### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term `{{H1528}}` (gîyr) fundamentally denotes "lime" or "plaster." It corresponds directly to the Hebrew `{{H1615}}` (gîr), indicating a shared semantic field across related Semitic languages. This word refers to a calcified material, typically produced by burning limestone, which is then mixed to form a paste used for coating or finishing surfaces in construction. Its semantic range is narrow, specifically pointing to this building material, a substance used to create a smooth, prepared surface on walls.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H1528}}` appears exclusively in the book of Daniel, specifically in [[Daniel 5:5]]. In this pivotal passage, during King Belshazzar's impious feast, a supernatural hand emerges and writes a message of divine judgment "upon the **plaster** of the wall of the king's palace."
The context is crucial:
* **Divine Medium:** The mundane plaster wall of the royal palace becomes the unexpected medium for a direct, supernatural communication from God. This highlights God's ability to use any surface, no matter how common, to convey His sovereign will.
* **Public Display:** The writing appears "over against the candlestick," making it visible to all present, particularly the king. The plaster, usually a decorative or protective layer, is transformed into an inescapable canvas for divine revelation and impending judgment.
* **Contrast:** The humble nature of the plaster stands in stark contrast to the opulence and blasphemous pride of Belshazzar's feast, underscoring the sudden and severe disruption of human revelry by divine authority. The very fabric of the king's seemingly secure palace becomes a witness against him.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H1615}}` (gîr):** This is the direct Hebrew equivalent of `{{H1528}}`. It appears in contexts related to construction and destruction. For instance, in [[Deuteronomy 27:2]], `{{H1615}}` is used to describe the plastering of large stones upon which the words of the Law were to be inscribed, establishing a precedent for plaster as a surface for divine inscription. In [[Isaiah 33:12]], it describes nations being "burned to lime," signifying complete destruction.
* **Building Materials:** `{{H1528}}` belongs to the broader category of building materials in the biblical world, such as stone (`{{H68}}`), brick (`{{H3835}}`), and wood (`{{H6086}}`). Its specific function as a finishing or writing surface distinguishes it.
* **Writing Surfaces:** While scrolls (`{{H4039}}`), tablets (`{{H3871}}`), and ostraca were common writing surfaces, the wall (specifically, its plaster) in [[Daniel 5:5]] is a unique and highly impactful choice, demonstrating the extraordinary nature of the divine message.
* **Figurative Use:** Though `{{H1528}}` itself is not used figuratively, the concept of "plaster" can evoke ideas of superficiality or a covering that conceals, as seen in prophetic condemnations of "whitewashed walls" or "plastered with untempered mortar" (e.g., [[Ezekiel 13:10-15]]), though these use different Hebrew terms. In Daniel 5, the plaster is not a concealment but a revelation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1528}}` is profoundly tied to its singular, dramatic appearance in [[Daniel 5:5]].
* **Divine Revelation and Immanence:** The most striking aspect is God's choice of a common plaster wall as the medium for His direct revelation. This demonstrates God's immanence, His ability to intervene directly and tangibly within human spaces, even the most profane, to communicate His will. It underscores that no place is beyond the reach of His divine message.
* **Sovereignty and Judgment:** The writing on the plaster is a definitive act of divine judgment against Belshazzar's pride and sacrilege. It serves as an undeniable declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over human kingdoms and His active role in history, holding rulers accountable for their actions. The message of "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Uparsin" sealed Belshazzar's fate, written for all to see.
* **Inescapable Truth:** The public and indelible nature of the inscription on the wall signifies the inescapable truth of God's word and judgment. Unlike a scroll that could be hidden or a message spoken that could be denied, the writing on the plaster wall was a permanent, undeniable visual testament to God's decree.
* **Humbling of Human Pride:** The humble plaster, a mere layer on a wall, becomes the instrument through which God humbles the most powerful human king. It highlights the fragility of human power and pomp before the transcendent power of the Almighty.
### Summary
The Aramaic term `{{H1528}}` (gîyr) refers to "lime" or "plaster," corresponding to the Hebrew `{{H1615}}`. Its singular, yet profoundly significant, occurrence is in [[Daniel 5:5]], where it describes the plaster wall upon which the divine hand wrote its message of judgment to King Belshazzar. This mundane building material is transformed into the canvas for an extraordinary supernatural revelation, underscoring God's immanence, His absolute sovereignty over human affairs, and the inescapable nature of His divine judgment. The plaster wall in Daniel 5 stands as a powerful symbol of God's ability to communicate His will in undeniable ways, even in the heart of human pride, to bring about His purposes.
TRV