The Hebrew verb natar means to keep, to guard, to maintain, or to bear a grudge. It conveys the idea of holding onto something — whether positive (keeping a vineyard) or negative (harboring resentment). The word appears in contexts ranging from agricultural care to interpersonal conflict.
In the Old Testament, natar carries a dual sense. Positively, it describes the faithful keeping or tending of something entrusted to one's care. Negatively, it warns against bearing grudges — a theme central to the Levitical holiness code. In Leviticus 19:18, the command not to bear a grudge (natar) stands alongside the command to love one's neighbor, highlighting God's expectation of forgiveness and grace among His people.