רְשַׁם
Definition
The Aramaic noun רְשַׁם (rᵉsham) primarily means a 'sign' or 'written document.' In the Book of Daniel, it consistently refers to a formal, authoritative decree or written edict that has been signed and sealed, giving it the force of irrevocable law. This is seen in the decrees of King Darius, which could not be altered once issued (Daniel 6:8-9, 12). In the famous account of Belshazzar's feast, the word appears in the phrase 'the writing on the wall' (Daniel 5:24-25), where it refers to the mysterious inscription itself—a divine sign of judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel. Its usage is legal and royal, appearing in contexts of immutable decrees issued by the king. In Daniel 6, it describes the signed decree that Daniel violates by praying to God (Daniel 6:10, 13). In Daniel 5, it refers to the supernatural handwriting that pronounces judgment on Belshazzar. The pattern shows it denotes an official, binding written communication, whether human or divine.
Etymology
רְשַׁם is an Aramaic noun corresponding to the Hebrew verb רָשַׁם (rāsham, H7559), which means 'to inscribe' or 'to record.' The root concept involves making a permanent mark or record. The Aramaic form developed the specific nominal sense of a 'signed document' or 'edict' within the administrative and legal language of the Babylonian and Persian empires.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights the sovereignty of God over human laws and kingdoms. The 'writing' in Daniel 5 is a direct divine decree that overrules a human king. In Daniel 6, a human 'decree' (rᵉsham) meant to trap Daniel becomes the means by which God demonstrates His power to deliver and His ultimate authority. The term underscores that God's word and will are the ultimate, irrevocable edict.
In the ancient Near Eastern context of Daniel, a royal 'decree' (rᵉsham) sealed with the king's signet ring was considered absolute and unchangeable, a principle noted in Daniel 6:8, 12. This cultural understanding of irrevocable law heightens the dramatic tension in the narratives, showing that even the most powerful human edicts are subject to the intervention of the divine King.
דָּת (dāt, H1882) — A more general term for 'law' or 'decree,' also used in Esther and Daniel for royal commands. כְּתָב (kᵉthāḇ, H3791) — A general Aramaic/Hebrew word for 'writing' or 'script,' without the specific connotation of an official, signed decree.
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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