(Aramaic) corresponding to נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר; {Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon}; Nebuchadnezzar.
Transliteration:Nᵉbûwkadnetstsar
Pronunciation:neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The lemma נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (Nᵉbûwkadnetstsar) is an Aramaic proper noun, specifically the name of the most prominent king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Its semantic range is singular, referring exclusively to this historical individual and his royal office. The name itself is generally interpreted as "Nabu protect my firstborn son" or "Nabu protect the boundary/crown," reflecting a dedication to Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom and writing. In the biblical context, the name functions as a direct reference to the historical figure who played a pivotal role in the history of Judah.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Nebuchadnezzar is a central figure in several Old Testament books, appearing prominently in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. He is consistently depicted as the powerful monarch of Babylon who serves as the instrument of God's judgment against Judah.
* In **2 Kings** and **2 Chronicles**, Nebuchadnezzar is the conqueror who leads multiple sieges against Jerusalem, culminating in the destruction of the city, the Temple, and the exile of the Judean population (e.g., [[2 Kings 24:1]], [[2 Kings 25:1-21]], [[2 Chronicles 36:6-20]]). These accounts detail his military prowess and the devastating impact of his campaigns on Judah.
* The prophet **Jeremiah** frequently refers to Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant" (e.g., [[Jeremiah 25:9]], [[Jeremiah 27:6]]), indicating God's sovereign use of this pagan king to execute divine wrath upon Judah and surrounding nations. Jeremiah also records his conquest of Egypt (e.g., [[Jeremiah 43:10]]).
* **Ezekiel** mentions Nebuchadnezzar in relation to the siege of Tyre (e.g., [[Ezekiel 26:7-11]]) and the conquest of Egypt (e.g., [[Ezekiel 29:18-20]]), further affirming his role as a divinely appointed agent of judgment against various nations.
* The book of **Daniel** offers the most detailed and theologically profound portrayal of Nebuchadnezzar. Here, he is not merely a conqueror but a recipient of divine revelation through dreams (e.g., the dream of the great statue in [[Daniel 2]], the dream of the towering tree in [[Daniel 4]]). His pride and arrogance lead to a period of divine judgment where he is humbled, living like an animal, until he acknowledges the sovereignty of the "Most High God" (e.g., [[Daniel 4:28-37]]). His decrees, such as in [[Daniel 3:29]] after the fiery furnace, demonstrate a growing, albeit sometimes grudging, recognition of the God of Israel. The slight orthographic variations in his name (e.g., נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר `{{H5019}}` vs. נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר `{{H5020}}`) do not denote different individuals but rather reflect minor Aramaic/Hebrew spelling differences for the same historical king.
### Related Words & Concepts
The figure of Nebuchadnezzar is intrinsically linked to several key biblical concepts:
* **Babylon/Chaldeans:** He is the epitome of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and its ruling class, the Chaldeans (e.g., `{{H894}}` for Babel/Babylon, `{{H3778}}` for Chaldeans). His reign represents the zenith of Babylonian power.
* **Exile/Captivity:** His actions directly resulted in the Babylonian exile (e.g., `{{H1540}}`, *galah*, "to go into exile"), a watershed event in Israelite history that profoundly shaped their identity and theology.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** The narratives, particularly in Daniel, emphasize God's absolute control over all earthly rulers and kingdoms, even the most formidable (e.g., `{{H5945}}`, *Elyon*, "Most High"). Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and his humbling experience serve as powerful demonstrations of this truth.
* **Pride/Humiliation:** Nebuchadnezzar's personal story in Daniel 4 serves as a vivid illustration of the biblical principle that God opposes the proud and brings low those who exalt themselves (e.g., `{{H1346}}`, *ga'on*, "pride").
* **Prophecy/Fulfillment:** He is a key figure in the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Judah's punishment for its disobedience and the subsequent period of exile.
### Theological Significance
Nebuchadnezzar's theological significance is multifaceted:
* **God's Instrument of Judgment:** His primary role is as God's chosen "servant" to execute divine judgment upon Judah for its persistent idolatry and rebellion. This demonstrates God's justice and His willingness to use even pagan rulers as instruments of His will (e.g., [[Jeremiah 25:9]]).
* **Demonstration of Divine Sovereignty:** The narratives surrounding Nebuchadnezzar, especially in Daniel, powerfully underscore God's supreme authority over all earthly kingdoms and rulers. His dreams and subsequent humbling reveal that "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" ([[Daniel 4:17]]). This truth challenges any human claim to ultimate power.
* **Revelation to Gentiles:** Through Nebuchadnezzar's encounters with Daniel and the miraculous events (like the fiery furnace), God reveals His power and unique nature to a Gentile king. This highlights God's universal reach and His desire for all peoples to acknowledge His sovereignty, even if such acknowledgment is initially coerced or partial.
* **Warning Against Pride:** Nebuchadnezzar's descent into madness due to his inflated pride serves as a profound theological warning against human arrogance and self-exaltation. His restoration comes only after he humbly acknowledges God's supremacy, illustrating the principle that true wisdom and stability come from recognizing God as the ultimate authority.
### Summary
Nᵉbûwkadnetstsar (`{{H5020}}`) refers to Nebuchadnezzar II, the formidable king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (reigned 605-562 BC). In the biblical narrative, he is prominently featured as the divinely appointed instrument of God's judgment against the kingdom of Judah, responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the subsequent Babylonian exile. While presented as a powerful conqueror in historical books like 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, and as God's "servant" in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the book of Daniel offers a unique and profound theological portrait of Nebuchadnezzar. There, he is depicted as a recipient of divine revelation through dreams, a monarch whose immense power is ultimately shown to be subordinate to the absolute sovereignty of the Most High God. His personal journey, particularly his humbling experience of madness due to pride, serves as a powerful testament to God's control over all earthly kingdoms and His opposition to human arrogance. Through Nebuchadnezzar's story, the biblical text powerfully illustrates themes of divine justice, God's universal dominion, and His capacity to bring even the most powerful rulers to acknowledge His ultimate authority.
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