5144. nazar

Lexical Summary

nazar: To consecrate, to separate, to abstain

Original Word: נָזַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: nazar
Pronunciation: naw-ZAR
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-zar')
KJV: consecrate, separate(-ing, self)
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to hold aloof, i.e. (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine worship (i.e. apostatize))
2. specifically, to set apart (to sacred purposes), i.e. devote

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

consecrate, separating, self

A primitive root; to hold aloof, i.e. (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine worship (i.e. Apostatize)); specifically, to set apart (to sacred purposes), i.e. Devote -- consecrate, separate(-ing, self).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[נָזַר] verb dedicate, consecrate, (compare We^{Skizzen iii. 118}), separate, in relig. and ceremonial sense (Late Hebrew only as denominative, compare II. נזר; Arabic make a vow, compare We^{Skizzen iii. 117 f.}, RS^{i. 463 f.}, 2d ed. 482 f.; Sabean נדֿר vow Levy^{ZMG xxii (1868), 196 Min.} id., Hom^{Südar. Chrest. 128}; Aramaic נְדַד, vow; Assyrian nazâru, curse Dl^{HWB 457}); —

Niph`al Imperfect יִנָּזֵר Ezekiel 14:7, וַיִנָּזֵר Leviticus 22:2; וַיִּנָָּֽזְרוּ Hosea 9:10; Infinitive absolute הִנָּזֵר Zechariah 7:3; — devote, dedicate oneself unto (ל), הַבּשֶׁת, i.e. Ba`al Hosea 9:10; from (מִן) ׳י Ezekiel 14:7 (of apostasy); hold sacredly aloof from, (מִן) Leviticus 22:2 (H); absolute Zechariah 7:3 consecrating my(self ), i.e. by fasting.

Hiph`il Perfect מִטֻּמְאָתָם ׳וְהִזֵּרְתֶּם אֶתבְּֿנֵייִֿשׂ Leviticus 15:31 (P) and ye shall keep the sons of Israel sacredly separate from their uncleanness (but read perhaps וְהִזְהַרְתָּם warn away from — as Ezekiel 3:18; Ezekiel 33:8,9, — so ⅏ ᵐ5 — as to sense — Di Kau). — See also II. [נָזַר].

[נָזַר] verb denominative Hiph`il be a Nazirite, live as Nazirite, followed by מִן (abstaining) from (so Late Hebrew); — only Numbers 6 in law of Naz.: Perfect ׳וְהִזִּיר לי consecutive Leviticus 25:12; Imperfect ׳יַזִּיר לי Leviticus 25:5; also מִיַּיִן ֗֗֗ יַזִּיר Leviticus 25:3 from wine. . . he shall abstain as a Nazirite; Infinitive ׳לְהַזּיר לְי Leviticus 25:2, ׳כָּלָיְֿמֵי הַזּירוֺ לי Leviticus 25:6.

Topical Lexicon

Essential Idea of נָזַר (nazar)

The verb expresses purposeful withdrawal from ordinary life in order to be wholly devoted to a person or cause—pre-eminently to the LORD. It can denote positive consecration (Numbers 6) or negative estrangement from God when one “separates” himself to idols (Ezekiel 14:7).

Cultic Separation for Purity

Leviticus links נָזַר with guarding holiness in the camp and the sanctuary.
• Leviticus 15:31 commands Israel to “keep” (literally “separate”) the sons of Israel from their uncleanness lest they die in sacred space.
• Leviticus 22:2 charges Aaron and his sons to “be careful with the holy offerings… so that they do not profane My holy Name”. Priests were to distance themselves from ritual impurity, recognizing that nearness to God demands distance from defilement.

The Nazarite Vow—Model of Voluntary Devotion

Numbers 6 contains seven of the ten occurrences, presenting the Nazirite as the paradigm of personal dedication:

– Numbers 6:2: “When a man or woman makes a special vow… to consecrate himself to the LORD.”

– Separation involved abstaining from grape products (6:3-4), avoiding corpse defilement (6:6-7), and letting the hair grow (6:5). These visible, daily reminders proclaimed that an ordinary Israelite could live for a season as “holy to the LORD,” foreshadowing the priestly calling of all God’s people (cf. 1 Peter 2:9).

– Verse 12 uses נָזַר for both forfeiture and renewal of the vow after defilement, emphasizing that holiness is maintained only on God’s terms and by atonement.

False or Misplaced Separation

Prophets employ נָזַר ironically:
• Ezekiel 14:7 warns of “anyone… who separates himself from Me and sets up idols in his heart.” Here the verb exposes the tragedy of devoting oneself to something other than God.
• Hosea 9:10 laments Israel’s apostasy at Baal-peor: “They consecrated themselves to shame, and they became detestable like the thing they loved.” Separation, when directed toward idols, corrupts instead of sanctifies.

Fasting as an Act of Abstinence

Zechariah 7:3 records the exiles asking, “Should I weep in the fifth month and abstain as I have done for these many years?” Their decades-long practice of fasting (נָזַר) lacked the justice and mercy God desired. The verse underscores that outward forms of separation are empty unless coupled with obedience (7:9-10).

Theological Trajectory

1. Holiness is essentially separation unto God; it can never be attained by mere externalism.
2. The Nazirite vow illustrates balanced devotion—renunciation (wine, corpse contact) matched with positive allegiance (growing hair as a visible sign).
3. Priestly and prophetic uses reveal that the heart’s orientation determines whether separation leads to life or death.
4. The term anticipates New Covenant calling: believers are to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).

Ministry Applications

• Personal Vows: Thoughtfully considered periods of intensified devotion (prayer retreats, media fasts) echo the Nazirite pattern and can reorient the believer’s affections toward Christ.
• Corporate Holiness: Church leaders, like Aaron’s sons, must guard sacred duties from profanation, cultivating environments where sin is lovingly confronted and holiness pursued.
• Avoiding Idolatrous Separations: Modern “estrangements” (materialism, cultural conformity) mirror Ezekiel’s warning; pastors must shepherd congregations away from such misplaced loyalties.
• Authentic Fasting: Zechariah reminds ministries to couple abstinence with acts of justice— feeding the poor, defending the vulnerable—so that separation becomes a conduit of grace, not hollow ritual.

Summary

נָזַר challenges God’s people to distinguish between true and false separation. Whether through the Nazirite vow, priestly purity, or prophetic correction, Scripture consistently calls believers to withdraw from defilement in order to belong wholly to the LORD who alone sanctifies.

Forms and Transliterations

הִנָּזֵ֕ר הַזִּיר֖וֹ הזירו הנזר וְהִזִּ֤יר וְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם וְיִנָּֽזְרוּ֙ וְיִנָּזֵ֣ר וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ֙ והזיר והזרתם וינזר וינזרו יַזִּ֔יר יַזִּ֤יר יזיר לְהַזִּ֖יר להזיר haz·zî·rōw hazziRo hazzîrōw hin·nā·zêr hinnaZer hinnāzêr lə·haz·zîr lehazZir ləhazzîr vaiyinnazeRu vehizzarTem vehizZir veyinnaZer veyinnazeRu way·yin·nā·zə·rū wayyinnāzərū wə·hiz·zar·tem wə·hiz·zîr wə·yin·nā·zə·rū wə·yin·nā·zêr wəhizzartem wəhizzîr wəyinnāzêr wəyinnāzərū yaz·zîr yazZir yazzîr

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 15:31
HEB: וְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־ בְּנֵי־
NAS: Thus you shall keep the sons
KJV: Thus shall ye separate the children
INT: shall keep the sons of Israel

Leviticus 22:2
HEB: וְאֶל־ בָּנָ֗יו וְיִנָּֽזְרוּ֙ מִקָּדְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־
NAS: and his sons to be careful with the holy
KJV: and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things
INT: and his sons to be careful the holy the sons

Numbers 6:2
HEB: נֶ֣דֶר נָזִ֔יר לְהַזִּ֖יר לַֽיהוָֽה׃
NAS: of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD,
KJV: of a Nazarite, to separate [themselves] unto the LORD:
INT: the vow of a Nazirite to dedicate God

Numbers 6:3
HEB: מִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן
NAS: he shall abstain from wine and strong
KJV: He shall separate [himself] from wine
INT: wine and strong shall abstain vinegar wine

Numbers 6:5
HEB: הַיָּמִ֜ם אֲשֶׁר־ יַזִּ֤יר לַיהוָה֙ קָדֹ֣שׁ
NAS: for which he separated himself to the LORD;
KJV: be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the LORD,
INT: the days which separated to the LORD shall be holy

Numbers 6:6
HEB: כָּל־ יְמֵ֥י הַזִּיר֖וֹ לַיהוָ֑ה עַל־
NAS: the days of his separation to the LORD
KJV: All the days that he separateth [himself] unto the LORD
INT: All the days of his separation to the LORD and

Numbers 6:12
HEB: וְהִזִּ֤יר לַֽיהוָה֙ אֶת־
NAS: and shall dedicate to the LORD
KJV: And he shall consecrate unto the LORD
INT: and shall dedicate to the LORD his days

Ezekiel 14:7
HEB: יָג֣וּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְיִנָּזֵ֣ר מֵֽאַחֲרַ֗י וְיַ֤עַל
NAS: in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets
KJV: in Israel, which separateth himself from me,
INT: stay Israel separates me sets

Hosea 9:10
HEB: בַֽעַל־ פְּע֗וֹר וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ֙ לַבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּהְי֥וּ
NAS: to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,
KJV: to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame;
INT: came to Baal-peor and devoted to shame became

Zechariah 7:3
HEB: בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁ֔י הִנָּזֵ֕ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי
NAS: month and abstain, as I have done
KJV: month, separating myself, as I have done
INT: month the fifth and abstain who have done

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5144
10 Occurrences

haz·zî·rōw — 1 Occ.
hin·nā·zêr — 1 Occ.
lə·haz·zîr — 1 Occ.
way·yin·nā·zə·rū — 1 Occ.
wə·hiz·zar·tem — 1 Occ.
wə·hiz·zîr — 1 Occ.
wə·yin·nā·zêr — 1 Occ.
wə·yin·nā·zə·rū — 1 Occ.
yaz·zîr — 2 Occ.