שְׁבַשׁ
to entangle, i.e. perplex
Definition
The Aramaic verb שְׁבַשׁ (shᵉbash) means to be entangled, perplexed, or astonished. It describes a state of mental confusion or bewilderment, often in response to an inexplicable or overwhelming situation. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 5:9, it specifically denotes King Belshazzar's profound perplexity and terror upon seeing the mysterious handwriting on the wall, which his wise men could not interpret. The word captures the emotional and cognitive paralysis that follows an encounter with the divine or supernatural.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It describes the reaction of King Belshazzar in Daniel 5:9 after the mysterious handwriting appears on the palace wall. The context is a royal court faced with an insoluble divine sign, leading to the king's extreme mental agitation and fear. The usage highlights a moment of human helplessness and confusion before God's direct intervention.
Etymology
שְׁבַשׁ is an Aramaic verb, corresponding to the Hebrew root שָׁבַץ (shavats, H7660), which means to interweave or checker. This etymological connection suggests the core idea of being 'woven' or 'entangled' in confusion. The semantic development moved from a physical sense of interweaving to a metaphorical sense of mental perplexity, where thoughts become tangled and unable to resolve.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it portrays a human ruler's utter helplessness and confusion when confronted by a direct revelation from God. It underscores the theme of divine sovereignty over human wisdom and power, a central motif in Daniel. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel 5 by emphasizing that true understanding comes only from God, and human intellect fails when faced with His mysteries.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's inability to understand an omen was a grave matter, implying a loss of divine favor and threatening his legitimacy. The astonishment (שְׁבַשׁ) of Belshazzar and his court would have been seen as a public crisis. The cultural expectation was that royal advisors should interpret any sign; their collective failure heightened the dramatic tension and set the stage for Daniel's God-given interpretation.
בָּהַל (bahal, H926) — denotes sudden terror or haste, a more panic-driven reaction. פָּלַץ (palats, H6426) — means to be dismayed or terrified, often in the face of disaster. תָּמַהּ (tamah, H8539) — to be astounded or awestruck, sometimes with wonder.
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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