Bible Word Study
כׇּרְסֵא
korçêʼ · a throne
כׇּרְסֵא
a throne
Definition
The Aramaic noun כׇּרְסֵא (korçêʼ) refers to a throne, specifically the seat of a king or sovereign ruler. In its two biblical occurrences, it denotes the royal throne of King Belshazzar in Daniel 5:20, from which he is deposed, and the majestic, fiery throne of the Ancient of Days in the divine courtroom vision of Daniel 7:9. The word carries the same core meaning as its Hebrew counterpart, signifying authority, judgment, and established rule, whether human or divine.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It appears in two distinct contexts: first, for a human monarch's throne (Daniel 5:20, referencing Nebuchadnezzar's throne), and second, for the celestial throne of God Himself (Daniel 7:9). This dual usage creates a powerful contrast between the temporary, arrogant rule of human kingdoms and the eternal, fiery sovereignty of the divine Judge.
Etymology
כׇּרְסֵא is an Aramaic word, directly corresponding to the Hebrew noun כִּסֵּא (kissēʼ, H3678), which also means 'throne.' Both words share a common Semitic root (*ksʼ) related to sitting or being set. The Aramaic form is used in the biblical texts that were originally written in that language, reflecting the linguistic context of the Babylonian exile.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it bridges human and divine kingship. In Daniel, it highlights the contrast between Belshazzar's failed, blasphemous rule and the ultimate, unshakable authority of God, who sits in fiery judgment. Understanding that the same word describes both thrones underscores the Bible's theme that all earthly power is derivative and subject to the sovereign rule of the Ancient of Days, a key concept in apocalyptic literature. In the ancient Near East, a throne was far more than a physical chair; it was the ultimate symbol of a ruler's power, authority, and the stability of their reign. A king's throne represented his right to judge, command, and embody the kingdom. The description of God's throne as fiery and with wheels (Daniel 7:9) draws on and transcends contemporary imagery of divine majesty and mobile sovereignty, placing Yahweh above all pagan conceptions of deity. כִּסֵּא (kissēʼ, H3678) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament for both human and divine thrones.
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]