נָשִׁין
Definition
נָשִׁין (nâshîyn) is the Aramaic irregular plural feminine form of 'people' or 'human beings,' specifically meaning 'women.' It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 6:24. In this context, it refers to the wives and concubines of the officials who conspired against Daniel, who were thrown into the lions' den alongside them as part of the king's severe judgment. The word carries the straightforward sense of adult females, but its singular usage in a judicial punishment narrative gives it a specific, tragic connotation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Daniel 6:24. Its usage is entirely within the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, reflecting the language of the Babylonian court. The context is one of royal decree and punitive justice, where the families of the conspirators are included in their punishment, a practice attested in ancient Near Eastern law. The word itself is a standard plural for 'women' in Biblical Aramaic.
Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic singular noun אֱנָשׁ (ʼĕnāsh, H606), meaning 'man' or 'human being.' The form נָשִׁין is the irregular feminine plural of this root. It is cognate with the Hebrew אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâ, H802) for 'woman/wife,' both likely stemming from a common Semitic root for 'human.' The Aramaic form here specifically marks the text as part of the Aramaic sections of Daniel.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a common noun, its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 6:24 raises significant theological and ethical questions about corporate punishment and divine justice. The narrative starkly contrasts the fate of these women with the divine protection afforded to Daniel, highlighting themes of God's deliverance for the faithful and the severe consequences for those who oppose His people. Understanding this as an Aramaic term emphasizes the book's setting in exile, where God's sovereignty is displayed in a foreign court.
The inclusion of the conspirators' wives and children in the punishment reflects ancient Near Eastern legal conventions, where entire families could be held liable for the crimes of the head of the household (cf. Joshua 7:24-25). This practice, which seems harsh by modern standards, underscored the collective nature of honor, shame, and guilt in that society. The text does not morally endorse this practice but records it as part of the king's edict and the historical narrative.
אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâ, H802) — The standard Hebrew word for woman/wife, used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament. נָשִׁים (nāshîm, H802) — The regular Hebrew plural form of אִשָּׁה. The key distinction is that נָשִׁין is the Aramaic form found in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra.
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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