(Aramaic) corresponding to נֶשֶׁר; an eagle; eagle.
Transliteration:nᵉshar
Pronunciation:nesh-ar'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term H5403 (נְשַׁר, nᵉshar) directly corresponds to the Hebrew H5404 (נֶשֶׁר, nesher), both primarily denoting the "eagle" or "vulture," specifically a large bird of prey. While modern ornithology distinguishes between eagles and vultures, ancient Near Eastern languages often used a single term for these majestic, high-flying raptors. The core meaning thus refers to a powerful, soaring bird known for its keen eyesight, swift flight, and predatory nature. Semantically, it extends to symbolize characteristics associated with these birds: strength, swiftness, majesty, height, and, in some contexts, a predatory or destructive force. In apocalyptic literature, its symbolic range expands to represent empires or aspects of their power.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term H5403 appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel, contributing to the rich symbolic tapestry of its visions.
* **[[Daniel 4:33]]**: "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." Here, the imagery of "eagles' feathers" (רִישִׁין דִּנְשַׁר, rishin dinshar) describes the wild, unkempt growth of Nebuchadnezzar's hair during his period of madness and humiliation. The comparison emphasizes the length, coarseness, and perhaps the majestic yet untamed wildness that characterized his transformed state, aligning him with the untamed creatures of the wild rather than human dominion. It underscores the profound debasement brought about by divine judgment.
* **[[Daniel 7:4]]**: "The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it." In this vision of four great beasts, the first beast, symbolic of a mighty empire (traditionally identified with Babylon), is depicted with "eagle's wings" (גַּפִּין דִּנְשַׁר, gappin dinshar). The addition of eagle's wings to a lion signifies exceptional swiftness, power, and perhaps a far-reaching dominion, characteristic of the Babylonian Empire's rapid expansion and formidable strength. The subsequent plucking of the wings symbolizes the curtailment of this power, a humbling or transformation of the empire, foreshadowing its eventual decline or change in nature.
In both contexts, H5403 contributes to vivid, symbolic descriptions that convey divine judgment and the nature of earthly kingdoms, often highlighting their power and subsequent humbling before God's sovereignty.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the Hebrew H5404 (נֶשֶׁר, nesher), which is the direct equivalent and far more common in the Hebrew Bible. The characteristics and symbolic associations of H5404 illuminate the understanding of H5403.
Key concepts associated with the eagle in the broader biblical context include:
* **Swiftness and Speed**: Often used to describe rapid movement, especially in battle or pursuit (e.g., [[2 Samuel 1:23]], [[Jeremiah 4:13]], [[Lamentations 4:19]], [[Habakkuk 1:8]]). This aspect is particularly relevant to the "eagle's wings" of the beast in [[Daniel 7:4]], signifying the rapid expansion of an empire.
* **Strength and Power**: The eagle's predatory might and majestic presence symbolize formidable power (e.g., [[Job 39:27-30]]).
* **High Flight and Inaccessibility**: Eagles build nests in high, inaccessible places, symbolizing security, loftiness, or pride (e.g., [[Job 39:27]], [[Proverbs 30:19]], [[Obadiah 1:4]]).
* **Renewal and Youth**: The eagle's apparent ability to renew its youth through molting cycles is used metaphorically for divine restoration (e.g., [[Psalm 103:5]], [[Isaiah 40:31]]).
* **Divine Protection and Care**: Most profoundly, God's care for Israel is likened to an eagle carrying its young on its wings, a powerful image of protection, guidance, and deliverance (e.g., [[Exodus 19:4]], [[Deuteronomy 32:11]]).
* **Predatory Judgment**: In some prophetic contexts, the eagle can symbolize a swift, destructive agent of divine judgment, often a foreign invader (e.g., [[Hosea 8:1]]).
These broader associations of the eagle inform the symbolic use of H5403 in Daniel, particularly its representation of power, speed, and the ultimate humbling of human pride.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H5403 in Daniel is deeply intertwined with the book's overarching themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms.
In **[[Daniel 4:33]]**, Nebuchadnezzar's transformation, marked by "eagles' feathers" for hair, vividly illustrates the humbling of human pride. The king, who had boasted in his own power and achievements, is reduced to an animalistic state, a stark reminder that true dominion belongs to God. The imagery of the eagle, a creature of majesty and power, is ironically applied to Nebuchadnezzar's debased state, emphasizing the extent of his fall from human glory to a wild, untamed existence. This serves as a powerful testament to God's ability to abase the proud and exalt the humble.
In **[[Daniel 7:4]]**, the "eagle's wings" on the lion-like beast symbolize the rapid and powerful rise of the Babylonian Empire. This imagery underscores the immense, almost supernatural, speed and ferocity with which this kingdom achieved its dominance. However, the subsequent "plucking" of the wings signifies that even the most formidable human empires are subject to divine control and have a limited lifespan. God, in His sovereign plan, raises up and brings down kingdoms according to His will. The transformation of the beast from a powerful, winged creature to one standing like a man with a "man's heart" can be interpreted as a shift in its nature or a reduction of its former predatory power, all under God's providential hand.
Across both occurrences, H5403 functions as a potent symbol within apocalyptic literature to convey:
1. **Divine Judgment**: God's active intervention in human affairs to humble the arrogant.
2. **Sovereignty over Kingdoms**: The ultimate authority of God over all earthly powers, demonstrating His ability to establish and dismantle empires.
3. **The Transient Nature of Human Power**: Even the most powerful and swift kingdoms are temporary and subject to divine decree.
### Summary
The Aramaic word H5403 (נְשַׁר, nᵉshar), meaning "eagle," is a significant term found exclusively in the Book of Daniel. Directly corresponding to the Hebrew H5404, it embodies the literal characteristics of a powerful, high-flying bird of prey. Its primary biblical occurrences are highly symbolic: in [[Daniel 4:33]], "eagles' feathers" describe Nebuchadnezzar's wild hair during his divinely ordained period of madness, emphasizing his humbling and return to an untamed state. In [[Daniel 7:4]], "eagle's wings" adorn the first beast, symbolizing the swiftness and expansive power of the Babylonian Empire, whose subsequent "plucking" signifies its ultimate curtailment by divine decree. Theologically, H5403 powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over human pride and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms, serving as a reminder that all temporal power is subject to the will of the Most High.
TRV