A woman who breast-feeds a child or one who takes care of another. Hebrew mothers usually nursed their own children (Gen 21:7; 1Sam 1:23; 1Kgs 3:21; 2Macc 2:27; cf. Song 8:1). Moses’s mother was hired to nurse her child (Exod 1:15-2:10; esp. Exod 2:7-9). Rebekah had a wet nurse, Deborah, who remained with her all her life (Gen 24:59; Gen 35:8). Distinguishable from the wet nurse is an attendant to whose care the child was entrusted. Such a nurse had charge of Mephibosheth, Saul’s five-year-old grandson (2Sam 4:4). Naomi became Obed’s nurse (Ruth 4:16). This role could also be filled by a man (2Kgs 10:1; 2Kgs 10:5; Esth 2:7; metaphorically of kings, Isa 49:23). The nurse became a symbol of nurture, care, and protection. Thus, Moses is spoken of as a nurse (Num 11:12), and Paul refers to himself as a nurse to the Thessalonians (1Thess 2:7).
