תְּלַת
a tertiary rank
Definition
The Aramaic word תְּלַת (tᵉlath) means 'third' and specifically denotes a tertiary rank or position. In the Book of Daniel, it refers to the title 'third ruler in the kingdom,' a high governmental office just below the king and the second ruler. This term appears exclusively in the context of King Belshazzar's promises of reward in Daniel 5:16 and Daniel 5:29. There are no other major senses or meanings; its usage is consistently tied to this specific administrative rank within the Babylonian empire.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel, specifically in the narrative of Belshazzar's feast. In both occurrences (Daniel 5:16, 5:29), it describes the position offered as a reward for interpreting the mysterious handwriting on the wall. The pattern is clear: it is a title of high honor and authority, used in a royal, political context within a pagan empire.
Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic numeral for 'three' (H8532, תְּלָת). It is the ordinal form, meaning 'third.' It is a cognate of the Hebrew word for three, שָׁלוֹשׁ (shalosh, H7969), showing the close relationship between the Semitic languages. Its meaning developed directly from the cardinal number to indicate sequence or rank.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a mundane ordinal number, its use in Daniel is theologically significant. The promise of being 'third ruler' highlights the world's system of honor and reward, which stands in contrast to the divine sovereignty and judgment proclaimed by Daniel. Understanding this term clarifies the stakes of the narrative: Daniel rejects the permanent honors of a doomed kingdom (Daniel 5:17) in favor of his prophetic role under God's ultimate authority.
In the context of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, 'third ruler' was a specific, high-ranking political office. It likely referred to a chief administrator or viceroy, just below the king and his second-in-command (who may have been Nabonidus, Belshazzar's father). This clarifies that Belshazzar was offering the highest honor he could bestow, as he himself was the second ruler. The modern concept of 'third place' lacks this specific administrative and royal connotation.
שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉliyshiy, H7992) — The standard Hebrew ordinal for 'third,' used throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exodus 20:5). תְּלָת (tᵉlath, H8532) — The Aramaic cardinal number 'three,' from which תְּלַת is derived.
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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