Bible Word Study
נְבִזְבָּה
nᵉbizbâh · a largess
נְבִזְבָּה
a largess
Definition
נְבִזְבָּה refers to a generous gift, specifically a lavish reward or payment given by a ruler. In the book of Daniel, it describes the extravagant gifts King Nebuchadnezzar promises to anyone who can interpret his dream (Daniel 2:6). Later, Daniel declines such a 'reward' from King Belshazzar, stating that he will interpret the writing on the wall without accepting the king's gifts (Daniel 5:17). The term consistently conveys the idea of a royal bestowal, often as an incentive or honor.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, in contexts involving royal decrees and rewards. In Daniel 2:6, it is part of a promised 'reward and great honor' for interpreting the king's dream. In Daniel 5:17, Daniel explicitly refuses the 'reward' offered by Belshazzar, highlighting his integrity and that his interpretation comes from God, not for personal gain. The usage pattern shows it is a term for a formal, lavish gift from a monarch.
Etymology
The word is of Aramaic origin, not Hebrew, reflecting the language of the Babylonian court in Daniel. Its exact derivation is uncertain, but it is related to the idea of giving or bestowing. It appears to be a noun form from a root meaning 'to give' or 'to bestow,' emphasizing a generous, often royal, gift.
Semantic Range
This word highlights themes of divine versus human reward. Daniel's refusal of the 'נְבִזְבָּה' in Daniel 5:17 underscores that true wisdom and interpretation come from God, not purchased by earthly gifts. It contrasts the fleeting riches of kingdoms with the enduring truth of God's revelation, reminding readers that service to God should be motivated by faithfulness, not material gain. In the ancient Near Eastern context, lavish gifts from kings were a standard practice to honor or incentivize advisors, magicians, and interpreters. Such 'largess' cemented royal authority and gratitude. Daniel's refusal would have been culturally shocking, demonstrating his allegiance to a higher authority—the God of Israel—over the Babylonian monarchy's wealth and honors. מַתָּן (mattān, H4976) — a general term for a gift or offering, not specifically royal. שָׂכָר (śāḵār, H7939) — wages or payment earned, often for labor, not a spontaneous royal gift. אֶשְׁכָּר (ʾešḵār, H794) — a reward or payment, but used in later Hebrew; not biblical Aramaic.
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]