Bible Word Study
אֲדַרְגָּזֵר
ʼădargâzêr · a chief diviner, or astrologer
אֲדַרְגָּזֵר
a chief diviner, or astrologer
Definition
אֲדַרְגָּזֵר refers to a high-ranking official in the Babylonian court, specifically a 'chief diviner' or 'astrologer.' This title denotes a senior advisor who specialized in interpreting omens, dreams, and celestial signs to guide the king's decisions. In the book of Daniel, these officials are summoned by King Nebuchadnezzar alongside other provincial leaders for the dedication of a great golden image (Daniel 3:2, 3:3). The term implies a position of significant authority within the empire's complex administrative and religious hierarchy.
Biblical Usage
This Aramaic word is used exclusively in the book of Daniel, appearing only in Daniel 3:2 and 3:3. In both verses, it is listed among the various high officials—satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, justices, and magistrates—whom Nebuchadnezzar commanded to attend the dedication of his image. Its usage is purely descriptive, identifying a specific class of imperial functionary within a formal royal decree.
Etymology
Derived from Aramaic, the word is a compound. The first part is related to H147 (אִדַּר), meaning 'mighty' or 'glorious,' suggesting nobility or high rank. The second part comes from H1505 (גְּזַר), an Aramaic root meaning 'to cut' or 'to decree,' often used in the context of divine decrees or astrological determinations. Thus, the term essentially means a 'glorious decider' or 'mighty determiner,' fitting for a chief diviner.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the stark contrast between the pagan divinatory practices of Babylon and the prophetic revelation of the God of Israel. The presence of such officials in Daniel's story underscores the spiritual environment of exile, where Daniel and his friends remained faithful to Yahweh despite being surrounded by a system seeking guidance from stars and omens. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel by emphasizing the supremacy of God's wisdom over human and demonic divination. In the Neo-Babylonian Empire, divination was a state-sponsored science integral to governance. Chief diviners (Akkadian: ḫarību) were elite scholars who advised the king by interpreting livers, celestial events, and dreams. The title אֲדַרְגָּזֵר reflects this official, institutional role, which would have been recognized by Daniel's original audience. It differs from a modern 'judge' (as in the KJV) by being more specifically a religious-technical advisor within a royal court. אַשָּׁף (ʼashshâph, H825) — a general term for enchanter or astrologer, also used in Daniel. חַרְטֹם (charṭôm, H2748) — a magician or diviner who interprets signs and dreams. חֲכִים (chăkîym, H2449) — a general term for 'wise man' or sage, which could include advisors in a broader sense.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]