רַבְרְבָן
a magnate
Definition
The Aramaic noun רַבְרְבָן refers to a high-ranking official, magnate, or noble in the royal court of Babylon. It denotes individuals of the highest social and political authority, often translated as 'lord' or 'prince.' In Daniel 4:36, it describes the officials of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, while in Daniel 5, it repeatedly refers to the nobles and lords who attended Belshazzar's feast (e.g., Daniel 5:1, 5:9). The term consistently conveys a sense of elite, governing authority within the imperial structure.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, appearing eight times. It is always found in the context of the Babylonian royal court, referring to the highest class of officials and advisors serving under the king. The pattern shows these 'magnates' as witnesses to royal decrees, participants in feasts, and subjects of the king's authority, as seen in Daniel 5:1-3 and Daniel 6:17.
Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic root רַבְרַב (rabrᵉb, H7260), which is an emphatic or intensive form of רַב (rab), meaning 'great' or 'many.' The construction רַבְרְבָן intensifies the sense of greatness, yielding a meaning of 'great one' or 'magnate.' It is a cognate with the Hebrew רַב (rab), sharing the core semantic field of greatness and leadership.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the theme of human authority under God's ultimate sovereignty. In Daniel, the Babylonian 'magnates' represent the pinnacle of earthly power and prestige, yet they are consistently shown to be subject to God's judgment and control, as in Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5). Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel by contrasting transient human kingdoms with the eternal kingdom of God.
In the context of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a רַבְרְבָן was a member of the aristocratic ruling class, likely a high official, military commander, or provincial governor. These figures held significant political power and social status, directly serving the king. Their presence at royal events, as in Daniel 5, signified their role as the empire's elite leadership cadre, a concept more hierarchical and absolute than modern democratic understandings of leadership.
שַׂר (śar, H8269) — A Hebrew term for a chief, ruler, or prince, used more broadly across the Old Testament for leaders of various ranks. חַכִּים (ḥakkîm, H2445) — 'Wise man' or counselor; in Daniel, these are a distinct class of advisors, not necessarily political rulers like the רַבְרְבָן.
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.
Full methodology & sources →