נֵ֫זֶר (ne.zer)
ne.zer
consecration: Nazirite vow
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun nezer denotes something set apart, functioning as a tangible sign of consecration. In its most concrete sense, it refers to a crown or diadem, symbolizing royal dignity and holy separation. This meaning appears in accounts of King David’s capture of the crown of Ammon (2 Samuel 1:10) and in descriptions of the high priest’s sacred headpiece (Exodus 29:6). The word captures the idea that holiness is not merely internal but marked by visible distinction.
Its usage extends to the Nazirite vow, where it signifies the state of being dedicated to God. In Numbers 6, nezer describes the consecration of the head, linking the physical act of leaving hair uncut with spiritual devotion. The term even appears in Jeremiah 7:29 regarding a woman’s hair, likely reflecting a cultural association between long, untrimmed hair and a vow of separation. Thus, whether applied to royalty or a layperson under a vow, nezer always points to a life marked off for a specific sacred purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nezer describes something set apart as holy, often visualized as a crown or diadem. In ancient Israel, this marked both royal dignity and sacred separation. When applied to the Nazirite vow, it signified a visible commitment to God, where uncut hair served as a tangible sign of devotion. This imagery reminds us that holiness is not just an internal feeling but a life lived with distinct purpose.
For your faith, this concept invites you to consider how your daily choices reflect your dedication to God. Just as the Nazirite’s hair was a public marker of their vow, our actions can signal our allegiance to Christ. This word encourages a life that is intentionally different from the surrounding culture, pointing others toward the One who holds all authority.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Nazirite vow/ his12×
- the/ crown3×
- [the] crown of3×
- a crown2×
- hair/ your1×
- crown/ his1×
- [the] consecration of1×
- [the] Nazirite vow of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִזְר֔/וֹ5×
- נִזְר֑/וֹ4×
- נִזְרֽ/וֹ\׃3×
- נֵ֥זֶר2×
- הַ/נֵּ֙זֶר֙2×
- נֵֽזֶר\־1×
- נֵ֣זֶר1×
- נֵ֠זֶר1×
- נֵ֝֗זֶר1×
- נֵ֔זֶר1×
- נִזְרֽ/וֹ\׃\ \פ1×
- נִזְרֵ/ךְ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 6:7
He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.
This verse explicitly links the physical state of the head to the spiritual reality of separation, showing that nezer is a visible sign of being set apart for God.
-
Exodus 29:6
You shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.
Here the word refers to the holy crown on the high priest, illustrating that consecration involves a sacred status that demands respect and purity.
-
II Samuel 1:10
So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
The capture of King Saul’s crown demonstrates that nezer can also symbolize earthly authority and royal dignity, distinct from but parallel to spiritual consecration.