What the Jews Call Christians

On Notsrim and the root NUN-TSADE-RESH. The question is far more complicated than it seems at first sight. Yes, it does mean to be vigilant or to guard, and it is the root of the Hebrew notsrim meaning Christians; but it is also the root of Nasoraean (Mandaean) and the term ans.âr انصار which is a word of uncertain meaning applied to those that supported Muhammad right at the start and which might be older than the term Muslim. It occurs in the OT in important contexts. No-one has ever worked out why it was such an important religious term. Notice that the application to Christians seems to have been later than the origin of its use as a religious term. As to what the term MEANT, no-one knows.