Bible Dictionary: Nurse

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Nurse

In ancient times the position of the nurse, wherever one was maintained, was one of much honor sad importance. See (Genesis 24:59; 36;8; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 11:2) The same term is applied to a foster-father or mother, e.g. (Numbers 11:12; Ruth 4:16; Isaiah 49:23)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Nurse

The Bible contains various allusions to the tender and confidential relation anciently subsisting between a nurse and the children she had brought up, Isaiah 49:22,23 1 Thessalonians 2:7,8. See also the story of Rebekah, attended through life by her faithful and honored Deborah, the oak under which she was buried being called "The oak of weeping," Genesis 24:59 35:8. The custom still prevails in the better families of Syria and India. Says Roberts in his Oriental Illustrations, "how often have scenes like this led my mind to the patriarchal age. The daughter is about for the first time to leave the paternal roof; the servants are all in confusion; each refers to things long gone by, each wishes to do something to attract the attention of his young mistress. One says, ?Ah do not forget him who nursed you when an infant;- another, ?How often did I bring you the beautiful lotus from the distant tank. Did I not always conceal your faults'- Then the mother comes to take leave. She weeps and tenderly embraces her, saying, ?My daughter, I shall see you no more; forget not your mother.- The brother enfolds his sister in his arms, and promises soon to come and see her. The father is absorbed in thought, and is only aroused by the sobs of the party. He then affectionately embraces his daughter, and tells her not to fear. The female domestics must each smell of the poor girl, and the men touch her feet. As Rebekah had her nurse to accompany her, so, at this day, the aya (nurse) who has from infancy brought up the bride goes with her to the new scene. She is her adviser, her assistant and friend, and to her will she tell all her hopes and all her fears."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One who nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up; as: (a) A woman who has the care of young children; especially, one who suckles an infant not her own. (b) A person, especially a woman, who has the care of the sick or infirm.

2. (n.) One who, or that which, brings up, rears, causes to grow, trains, fosters, or the like.

3. (n.) A lieutenant or first officer, who is the real commander when the captain is unfit for his place.

4. (n.) A peculiar larva of certain trematodes which produces cercariae by asexual reproduction. See Cercaria, and Redia.

5. (n.) Either one of the nurse sharks.

6. (v. t.) To nourish; to cherish; to foster

7. (v. t.) To nourish at the breast; to suckle; to feed and tend, as an infant.

8. (v. t.) To take care of or tend, as a sick person or an invalid; to attend upon.

9. (v. t.) To bring up; to raise, by care, from a weak or invalid condition; to foster; to cherish; -- applied to plants, animals, and to any object that needs, or thrives by, attention.

10. (v. t.) To manage with care and economy, with a view to increase; as, to nurse our national resources.

11. (v. t.) To caress; to fondle, as a nurse does.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

NURSE; NURSING

nurs, nurs'-ing: "Nurse" in the King James Version represents two different Hebrew words: In 8 passages (Genesis 24:59; Genesis 35:8 Exodus 2:7, 9 2 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 22:11 Isaiah 49:23) the word-noun or verb-renders some form of the verb yanaq, "to suck." The feminine causative part. of this verb is commonly used to denote nurse or foster-mother. According to Exodus 2:7 Moses' mother-"a nurse of the Hebrew women"-became, at Pharaoh's daughter's request, the foster-mother of the foundling. Joash, the son of Ahaziah, was in charge of a nurse until he was 7 years old (2 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 22:11). But it is obvious that the term was used in a more general way, e.g. of a lady's maid or tire-woman. Rebekah was accompanied by her nurse when she left home to be married (Genesis 24:59; Genesis 35:8). In 5 passages (Numbers 11:12 Ruth 4:16 2 Samuel 4:4 Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:4 the King James Version) "nurse" represents the Hebrew word, 'aman, "to support," "be faithful," "nourish." The participle of this verb denoted a person who had charge of young children-a guardian or governess. Naomi took charge of Ruth's child "and became nurse unto it" (Ruth 4:16). In Numbers 11:12 Moses asks whether he has to take charge of the Israelites "as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child." The same word is found in 2 Kings 10:15 (the King James Version "them that brought up," i.e. "guardians of the sons of Ahab) and in Esther 2:7 (the King James Version "and he brought up," i.e. he (Mordecai) adopted, his niece). Deutero-Isaiah uses both terms together (Isaiah 49:23) to describe the exalted position of Israel in the future when foreign kings and queens will offer their services and wait upon the chosen people.

In the solitary passage in the New Testament where "nurse" occurs, it renders the Greek word trophos. In this case the word does not mean a hired nurse, but a mother who nurses her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

T. Lewis

Greek

5162. trophos -- a nurse
... trophos. 5163 . a nurse. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: trophos
Phonetic Spelling: (trof-os') Short Definition: a nurse Definition: a nurse. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5162.htm - 6k

397. anatrepho -- to nurse up, nourish
... to nurse up, nourish. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anatrepho Phonetic Spelling:
(an-at-ref'-o) Short Definition: I rear, bring up Definition: I rear ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/397.htm - 6k

2337. thelazo -- to suckle
... Cognate: 2337 -- to nurse (suck milk). See 2338 (). Word Origin from thele (a nipple)
Definition to suckle NASB Word Usage nursed (1), nursing babies (4). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2337.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5134. nuq -- to suckle, nurse
... to suckle, nurse. Transliteration: nuq Phonetic Spelling: (nook) Short Definition:
nursed. ... root Definition to suckle, nurse NASB Word Usage nursed (1). nurse. ...
/hebrew/5134.htm - 5k

5763. ul -- to nurse, give suck
... 5762, 5763. ul. 5764 . to nurse, give suck. Transliteration: ul Phonetic
Spelling: (ool) Short Definition: nursing. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5763.htm - 6k

439. Allon Bakuth -- "oak of weeping," a tree near the grave of ...
Allon Bakuth. 438, 439. Allon Bakuth. 440 . "oak of weeping," a tree near the
grave of Rebekah's nurse. Transliteration: Allon Bakuth Phonetic Spelling: (al ...
/hebrew/439.htm - 6k

3243. yanaq -- to suck
... 3242, 3243. yanaq. 3244 . to suck. Transliteration: yanaq Phonetic Spelling:
(yaw-nak') Short Definition: nurse. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/3243.htm - 6k

539. aman -- to confirm, support
... 3), faithful (21), firm (2), fulfilled (1), guardians (3), has assurance (1), have
faith (1), have...assurance (1), last (1), lasting (1), nurse (3), put your ...
/hebrew/539.htm - 6k

5532a. sakan -- to be of use or service, benefit
... 5532, 5532a. sakan. 5532b . to be of use or service, benefit.
Transliteration: sakan Short Definition: nurse. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5532a.htm - 5k

2946. taphach -- to extend, spread
... span, swaddle. A primitive root; to flatten out or extend (as a tent); figuratively,
to nurse a child (as promotive of growth); or perhaps a denom. ...
/hebrew/2946.htm - 6k

Library

Heaven's Nurse Children
... Heaven's Nurse Children. A Sermon (No.1021). ... However, I restrain my loitering heart,
and proceed to the text. Here is the figure of a nurse and a child. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm

The Hospital Nurse. November 22.
... The Hospital Nurse. November 22. Fearless, uncomplaining, she "trusted
in God and made no haste." She did her work and read her ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /the hospital nurse november 22.htm

Home as a Stewardship.
... "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.""Exodus
2. 9. ... "Go nurse it for the King of heaven, And He will pay thee hire.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter vi home as a.htm

The Age, Birth, and Life of Moses.
... came that day to the river to bathe and wash herself; and hearing the child cry,
she ordered it to be brought to her; and touched with pity, sought a nurse. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxiii the age birth and.htm

The Finding of Moses
... Perhaps the princess guessed that the baby's mother would not be far off, and
she must have smiled a little when a nurse was so quickly found. ...
/.../steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/the finding of moses.htm

Home as a Nursery.
... seem wise, resemble her.". To nurse means to educate or draw out and direct
what exists in a state of mere involution. It means to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xiii home as a.htm

Conversion
... She was a grand nurse, even at that age, and was a great comfort to us all; she
was so bright and cheerful that we were unwilling to have her leave us.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hoskins/clara a swain md/conversion.htm

Moses
... Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse
of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon ix moses.htm

Of this Weakness of His, He Saith in Another Place...
... Of this weakness of his, he saith in another place, "We made ourselves small among
you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." [2510] For in that passage ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 13 of this weakness.htm

The Cradle that was Rocked by a River.
... "This is one of the Hebrew's children," she said, and as the baby's sister came
near she asked the princess if she should go and get a nurse from among the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter ix the cradle that.htm

Thesaurus

Nurse (23 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Either one of the nurse sharks. ... 10. (vt) To manage with care and economy,
with a view to increase; as, to nurse our national resources. 11. ...
/n/nurse.htm - 17k

Wet-nurse (1 Occurrence)
Wet-nurse. Wet, Wet-nurse. Wetted . Multi-Version Concordance
Wet-nurse (1 Occurrence). Exodus 2:7 And his sister said ...
/w/wet-nurse.htm - 6k

Nursing (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Nurse. 2. (a.) Supplying ... Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NURSE; NURSING. nurs, nurs'-ing ...
/n/nursing.htm - 13k

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)
... The child's nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with him from Gibeah, the royal
residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child was thrown to the ground and ...
/m/mephibosheth.htm - 17k

Nursed (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Nurse. Multi-Version Concordance
Nursed (13 Occurrences). Mark 6:19 Herodias set herself ...
/n/nursed.htm - 10k

Baby (23 Occurrences)
... Exodus 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse
for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?" (See ...
/b/baby.htm - 13k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... A bee. (1.) Rebekah's nurse. ... Genesis 35:8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she
was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth. ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

Pharaoh's (72 Occurrences)
... Exodus 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse
for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?" (WEB ...
/p/pharaoh's.htm - 31k

Jehosheba (2 Occurrences)
... of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away
from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put ...
/j/jehosheba.htm - 8k

Moses (9295 Occurrences)
... The king's daughter "saw the child; and behold the child wept." The princess (see
PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER ) sent Miriam, who was standing by, to fetch a nurse. ...
/m/moses.htm - 53k

Bible Concordance

Nurse (23 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:19 And woe to them that are with child, and to them that nurse infants in those days!
(WBS)

Mark 13:17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days!
(WEB WBS)

Luke 21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.
(WEB WBS)

Acts 13:18 For a period of about forty years, He fed them, like a nurse, in the Desert.
(WEY DBY)

1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Genesis 21:7 She said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."
(WEB WBS NAS NIV)

Genesis 24:59 They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 35:8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 2:7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 2:9 Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child away, and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages." The woman took the child, and nursed it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 11:12 Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them forth, that you should tell me,'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers?'
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ruth 4:16 Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 4:4 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 1:2 Therefore his servants said to him, "Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."
(See NAS RSV)

1 Kings 1:4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Kings 3:21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore."
(WEB WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 11:3 He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. Athaliah reigned over the land.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn't kill him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 60:16 You shall also suck the milk of the nations, and shall nurse from royal breasts; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
(WEB NIV)

Isaiah 66:11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."
(WEB NAS NIV)

Isaiah 66:12 For thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Lamentations 4:3 Even the jackals draw out the breast, they nurse their young ones: The daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
(WEB WBS NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Nurse

Nurse: Careless

Nurse: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Wet-nurse (1 Occurrence)

Nursing (14 Occurrences)

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)

Nursed (13 Occurrences)

Baby (23 Occurrences)

Deborah (10 Occurrences)

Pharaoh's (72 Occurrences)