H5145 — נֶזֶר (nezer)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: H5145
Original: נֶזֶר
Transliteration: nezer
Pronunciation: neh'-zer
Part of Speech: Masculine noun
Root: נָזַר (nazar, H5144) — to hold aloof, separate, consecrate
Occurrences: 22 unique verses (26 tokens) in OT
First Occurrence: Exo 29:6 — "And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre."
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From H5144; properly, something set apart, i.e. (abstractly) dedication (of a priest or Nazirite); hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by implication) a chaplet (especially of royalty): — consecration, crown, hair, separation.

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
of his separation	7	31.8%
the crown	5	22.7%
crown	3	13.6%
his separation	3	13.6%
his crown	2	9.1%
of a crown	1	4.5%
of his consecration	1	4.5%
the consecration	1	4.5%
thine hair	1	4.5%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Numbers	10	0.8
Zechariah	1	0.5
Exodus	2	0.2
Leviticus	2	0.2
2 Samuel	1	0.1
2 Kings	1	0.1
2 Chronicles	1	0.1
Proverbs	1	0.1
Psalms	2	0.1
Jeremiah	1	0.1

Numbers dominates with 10 of 22 verses (45%), all in chapter 6 (the Nazirite vow legislation). The priestly crown usage clusters in Exodus-Leviticus (4v). Royal crown usage is spread across historical books and Psalms. The word is absent from all prophetic books except Jeremiah (1v) and Zechariah (1v).

Semantic Categories¶

1. Nazirite Consecration / Separation¶

The dominant usage (10v, all in Numbers 6). Refers to the entire state of being set apart under the Nazirite vow, covering both the abstract condition and (by metonymy) the outward sign of unshorn hair. - Num 6:4 — "All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree" - Num 6:5 — "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head" - Num 6:7 — "He shall not make himself unclean... because the consecration of his God is upon his head" - Num 6:8 — "All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD" - Num 6:9 — "if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration" - Num 6:12 — "he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation"

2. Priestly Crown / Diadem¶

The golden plate (tsiyts) fastened to the high priest's turban, symbolizing holiness unto YHWH. A concrete object marking the priest's consecrated office. - Exo 29:6 — "thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre" - Exo 39:30 — "they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold" - Lev 8:9 — "upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown" - Lev 21:12 — "the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him"

3. Royal Crown / Diadem¶

A crown signifying kingly authority, used for coronation and as a symbol of the Davidic dynasty. - 2 Sam 1:10 — "I took the crown that was upon his head" (Saul's crown, reported to David) - 2 Ki 11:12 — "he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him" (Joash's coronation) - 2 Chr 23:11 — "they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown" (parallel to 2 Ki 11:12) - Psa 89:39 — "thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground" (Davidic lament) - Psa 132:18 — "upon himself shall his crown flourish" (messianic promise)

4. Figurative / Metaphorical Crown¶

Extended uses where nezer functions as a metaphor for honor, prosperity, or consecrated status. - Pro 27:24 — "doth the crown endure to every generation?" (transience of wealth) - Jer 7:29 — "cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away" (Jerusalem's consecration revoked) - Zec 9:16 — "they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
יְהֹוָה (Yehowah)	H3068	9x (41%)	"holy unto the LORD" / "consecration of his God"
רֹאשׁ (rosh)	H7218	7x (32%)	"upon his head" — nezer located on the head
יוֹם (yowm)	H3117	7x (32%)	"all the days of his separation" — temporal duration
נָזִיר (naziyr)	H5139	4x (18%)	cognate pair: "the Nazarite... his separation"
גָּלַח (galach)	H1548	3x (14%)	"shave the head of his separation" — vow completion
טָמֵא (tame)	H2930	3x (14%)	"defiled the head of his consecration" — violation
קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh)	H6944	3x (14%)	"the holy crown" — priestly usage

Word Family / Cognates¶

H5144 נָזַר (nazar) — root verb: to hold aloof, separate, consecrate (10v)
H5139 נָזִיר (naziyr) — one consecrated/separated; Nazirite; also unpruned vine (16v)

Synonyms¶

H2633 חֹסֶן (chosen) — wealth, treasure (5v; SDBH-listed synonym; co-occurs in Pro 27:24 context of enduring value)

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
עֲטָרָה (atarah)	H5850	"crown" (11v overlap)	atarah = general crown of honor, reward, or victory; nezer = consecrated crown tied to office or vow
כֶּתֶר (kether)	H3804	"crown" (2v overlap)	kether = Persian royal diadem (only Esther); nezer = Israelite priestly/royal consecration crown
זֵר (zer)	H2213	"crown" (1v overlap)	zer = decorative border moulding on tabernacle furniture; nezer = wearable consecration crown
קׇדְקֹד (qodqod)	H6936	"his crown" (1v)	qodqod = crown of the head (body part); nezer = the crown placed on the head (object/state)

Semantic Domains (SDBH)¶

Dissociate — the root meaning of separation
Clothing — the physical crown/diadem as worn object
People — the consecrated person bearing the nezer
Control — the crown as symbol of authority

LXX Mapping¶

Greek Equivalent	Co-occurrences	PMI	Notes
εὐχή (euche) G2171	10	7.18	"vow/prayer" — LXX renders Nazirite-separation passages as vow language
εὔχομαι (euchomai) G2172	5	6.63	verbal form "to vow/pray" — same Nazirite vow context
κεφαλή (kephale) G2776	9	4.91	"head" — reflects the "upon his head" collocations
ξυράω (xyrao) G3587	3	7.20	"to shave" — hair-shaving at vow completion
ἅγιος (hagios) G40	6	3.57	"holy" — "holy crown" priestly passages

The LXX does not use a single dominant Greek equivalent for nezer. Instead, it renders by context: vow language (euche/euchomai) for the Nazirite passages, and descriptive terms (kephale, hagios) for the priestly crown passages. This fragmented mapping reflects the dual semantic range of nezer spanning abstract consecration and concrete diadem.