נֶבְרְשָׁא
a light; plural (collectively) a chandelier
Definition
נֶבְרְשָׁא is an Aramaic noun meaning 'a light' or 'lamp.' In its singular form, it refers to a single source of light, while in its plural form (נֶבְרְשָׁן, nebrᵉshān), it collectively denotes a 'chandelier' or 'lampstand.' This word appears only once in the Bible, in Daniel 5:5, where it describes the lampstand in King Belshazzar's palace from which a mysterious hand appears to write on the wall. The context emphasizes the sudden, supernatural interruption of a royal feast by divine judgment, with the lampstand providing the immediate illumination for the ominous message.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Daniel. It occurs only in Daniel 5:5, within the narrative of Belshazzar's feast. The usage is descriptive of a palace fixture, a lampstand that was part of the opulent setting where the king saw the handwriting on the wall. There are no other biblical occurrences, making its usage pattern unique to this single, dramatic event of divine revelation and judgment.
Etymology
The word נֶבְרְשָׁא is of Aramaic origin, derived from an unused root meaning 'to shine' or 'to be bright.' It is a cognate with the Persian word 'brazish,' also meaning 'light' or 'splendor,' reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of the Babylonian exile period. This etymology directly informs its meaning as an object that emits light, consistent with its use for a lampstand in Daniel 5:5.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun for a light fixture, נֶבְרְשָׁא gains theological significance from its context in Daniel 5. The lampstand in Belshazzar's palace becomes the stage for God's dramatic judgment, symbolizing how divine truth and revelation can pierce the darkness of human pride and rebellion. The sudden appearance of the handwriting, illuminated by this very lampstand, underscores that God's light exposes sin and pronounces judgment, even in the most secure and opulent of human settings. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading by highlighting the contrast between temporary, man-made light and the piercing, revelatory light of God's intervention.
In the cultural context of the Babylonian court, a נֶבְרְשָׁא would have been an ornate lampstand, likely made of metal and holding multiple oil lamps, used to illuminate large palace halls during evening feasts. Such fixtures were symbols of wealth, power, and luxury. The modern reader might picture a simple candlestick, but in the ancient Near East, these could be elaborate, multi-branched stands, akin to the menorah but within a pagan royal setting. Its presence in Daniel 5:5 sets the scene of a lavish, defiant celebration that is abruptly confronted by the divine.
מְנֹרָה (mᵉnôrâh, H4501) — The Hebrew term for the sacred seven-branched lampstand in the Tabernacle and Temple. נִיר (nîr, H5216) — A Hebrew word for 'lamp' or 'light,' often used metaphorically for life, guidance, or divine revelation. לַפִּיד (lappîd, H3940) — A Hebrew word for 'torch' or 'flaming torch,' typically a portable, blazing light, as used in Gideon's story (Judges 7:16).
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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