שָׁעָה
properly, a look, i.e. a moment
Definition
The Aramaic noun שָׁעָה (shâʻâh) fundamentally means 'a look' or 'a glance,' but in its biblical usage, it denotes a brief, specific moment or point in time, often translated as 'hour' or 'instant.' In the book of Daniel, it consistently refers to a precise, appointed moment for an event to occur, such as the moment for punishment (Daniel 3:6, 3:15) or the moment a divine decree is fulfilled (Daniel 4:19, 4:33). The word emphasizes the immediacy and fixed nature of these events, as seen in Daniel 5:5, where the fingers of a hand appear 'at that very hour.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, appearing five times. It is always employed in contexts of royal decrees or divine judgments to specify the exact moment an action is to take place or has taken place. For example, King Nebuchadnezzar commands that anyone not worshiping the golden image be cast into the furnace 'in the same hour' (Daniel 3:6, 3:15), highlighting the immediacy of the consequence. Similarly, it marks the instant God's word is fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:33) and Belshazzar (Daniel 5:5).
Etymology
Derived from an Aramaic root corresponding to the Hebrew root שָׁעָה (H8159), which relates to looking or gazing. The semantic development moved from the concrete act of 'a look' to the abstract concept of 'a moment'—the brief span of time it takes to glance at something. This connection underscores how the word conveys a fleeting but definite point in time.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it underscores God's sovereignty over time and the precise fulfillment of His decrees. In Daniel, these 'hours' are moments of divine intervention and judgment, demonstrating that human kingdoms operate under God's appointed times. Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting the certainty and punctuality of God's actions in history, reinforcing that His word does not return void but is accomplished at the exact moment He determines.
In the ancient Near Eastern context of Daniel, time was often measured in broader units (days, seasons) rather than precise hours as in the modern sense. שָׁעָה, therefore, refers not to a 60-minute period but to a critical, decisive instant—a moment of crisis or fulfillment. This reflects a cultural view where significant events, especially those decreed by royalty or deity, were understood to happen at specific, fateful points in time.
עֵת (ʻēth, H6256) — A more general Hebrew term for 'time' or 'season,' encompassing longer or appointed periods, unlike שָׁעָה's focus on a specific instant. רֶגַע (regaʻ, H7281) — A Hebrew word for 'moment' or 'instant,' similar in brevity but used in different biblical books and not in the specific decree-oriented context of Daniel.
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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