פַּס
the palm (of the hand, as being spread out)
Definition
The Hebrew noun פַּס (paç) specifically refers to the palm of the hand, emphasizing its flat, spread-out surface. In its two biblical occurrences in Daniel, it describes the part of a hand that appears and writes a divine message on a wall. In Daniel 5:5, the fingers of a human hand appear and write on the plaster of the wall, with the palm being the implied base from which the fingers extend. In Daniel 5:24, the same hand is sent from God, again highlighting the palm as the source of the writing fingers, directly linking the physical form to a supernatural act of judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, specifically in the narrative of Belshazzar's feast. It appears in the context of a terrifying supernatural vision—a disembodied hand writing on a wall. Both occurrences (Daniel 5:5, 5:24) are identical in describing the 'palm of the hand' as the origin point for the fingers that inscribe the mysterious words. Its usage is highly specific to this dramatic, judicial event.
Etymology
פַּס (paç) is an Aramaic noun, not classical Hebrew, used in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. It derives from a root corresponding to the Hebrew פָּסַס (pāsaç, H6461), which carries the sense of spreading out or being flat. This etymological connection directly informs its meaning, defining the palm as the broad, flat part of the hand that is spread open.
Semantic Range
Though a simple anatomical term, פַּס gains profound theological weight in its context. The 'palm of the hand' is the instrument of God's direct, visible, and immediate judgment upon King Belshazzar in Daniel 5. It signifies God's sovereign intervention in human history, His authority over arrogant rulers, and His use of tangible signs to communicate His decrees. Understanding that this is a specific, spread-out part of the hand underscores the deliberate and personal nature of the divine action.
In the ancient Near East, the hand and its parts were potent symbols of power, action, and ownership. A disembodied hand, particularly one writing a message, would have been understood as a direct communication from the divine realm, often portending doom for a king or kingdom. The specific mention of the 'palm' (פַּס) grounds the vision in a recognizable human form, making the supernatural event even more startling and concrete to the original audience.
כַּף (kap, H3709) — The more common Hebrew word for 'palm' or 'hand,' also used for the sole of the foot; it has a wider semantic range including 'spoon' or 'pan.' יָד (yād, H3027) — The general term for 'hand,' referring to the whole limb or metaphorically to power and strength, not specifically the flat palm.
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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