Aramaic word · H7924

שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ

vesakheletanu

insight

Insight, understanding, the ability to discern how things connect. It comes from the root ś-k-l, "to consider, act wisely, have insight".

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

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Aramaic of the Old Testament. ·

What it means

insight

Aramaic of se.khel (שֵׂ֫כֶל "understanding" H7922)

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 5:14

Range of meaning

Insight, understanding, the ability to discern how things connect. It comes from the root ś-k-l, "to consider, act wisely, have insight".

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have "understanding". BSB and NIV have "intelligence". NASB has "insight". "Intelligence" is a little flat: the word suggests insight into meaning more than raw IQ.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Biblical Aramaic it appears only in Daniel 5:11, 12, 14. The Hebrew of the same root describes Daniel and his friends in 1:4 ("showing insight") and 1:17 ("God gave them knowledge and insight"), and the maśkîlîm, the "wise" or "those with insight", in 11:33–35 and 12:3.

From the study of Daniel 5:11

Range of meaning

From ś-k-l, 'to consider, have insight, be prudent' (compare Hebrew haśkîl, maśkîl). It means insight or discernment: the ability to understand how things fit together and what they mean.

Against the English

KJV and ESV: 'understanding'. NASB: 'insight'. NIV and BSB: 'intelligence'. 'Intelligence' can suggest raw brainpower, but the word is closer to discernment of meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Bible it occurs only in Dan 5:11, 12, 14. The Hebrew root matters later in Daniel: the maśkîlîm, 'the wise' who give understanding to many (11:33, 35; 12:3, 10), are the ideal figures of the book's visions.

Where it appears

Daniel · 3

  1. Daniel 5:11 וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ and insight

    There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,

    Here: 'And insight': the capacity to perceive and make sense of what is seen. In the Bible the word occurs only in Daniel 5 (vv. 11, 12, 14).

  2. Daniel 5:12 וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ and insight

    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: 'And insight': the ability to grasp and see through something. It is related to the Hebrew maśkîl, 'one who has insight', which Daniel later uses for the faithful wise teachers (11:33; 12:3).

  3. Daniel 5:14 וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ and insight

    I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

    Here: Discerning insight, the ability to work out what something means. It comes from the same root as the "understanding" God gave Daniel in 1:4, 17.

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