Word Study for H6590 (פְּשַׁר)

pᵉshar /pesh-ar'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to פָּתַר

Meaningto interpret

KJV usagemake (interpretations), interpreting.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pᵉshar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word pᵉshar, represented by H6590, means to interpret or make (interpretations). It appears a total of 2 times across 2 unique verses, with both instances occurring in the book of Daniel. This rare verb specifically refers to the act of explaining or solving divine mysteries presented to royal figures.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical context, H6590 is used to describe the God-given abilities of Daniel. It is first mentioned as part of a list of Daniel's skills, noting that an "excellent spirit" was found in him, which included "interpreting of dreams" Daniel 5:12. This ability is presented alongside showing hard sentences and dissolving doubts, establishing his unique reputation in the king's court. Shortly after, King Belshazzar directly addresses Daniel, saying, "I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations" Daniel 5:16, summoning him to decipher the mysterious writing on the wall.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the scope and context of this action:

H6591 pᵉshar (an interpretation): This noun is the direct result of the verb's action. It is the interpretation itself that Daniel is called to provide when faced with a divine mystery Daniel 5:12.
H2493 chêlem (a dream): This word identifies what is being interpreted. Daniel's ability for interpreting of dreams is a key skill attributed to him Daniel 5:12. Dreams in this context are a means through which God makes future events known Daniel 2:45.
H7001 qᵉṭar (doubt, knot, riddle): This term refers to figurative knots or riddles. Daniel's capacity to make interpretations is coupled with his ability to "dissolve doubts," showcasing his power to unravel complex and troubling enigmas Daniel 5:16.
H8271 shᵉrêʼ (to dissolve, loose): This verb is paired with making interpretations. It describes the act of untying or dissolving doubts and is a key part of the skill set found in Daniel Daniel 5:12.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6590 is centered on the nature of divine revelation.

A God-Given Ability: The capacity to interpret is not portrayed as a human intellect but as a manifestation of the "excellent spirit" H7308 within Daniel Daniel 5:12. This spirit is explicitly called "the spirit of the holy gods," showing that true interpretation is a divine gift Daniel 4:9.
Unlocking Divine Messages: The act of interpreting is the key to understanding God's communication. It is how a dream H2493 or a "hard sentence" H280 is deciphered. Through this process, what God "hath made known" is revealed to humanity Daniel 2:45.
Validating God's Prophet: Daniel's ability to make interpretations H6590 serves to validate him as a true servant of God before foreign kings. This skill sets him apart from all other wise men and demonstrates that his wisdom and understanding H7924 come from a higher power Daniel 5:12.

Summary

In summary, H6590 is a focused term that goes beyond simple explanation. It denotes the divinely empowered act of revealing the meaning behind heavenly mysteries. Its usage in the book of Daniel highlights that understanding God's plans is not achieved through human effort but is a gift bestowed by His spirit to accomplish His purposes on earth.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מְפַשַּׁר
מִפְשַׁר

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.