Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

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