פְּשַׁר
to interpret
Definition
The Aramaic verb פְּשַׁר (pᵉshar) means 'to interpret,' specifically referring to the act of explaining the meaning of dreams, visions, or mysterious writings. In the biblical context, this interpretation is not a simple translation but a divine revelation of a hidden message. Its use is exclusively found in the Book of Daniel, where it describes the specialized skill of deciphering God's sovereign communications to kings and nations. For example, in Daniel 5:12 and 5:16, Daniel is called upon to 'interpret' the mysterious handwriting on the wall for King Belshazzar.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2-7). It appears twice, both times in chapter 5, describing Daniel's unique God-given ability to interpret supernatural signs. The context is always the royal court of Babylon, where professional wise men fail, and Daniel succeeds by divine enablement. The pattern shows that true interpretation (pᵉshar) is a revelation from God, not a human intellectual exercise.
Etymology
פְּשַׁר (pᵉshar) is an Aramaic verb. It corresponds to the Hebrew verb פָּתַר (pāṯar, H6622), which also means 'to interpret,' particularly dreams (as used in Genesis 40-41 for Joseph). The Aramaic term was the common word for 'interpretation' in the Babylonian and Persian cultural sphere of Daniel's time, highlighting the book's authentic setting.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it underscores God's sovereignty in revealing hidden knowledge and the futility of human wisdom without divine illumination. In Daniel, the inability of the Babylonian magicians to 'interpret' (pᵉshar) contrasts with Daniel's success, which he attributes directly to God (Daniel 2:28). It points to God as the ultimate interpreter of history and the one who discloses the meaning of prophetic signs, a concept central to apocalyptic literature.
In the ancient Near East, especially in Mesopotamia, the interpretation of dreams and omens was a highly valued professional discipline, part of the diviner's or magician's craft. The Book of Daniel uses this established cultural concept but subverts it: true interpretation comes not from a school of magic but as a gift from the God of Israel. The word itself reflects the imperial Aramaic language of administration and wisdom in the Babylonian court.
פָּתַר (pāṯar, H6622) — The Hebrew equivalent, used specifically for interpreting dreams in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 40-41).
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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