(Aramaic) from an unused root meaning to shine; a light; plural (collectively) a chandelier; candlestick.
Transliteration:nebrᵉshâʼ
Pronunciation:neb-reh-shaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term `{{H5043}}` (נֶבְרְשָׁא, *nebrᵉshâʼ*) derives from an unused root signifying "to shine." Its core meaning denotes a "light" in the sense of a source of illumination. When used collectively or in the plural, it refers to a "chandelier" or "candlestick," indicating a fixture designed to hold and display multiple lights. The semantic range thus encompasses both the general concept of light and the specific physical apparatus that generates or supports it, emphasizing its function in providing visibility.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H5043}}` appears only once in the biblical text, specifically in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel:
* [[Daniel 5:5]]: "In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote."
In this singular occurrence, *nebrᵉshâʼ* refers to the "candlestick" or "lampstand" in Belshazzar's palace. Its placement in the narrative is highly significant. The miraculous writing appears "over against" or "opposite" this lampstand. This detail is crucial because the light emanating from the lampstand would have illuminated the very spot where the divine message was inscribed, making the supernatural event undeniably visible to King Belshazzar and his court. The lampstand, an ordinary fixture of royal luxury, becomes an unwitting instrument in the revelation of God's extraordinary judgment. It is not merely a descriptive detail but a functional element that facilitates the dramatic encounter between human hubris and divine power.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H5043}}` is an Aramaic term, it finds conceptual and functional parallels in Hebrew vocabulary related to light and illumination:
* `{{H4501}}` (מְנוֹרָה, *mᵉnôrâ*): This is the most direct Hebrew counterpart, meaning "lampstand" or "menorah." It famously refers to the seven-branched lampstand in the Tabernacle and Temple, which held profound theological significance as a symbol of divine presence and light. The Aramaic `{{H5043}}` functions similarly as a physical object providing light, though in a secular, royal context rather than a sacred one.
* `{{H5216}}` (נֵר, *nēr*): This Hebrew word denotes a "lamp" or "candle," often referring to the individual source of light.
* `{{H216}}` (אוֹר, *ʾôr*): A broader Hebrew term for "light," encompassing both physical illumination and metaphorical light (e.g., divine light, truth, guidance).
The concept of "light" itself, whether physical or metaphorical, is a pervasive theme in Scripture, often associated with revelation, truth, life, and the very presence of God. Although `{{H5043}}` refers to the object, its function inherently links it to these deeper biblical concepts.
### Theological Significance
The lone appearance of `{{H5043}}` in [[Daniel 5:5]] carries profound theological weight within its narrative context:
* **Divine Illumination of Judgment:** The lampstand's light, intended for human revelry, ironically illuminates the divine hand that writes a message of impending judgment. This underscores God's sovereignty and His ability to use even mundane objects to reveal His will and pronounce judgment. The light makes the divine decree undeniable, leaving no room for misinterpretation or dismissal.
* **Contrast of Human Splendor and Divine Revelation:** Belshazzar's feast is characterized by human arrogance, idolatry, and sacrilege, culminating in the use of sacred Temple vessels for profane purposes. The lampstand, a symbol of the king's earthly splendor, becomes the backdrop against which God's immediate and terrifying intervention is displayed. The light from man-made opulence serves to highlight the stark reality of divine omnipotence and righteous judgment.
* **The Unveiling of Hidden Truth:** In a broader sense, the lampstand's role in making the writing visible speaks to the biblical theme of God bringing hidden things to light. What was obscured (Belshazzar's fate, God's displeasure) is suddenly and dramatically revealed under the very light of the king's palace.
### Summary
`{{H5043}}` (נֶבְרְשָׁא, *nebrᵉshâʼ*) is an Aramaic term for a "lampstand" or "chandelier," derived from a root meaning "to shine." Its singular occurrence in [[Daniel 5:5]] is pivotal, describing the fixture that illuminates the wall where the divine hand writes judgment during Belshazzar's feast. Functionally similar to the Hebrew `{{H4501}}` (menorah), `{{H5043}}` serves as the physical source of light that makes God's miraculous intervention and undeniable judgment visible to the king. Theologically, its presence highlights God's ability to use ordinary means to reveal extraordinary truth, contrasting human pride with divine sovereignty and emphasizing the theme of divine illumination bringing hidden truths and judgments to light.
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