בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Definition
Bêlshaʼtstsar is the Aramaic name of the last king of Babylon, who reigned as co-regent with his father, Nabonidus. In the biblical narrative, he is infamous for hosting a great feast where he profaned the sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple, leading to the divine handwriting on the wall that pronounced his kingdom's end (Daniel 5:1-4). His name means 'Bel protect the king,' invoking the Babylonian god Bel (another name for Marduk), yet his story demonstrates the sovereignty of the God of Israel over pagan rulers and empires. His reign and dramatic downfall are recorded exclusively in the Book of Daniel.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 5:1, 5:2, 5:9, 5:22, 5:29, 5:30, 7:1). It consistently refers to the Babylonian king Belshazzar. The usage establishes his identity and royal authority at the beginning of the narrative (Daniel 5:1) and culminates in the account of his death on the very night of his blasphemous feast (Daniel 5:30). Daniel 7:1 dates a vision to 'the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon,' situating the prophetic revelation within his reign.
Etymology
The name is of Akkadian (Babylonian) origin, borrowed into Biblical Aramaic. It is a compound name: 'Bêl' (Bel, the chief Babylonian god Marduk) + 'shaʼtstsar' (a form meaning 'protect the king'). It is the Aramaic equivalent and direct linguistic correspondent of the Hebrew name Bêlshaʼtstsar (H1112), showing the cultural and linguistic exchange between Babylon and its subject peoples. The name itself is a theophoric (god-bearing) name, a common practice invoking divine protection for the ruler.
Semantic Range
Belshazzar is a central figure in the theological theme of God's judgment on human pride and idolatry. His story (Daniel 5) vividly illustrates the biblical principle that God 'removes kings and sets up kings' (Daniel 2:21). His deliberate sacrilege in using the temple vessels for a pagan feast represents the height of defiance against the God of Israel, triggering immediate divine judgment. Understanding his name's meaning ('Bel protect the king') ironically highlights the failure of false gods and the supreme authority of Yahweh, who alone holds the destiny of kingdoms in His hand.
In the ancient Near East, a king's name often invoked the protection of a national deity. Belshazzar's name explicitly ties his legitimacy and safety to the god Bel-Marduk. Historically, Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus and served as coregent in Babylon during his father's prolonged absence. The biblical account, once questioned by historians due to a lack of extra-biblical records, has been largely corroborated by archaeological discoveries (like the Nabonidus Cylinder) that confirm Belshazzar's existence and royal position, validating the cultural and historical accuracy of the Daniel narrative.
Nebuchadnezzar (Nebûkadne'tstsar, H5019) — The earlier, more powerful Babylonian king who captured Jerusalem; Belshazzar is his descendant. Darius (Dâryâveš, H1868) — The Medo-Persian king who succeeds Belshazzar and takes the kingdom.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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