### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nâtsîyr**, represented by `{{H5336}}`, is a specific term used to mean **preserved** or **delivered**. It appears only **1 time** across **1 unique verse** in the Bible, making its context highly significant. Derived from a root word meaning 'to guard,' `{{H5336}}` is used passively to describe those who have been kept safe or delivered by God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H5336}}` is found in a prophetic passage about the mission of God's servant. The term identifies a specific group within Israel who are the focus of divine action. In this context, the servant's role is "to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the **preserved** of Israel" [[Isaiah 49:6]]. This act of restoring the **preserved** is presented as a crucial part of God's larger plan of salvation for the world.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in its immediate context clarify the meaning and purpose of being "preserved":
* `{{H5341}}` **nâtsar** (to guard, in a good sense... or a bad one...; ...keep(-er, -ing),...preserve(-r)...): This is the root verb from which `{{H5336}}` is derived. It signifies the active work of guarding or keeping something safe, as seen when the psalmist declares, "thou shalt preserve me from trouble" [[Psalms 32:7]].
* `{{H6965}}` **qûwm** (to rise...; ...raise (up), rear (up),... (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up)...): This verb describes the action taken upon the "preserved" of Israel. They are preserved in order to be "raised up," indicating a restoration to a place of prominence and purpose [[Isaiah 49:6]].
* `{{H7725}}` **shûwb** (to turn back...; bring (again, back, home again),... convert, deliver (again),... restore, retrieve,...): This word appears alongside "raise up" to describe the servant's mission. The "preserved" of Israel are the ones who will be brought back or restored by God's power [[Isaiah 49:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5336}}` is concentrated in its sole appearance:
* **Divine Faithfulness:** The existence of a "preserved" remnant of Israel demonstrates God's faithfulness to His people. It signifies that even when the nation as a whole may falter, God guards a group for His ultimate purposes [[Isaiah 49:6]].
* **Preservation for a Purpose:** Those who are preserved are not simply left in a state of safety. They are kept for a specific, future mission: to be "raised up" and "restored" as part of a divine plan [[Isaiah 49:6]].
* **Instrument of Salvation:** The restoration of the `nâtsîyr` is directly linked to a global mission. Their restoration is the precursor to the servant becoming "a light to the Gentiles" and bringing "salvation unto the end of the earth" [[Isaiah 49:6]].
### Summary
In summary, though used only once, `{{H5336}}` **nâtsîyr** carries significant theological weight. It defines a divinely protected remnant of Israel, highlighting God's power to preserve His people through hardship. Its use in [[Isaiah 49:6]] shows that this preservation is not an end in itself, but the necessary foundation for a subsequent act of restoration and a mission that extends salvation to all nations.
TRV