נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר

Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon

Definition

Nebukadnetstsar (also spelled Nebuchadrezzar) is the Hebrew name for the most famous king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned from 605–562 BC. In the Bible, he is primarily known as the instrument of God's judgment against Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its temple and taking the people into exile (2 Kings 25:8-11). The book of Daniel presents a more complex portrait, depicting him as a proud ruler humbled by God (Daniel 4:28-33) and later as one who acknowledges the sovereignty of the God of Israel (Daniel 4:34-37). The variations in spelling (e.g., Nebuchadrezzar in Jeremiah) reflect different Hebrew transcriptions of the original Akkadian name.

Biblical Usage

This name appears 59 times across historical, prophetic, and poetic books. It is most frequent in 2 Kings, Jeremiah, and Daniel, detailing his military campaigns, sieges of Jerusalem, and the subsequent exile. In historical books like 2 Kings 24–25, he is the agent of divine punishment. In the prophets, especially Jeremiah (e.g., Jeremiah 25:1, 39:1), he is called God's 'servant' to enact judgment. In Daniel 1–4, the narrative focuses on his personal encounters with God's power and his shifting recognition of divine authority.

Etymology

The name is a Hebrew transliteration of the Akkadian (Babylonian) name Nabû-kudurri-uṣur, meaning 'Nabu (the Babylonian god of wisdom and writing), protect my firstborn son' or 'Nabu, protect the boundary.' The biblical text shows multiple spelling variants (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר, נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר), reflecting different phonetic renderings of the foreign name into Hebrew, not a difference in meaning.

Semantic Range

Nebukadnetstsar is a central figure in the theology of divine sovereignty and judgment. He exemplifies how God uses even pagan empires and rulers to accomplish His purposes, particularly in disciplining His people (Jeremiah 25:9). His story in Daniel highlights themes of human pride versus God's supremacy, the revelation of God to the nations, and the possibility of a pagan king coming to acknowledge the one true God. Understanding his role enriches reading by showing God's control over world history.

In the ancient Near East, Nebukadnetstsar was a renowned imperial builder and conqueror. The biblical portrayal interacts with this historical reality, presenting him not merely as a powerful king but as a ruler whose might is subordinate to the God of Israel. The name's variants reflect the linguistic challenge of transcribing a foreign royal title into Hebrew, a practice common when dealing with the names of foreign rulers.

No direct Hebrew synonyms. He is uniquely identified as the king of Babylon. Related titles include מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל (melekh bavel, H4428) — 'king of Babylon,' a title he holds.

Word Details

Scripture References