Aramaic word · H1096

בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר

beleteshatzar

Belteshazzar

A Babylonian personal name given to Daniel in 1:7. It is usually explained as Akkadian balāṭsu-uṣur, 'protect his life', a common name type that originally carried a divine name (as in '[Bel], protect his life'). Some scholars propose Bēlet-šar-uṣur, 'O Lady, protect the king'.

A Biblical Aramaic word, from the parts of the Old Testament written in Aramaic. Why Aramaic?

Appears 8 times in 6 verses of the Aramaic of the Old Testament. ·

What it means

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1;

Aramaic of da.niy.yel (דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל "Daniel" H1840)

§ Belteshazzar = "lord of the straitened's treasure"

1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon; because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel

1a) also, 'Daniel' (H1840 or H1841)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Daniel 4:8

Range of meaning

A Babylonian personal name given to Daniel in 1:7. It is usually explained as Akkadian balāṭsu-uṣur, 'protect his life', a common name type that originally carried a divine name (as in '[Bel], protect his life'). Some scholars propose Bēlet-šar-uṣur, 'O Lady, protect the king'.

Against the English

English versions transliterate it, so readers often confuse it with Belshazzar (bēlšaʾṣṣar, 'Bel, protect the king'), the king in chapter 5. The two names are spelled differently in Aramaic.

Used elsewhere in the period

Names ending in -uṣur ('protect!') are extremely common in Neo-Babylonian documents, for example Nabû-kudurri-uṣur (Nebuchadnezzar) and Nergal-šarra-uṣur. Renaming captive elites trained for court service fits known imperial practice.

Where it appears

Daniel · 8

  1. Daniel 2:26 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר [was] Belteshazzar

    The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”

  2. Daniel 4:8 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ [is] Belteshazzar

    But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:

    Here: The Babylonian court name Daniel was given in 1:7. It is probably an Akkadian name meaning something like 'protect his life'. It is not the same name as King Belshazzar of ch. 5.

  3. Daniel 4:9 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮ O Belteshazzar

    “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

    Here: Daniel's Babylonian court name (given in 1:7), used here to address him directly. The king calls him by the name that marks him as a servant of the Babylonian court, not by his Hebrew name.

  4. Daniel 4:18 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֜ר O Belteshazzar

    This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

  5. Daniel 4:19 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ בֵלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ [was] Belteshazzar, O Belteshazzar, Belteshazzar

    For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

    Here: Daniel's Babylonian court name, probably from Akkadian and meaning roughly '[god], protect his/the king's life'. The irony is sharp. The man whose name is a prayer for the king's life is about to announce the king's downfall.

  6. Daniel 5:12 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר Belteshazzar

    did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

    Here: His Babylonian court name, probably from Akkadian ('Protect his life' or '[Lady,] protect the king'). Nebuchadnezzar tied it to his god Bel (4:8). It sounds close to, but is distinct from, Belshazzar, the king she is speaking to.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.