רָשַׁם
to record
Definition
The Hebrew verb רָשַׁם (râsham) means 'to record' or 'to inscribe,' specifically in the sense of making a written note or official entry. In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 10:21, it refers to the act of writing down truth in a heavenly, authoritative record—the 'book of truth.' While the basic sense is straightforward, the context implies a permanent, divinely sanctioned inscription rather than a casual note. This aligns with other Hebrew words for writing but emphasizes the formal, documentary nature of the record.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 10:21. It appears in a prophetic vision where an angelic being tells Daniel that he will declare what is 'inscribed in the writing of truth.' The usage is in an apocalyptic context, describing heavenly records of future events. The word conveys a sense of authoritative, predetermined documentation within God's sovereign plan.
Etymology
רָשַׁם is a primitive root in Biblical Hebrew. It is cognate with other Semitic languages like Aramaic, where a related root also means 'to write' or 'to record.' The development of meaning likely moved from a general sense of marking or inscribing to the specific act of recording information in a formal, written document.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, רָשַׁם is theologically significant as it points to the concept of God's sovereign record-keeping. In Daniel 10:21, the 'writing of truth' implies a divine, predetermined plan that is authoritative and unchangeable. This enriches the reading of Daniel by highlighting God's control over history and the certainty of His prophetic word, connecting to themes of divine sovereignty and revelation.
In the ancient Near East, writing was often associated with royal decrees, legal documents, and celestial records kept by deities. The idea of a 'book of truth' would resonate with cultures that believed in heavenly tablets recording fate or divine plans. This differs from a modern casual 'note,' as it carries weight of official, permanent authority.
כָּתַב (kâthab, H3789) — a more general term for writing or inscribing on any surface. סָפַר (sâphar, H5608) — to count, recount, or tell, often related to recording numbers or narrating events. חָקַק (châqaq, H2710) — to engrave or inscribe permanently, often on stone.
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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