Aramaic word · H633

אֱסָר

'esar

injunction

"Binding prohibition, ban, interdict." It comes from the root ʾsr, "to bind, tie up". In the Bible it occurs only in Daniel 6 (vv. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15). It means something legally binding, especially a prohibition.

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

Appears 7 times in 6 verses of the Aramaic of the Old Testament. ·

What it means

interdict, decree, decree of restriction

Aramaic of e.sar (אִסָּר "injunction" H0632)

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 6:15

Range of meaning

"Binding prohibition, ban, interdict." It comes from the root ʾsr, "to bind, tie up". In the Bible it occurs only in Daniel 6 (vv. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15). It means something legally binding, especially a prohibition.

Against the English

BSB, KJV and WEB have "decree", NIV "decree", ESV and NASB "injunction", YLT "interdict". "Decree" is broad and loses the specific idea of a ban. "Interdict" and "injunction" are closer.

Used elsewhere in the period

The related Hebrew word ʾissār is used in Numbers 30 for a binding vow or pledge that a person "binds on himself". In later Jewish Aramaic and rabbinic Hebrew the root gives the standard word for "forbidden" (ʾāsûr), contrasted with "permitted".

From the study of Daniel 6:7

Range of meaning

A 'binding', meaning a prohibition or ban. It comes from the common Semitic root ʾsr, 'to bind, tie, imprison'. In Hebrew the related ʾissār is a binding vow or pledge (Numbers 30).

Against the English

'Decree' (BSB, KJV, WEB, ESV, NIV) loses the idea of binding. YLT's 'interdict' and 'prohibition' keep its negative, restraining sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in the Bible only in Daniel 6 (vv. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 in English numbering), always for this ban. The same root is used across Aramaic for imprisoning and binding.

From the study of Daniel 6:8

Range of meaning

A binding decree, a ban or prohibition. It comes from the common Semitic root ʾ-s-r, 'to bind, tie, imprison'. The idea is an order that binds: it ties someone to an obligation or keeps them from an action.

Against the English

KJV, BSB and WEB have 'decree'. YLT has 'interdict', and some modern versions have 'edict' or 'injunction'. 'Decree' is accurate but general. It loses the sense that this is specifically a ban that binds people's hands. 'Interdict' or 'prohibition' is closer.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Bible it appears only in Daniel 6 (vv. 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15 in English numbering). Its Hebrew relative ʾissār in Numbers 30 is a 'binding pledge' by which a person binds themselves. Later Jewish Aramaic and rabbinic Hebrew use the same root for 'forbidden' (ʾāsûr) and 'prohibition' (ʾissûr). Much later Aramaic incantation bowls use ʾesārā for a 'binding' spell.

Where it appears

Daniel · 7

  1. Daniel 6:7 אֱסָ֑ר a prohibition

    All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.

    Here: From the root 'to bind': a ban that ties people's hands. Used in the Bible only in Daniel 6, where it is repeated (vv. 8, 9, 10, 13, 14), which keeps the legal trap in view.

  2. Daniel 6:8 אֱסָרָ֖א prohibition the

    Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

    Here: 'The binding prohibition.' The word comes from the root 'to bind' and means a ban that ties people's hands, here the 30-day ban on petitioning anyone but the king.

  3. Daniel 6:9 וֶאֱסָרָֽא׃ and prohibition the

    Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

    Here: 'And the ban'. It comes from a root meaning 'to bind' and describes a prohibition that binds the people under it. Here that includes, ironically, the king who issued it. Paired with 'the document', it most likely means 'the written ban'.

  4. Daniel 6:12 אֱסָ֣ר אֱסָ֣ר [the] prohibition of, a prohibition

    So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

  5. Daniel 6:13 אֱסָרָ֖א prohibition the

    Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

  6. Daniel 6:15 אֱסָ֥ר prohibition

    Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

    Here: "Ban" or "interdict." It comes from the root "to bind" and means a legally binding prohibition: here, the ban on praying to anyone but the king for thirty days.

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