frequently used symbolically for a future leader arising from the lineage of Jesse (i.e., the house of David).
Semantic Range
shoot, sprout, fresh branch, new growth from roots or stump, figurative descendant, emblem of renewal or hope, future leader from a lineage
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נצר, which has core meanings of 'to watch, guard, keep.' The noun נֵצֶר develops the specific sense of a sprout, shoot, or fresh growth. The semantic development from 'guarding' to 'shoot' is likely through the notion of something preserved, protected, or retained, such as a living remnant of a cut-down tree. While the core root meaning is 'to guard,' the noun primarily denotes new plant growth, emphasizing continuity and renewal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נֵצֶר appears only a few times but carries considerable symbolic weight. In prophetic contexts, such as Isaiah 11:1, it refers to a shoot arising from the stump of Jesse, alluding to the anticipated restorer or leader from Davidic lineage. Unlike synonyms such as חֹטֶר (ḥōṭer, 'rod'), יֹנֵק (yōnēq, 'sapling'), or צֶמַח (ṣemaḥ, 'sprout'), נֵצֶר underscores the emergence of life from apparent demise, emphasizing hope and restoration. English translations often render נֵצֶר as 'branch,' but this may obscure its specific imagery of an emerging, verdant shoot rather than a developed branch. In Second Temple and later Jewish literature, 'netser' was sometimes seen as a messianic title. In historical context, the term is not a generic name for Israelites or a later religious group, but a poetic or prophetic metaphor for a future leader as a living sign of continuity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָצַר in the sense of greenness as a striking color; a shoot; figuratively, a descendant; branch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נצר (n-ṣ-r) — watch, guard, keep
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5342-04 |
וְ/נֵ֖צֶר | venetser | HC/Ncmsa |
and a branch | fresh shoot | 1 |
H5342-03 |
נֵ֧צֶר | netser | HNcmsc |
shoot | fresh shoot of | 1 |
H5342-01 |
כְּ/נֵ֣צֶר | kenetser | HR/Ncmsa |
like a branch | like a fresh shoot | 1 |
H5342-02 |
מִ/נֵּ֥צֶר | minetser | HR/Ncmsc |
out of a branch | from a fresh shoot of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5342-04 |
Isaiah 11:1 | וְ/נֵ֖צֶר | venetser | HC/Ncmsa |
and a branch | fresh shoot |
H5342-01 |
Isaiah 14:19 | כְּ/נֵ֣צֶר | kenetser | HR/Ncmsa |
like a branch | like a fresh shoot |
H5342-03 |
Isaiah 60:21 | נֵ֧צֶר | netser | HNcmsc |
shoot | fresh shoot of |
H5342-02 |
Daniel 11:7 | מִ/נֵּ֥צֶר | minetser | HR/Ncmsc |
out of a branch | from a fresh shoot of |