בְּשַׁר
Definition
The Aramaic noun בְּשַׁר (bᵉshar) means 'flesh,' referring to the physical substance of a living body. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes the literal, corporeal flesh of a creature. In Daniel 2:11, it describes the physical nature of a human being ('whose dwelling is not with flesh'), contrasting mortal humanity with the divine. In Daniel 4:12 (Aramaic 4:9) and 7:5, it refers to the flesh of an animal—specifically, the body of a beast in a prophetic vision.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It appears in three distinct contexts, all emphasizing physical, creaturely existence. In Daniel 2:11, it highlights human limitation versus divine power. In the visions of Daniel 4:12 and 7:5, it describes the tangible body of an animal, grounding the symbolic imagery in concrete physicality.
Etymology
בְּשַׁר is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew noun בָּשָׂר (basar, H1320), both meaning 'flesh.' It shares a common Semitic root (*b-š-r) related to the physical body. Its meaning is direct and corresponds precisely to its Hebrew counterpart, showing the linguistic closeness between Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a straightforward term for physical substance, its usage in Daniel contributes to key themes of the book. It underscores the contrast between transient, mortal humanity (represented by 'flesh') and the eternal, sovereign realm of God (Daniel 2:11). In the visions, the 'flesh' of the beasts symbolizes earthly, often oppressive, kingdoms that are temporary compared to God's everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:5).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, 'flesh' (bᵉshar) was a common term for the vulnerable, physical aspect of a creature, often contrasted with spirit or divinity. Its use in Daniel's court tales and visions would have been immediately understood by both Hebrew and Aramaic speakers as denoting mortal, physical existence.
בָּשָׂר (basar, H1320) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used extensively throughout the Old Testament with a broader semantic range including humanity, kinship, and physical weakness.
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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