Rooted in Words: Understanding Nata, Shatal, and Zara

In honor of Tu Bishvat, the New Year for Trees, it is the perfect time to explore the beautiful nuances of the Hebrew language regarding growth and renewal. While in English we often use the general term "planting," the Hebrew language offers a precise vocabulary—Nata, Shatal, and Zara—each carrying its own unique history and meaning.

Here is a breakdown of these terms and how they have evolved from Biblical times to modern Hebrew.

When we go out to the fields or gardens to renew the land, we aren't just "planting." Depending on what is being placed in the soil and the intent behind it, the Hebrew language chooses its words carefully.

Nata (נָטַע): The Foundational Planting

The verb Nata is the primary and most common term for planting in Hebrew. It typically refers to the act of putting a young tree or a sapling into the ground with the intent for it to take root and grow permanently.

We see this used as early as the Book of Genesis: "And the Lord God planted (Vayita) a garden in Eden" (Genesis 2:8). It is also the word used in the famous commandment: "When you come into the land and plant (U’netatem) all kinds of trees for food..." (Leviticus 19:23). Because of this, the Hebrew word for a sapling or a young plant is Neta.

Shatal (שָׁתַל): To Transplant and Flourish

While Nata is the general term, Shatal carries a more poetic and specific connotation. In Biblical Hebrew, it was almost exclusively used in poetry and prophecy, often describing a tree that has been "transplanted" to a place of abundant water so it can thrive.

The most famous example is found in the Book of Psalms: "He shall be like a tree planted (Shatul) by streams of water" (Psalms 1:3). In modern Hebrew, however, we have adopted a practical distinction:

• Nata is used for trees.

• Shatal is used for smaller plants, flowers, or vegetables—specifically those that are moved from a nursery (a Mashtela) into their permanent home in the garden.

  
  

Zara (זָרַע): The Act of Sowing

The word Zara is reserved for seeds. Whether it is wheat in the field or flowers in a pot, if you are beginning the life cycle from a seed, you are "sowing."

Historically, Zara was the work of the farmer in the open field, leading to the Hebrew word for seed, Zera. Interestingly, while we Nata a tree and Shatal a flower, we Zara the potential for future life.

The Modern Distinction

To make it simple for your next gardening project or Tu Bishvat outing:

• If you are planting a tree, you say Nata.

• If you are planting a seed, you say Zara.

• If you are planting seedlings, flowers, or herbs, you say Shatal.

As we celebrate the "New Year for Trees," we recognize that our language, much like the land of Israel itself, is a living thing—deeply rooted in tradition but always branching out into new meanings.

Chag Tu Bishvat Sameach!