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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Etymology of Nazarene or Nazareth ?

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  • From: George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
  • To: "b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Etymology of Nazarene or Nazareth ?
  • Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:39:14 +0000

The link between נצרי (Nazarene) and נצר (to keep) comes purely from the fact
that the town of Nazareth was named with this root. The town name means
something "Keeper" or "Guard". We see pretty much the same link between the
term שׁמרון (Samaria) and שׁמר (to keep). These days the Samaritans are known
as the שׁמרונים (Shomronim). Most understand this as deriving from the name
of the town of Samaria, but the Samaritans themselves interpret the label as
"Keepers" of Torah.


GEORGE ATHAS
Dean of Research,
Moore Theological College (moore.edu.au)
Sydney, Australia





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