English · KJV
H5342

נֵצֶר

nêtser /nay'-tser/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom נָצַר in the sense of greenness as a striking color
Meaninga shoot; figuratively, a descendant
KJV usagebranch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nêtser — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nêtser, represented by H5342, describes a shoot or branch. Derived from a root suggesting the vibrant greenness of new growth, it figuratively refers to a descendant. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, making each usage significant.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H5342 carries both positive and negative connotations. It is famously used in a messianic prophecy where a Branch is foretold to come forth and grow from the roots of Jesse Isaiah 11:1. It also describes God's people as "the branch of my planting," identifying them as the work of His hands for His glory Isaiah 60:21. In stark contrast, it is used to describe a rejected king who is "cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch" Isaiah 14:19. Finally, it is used to denote a descendant who will rise to power with an army Daniel 11:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of H5342:

  • H8328 sheresh (root): This term appears alongside nêtser to establish the source of the descendant, whether it is the line of Jesse Isaiah 11:1 or a royal family Daniel 11:7. It is defined as "a root (literally or figuratively)."
  • H1503 gezaʻ (stem, stock): Used in parallel with nêtser in Isaiah 11:1, this word signifies "the trunk or stump of a tree," highlighting the established lineage from which the new shoot emerges.
  • H7993 shâlak (to throw out, down or away): This verb is used to describe the fate of the "abominable branch" in Isaiah 14:19, providing a powerful contrast to the branch that is divinely planted and nurtured.
  • H6509 pârâh (to bear fruit): This word describes the action of the messianic Branch in Isaiah 11:1, emphasizing its purpose to "bear fruit (literally or figuratively)" and grow.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5342 is demonstrated through its contrasting applications.

  • Messianic Promise: The term is a cornerstone of messianic hope, pointing to a righteous descendant from a seemingly dead lineage who will emerge and "grow" Isaiah 11:1.
  • Divine Identity: It is used to define the identity of God's people as "the branch of my planting" H4302, signifying they are a direct work of God, created for His glorification Isaiah 60:21.
  • Symbol of Judgment: The "abominable branch" represents the ultimate state of rejection and dishonor, being "cast out" H7993 and associated with the slain H2026, demonstrating the consequence of wickedness Isaiah 14:19.
  • Kingly Succession: The term illustrates the principle of lineage and authority, where a descendant ("a branch of her roots") will "stand up" H5975 to claim power and command an army H2428, fulfilling a prophetic destiny Daniel 11:7.

Summary

In summary, H5342 is a potent term that transcends its simple botanical definition. As a shoot or descendant, it encapsulates profound biblical themes of divine promise and judgment. The word is used to frame both the hope of a messianic Branch emerging from Jesse's roots and the disgrace of an abominable branch cast out from its grave, illustrating how a single shoot can represent either life from a stump or death and rejection.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • נֵצֶר
  • נֵצֶר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8328 שֶׁרֶשׁ from שָׁרַשׁ; a root (literally or figuratively); bottom, deep, heel, root. H1503 גֶּזַע from an unused root meaning to cut down (trees); the trunk or stump of atree (as felled or as planted); stem, stock. H7993 שָׁלַךְ a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), H6509 פָּרָה a primitive root; to bear fruit (literally or figuratively); bear, bring forth (fruit), (be, cause to be, make) fruitful H4302 מַטָּע from נָטַע; something planted, i.e. the place (a garden or vineyard), or the thing (a plant, figuratively or men); by im H2026 הָרַג a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 37.

3
Isaiah
1
Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.