### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **geshem**, represented by `{{H1655}}`, is used in a peculiar sense for **body**. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible. While its base definition suggests a figurative link to a hard rain, its scriptural usage is consistently and concretely applied to the physical form of both humans and beasts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the book of Daniel, `{{H1655}}` is used to illustrate the physical stakes of faith and judgment. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied the king's decree, they "yielded their **bodies**" to the fiery furnace [[Daniel 3:28]]. The subsequent miracle is emphasized by noting that the fire had no power upon their **bodies** [[Daniel 3:27]]. The term is also central to the account of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling, where his **body** "was wet with the dew of heaven" after being driven to live like a beast ([[Daniel 4:33]], [[Daniel 5:21]]). Finally, it is used to describe the ultimate fate of the prophetic beast, whose **body** was destroyed and given to the flame [[Daniel 7:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide context for the state of the body in these narratives:
* `{{H6647}}` **tsᵉbaʻ** (to dip; wet): This verb is directly linked to `{{H1655}}` in the story of Nebuchadnezzar, specifying the action performed upon his body. The prophecy stated he would be **wet** with the dew, and its fulfillment is described with his body being **wet** ([[Daniel 4:33]], [[Daniel 5:21]]).
* `{{H2920}}` **ṭal** (dew): This noun identifies the substance that wets Nebuchadnezzar's body. His physical humbling is characterized by exposure to the "**dew** of heaven" ([[Daniel 4:33]], [[Daniel 5:21]]).
* `{{H8065}}` **shâmayin** (heaven): This word specifies the origin of the dew that wets the body. The experience is not merely natural but is a judgment originating from **heaven**, underscoring God's sovereignty ([[Daniel 4:33]], [[Daniel 5:21]]).
### Theological Significance
The narrative weight of `{{H1655}}` is significant within its limited appearances in Daniel. It consistently frames the physical body as the arena for divine power and moral choice.
* **A Testament of Faith:** The body is portrayed as an offering of devotion. By yielding their **bodies**, the three Hebrews demonstrate a faith that prioritizes obedience to God over physical self-preservation [[Daniel 3:28]].
* **A Subject of Judgment:** The body becomes the tangible evidence of God's judgment against pride. Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation is physically manifested when his **body** endures exposure like an animal's [[Daniel 4:33]].
* **An Object of Divine Power:** The word is used to show God's absolute authority over the physical realm. He can miraculously preserve the **bodies** of the faithful from fire [[Daniel 3:27]] and can utterly destroy the **body** of a beast representing a worldly kingdom [[Daniel 7:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1655}}` **geshem** is a precise term for **body** that, within the book of Daniel, carries significant thematic weight. It moves beyond a simple anatomical label to represent the physical self as the stage upon which profound spiritual dramas unfold—from acts of faithful surrender and divine protection to humbling judgments and ultimate destruction.
TRV