נָצַר

From the study of Proverbs 13:3

Range of meaning

To watch, guard, keep watch over; to preserve, protect; to keep (a covenant, commandments, a secret); to watch over a vineyard or a city. Often means close, protective watching, and it can also mean keeping something hidden or sealed.

Against the English

English "guards" (BSB, WEB) is accurate. KJV's "keepeth" is also fine, but because KJV uses "keepeth" for both natsar and shamar, the reader cannot see that the Hebrew has two different verbs.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used of watchmen ("watchtower," migdal notsrim, 2 Kgs 17:9) and vineyard-keepers (Prov 27:18, "whoever tends [notser] a fig tree"). Psalm 141:3 has the same pair of verbs and the same image: "Set a guard [shomrah], O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch [nitsrah] over the door of my lips." Proverbs 4:23: "Above all that you guard [mishmar], guard [netsor] your heart." The Aramaic Words of Ahiqar, a wisdom text from outside Israel copied at Elephantine in Egypt in the 5th century BC, has a close parallel: "More than all watchfulness, watch your mouth."

From the study of Psalm 141:3

Range of meaning

To watch, guard, keep, preserve. It can mean guarding a vineyard or a fortress, keeping a covenant or commands, keeping a secret, or protecting a life. The participle nōṣərîm means 'watchmen' (2 Kgs 17:9 'watchtower'; Jer 31:6 'watchmen on the hills of Ephraim').

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'keep the door' uses 'keep' in its old sense of 'guard', as in 'keeper of the gate'. Modern readers may hear 'keep' as 'hold on to' or 'maintain'. BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB clarify with 'keep watch'.

How it drifted

Older English 'keep' meant to guard (compare 'castle keep', 'gatekeeper'). Everyday modern use leans toward 'retain'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 34:13 (Heb. 14) 'Keep (nəṣōr) your tongue from evil'. Proverbs 4:23 'Above all guarding, guard (nəṣōr) your heart'. Proverbs 13:3 'He who guards (nōṣēr) his mouth…'. Later Jewish prayer drew on this vocabulary: the private prayer at the end of the Amidah opens 'My God, guard (nəṣōr) my tongue from evil.'

From the study of Isaiah 26:3

Range of meaning

To watch, guard, keep, protect, preserve: watchmen (notsrim) on a city or in fields (2 Kgs 17:9; Jer 4:16; 31:6); keeping a vineyard (Isa 27:3; Job 27:18); guarding a covenant or teaching (Deut 33:9; Prov 3:1); God preserving a person (Ps 12:7; 32:7; 40:11; Prov 2:11).

Against the English

"Keep" in English can sound passive ("keep in a drawer") or like "maintain". The Hebrew is active and watchful: guarding as a sentry guards.

Used elsewhere in the period

The next chapter uses it of God himself: "I, the LORD, am its keeper (notsrah) ... lest anyone harm it, I guard it night and day" (Isa 27:3). In the same song (26:1) God has set "salvation as walls and ramparts" for the city.