The Aramaic word rᵉsham, represented by H7560, is a verb corresponding to the Hebrew רָשַׁם, meaning to record, sign, or write. It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used specifically in the book of Daniel to denote the official and often permanent act of inscription, whether by a human king or a divine power.
In the biblical narrative, H7560 is central to two key events in Daniel. First, it describes the act of King Darius making his decree against prayer legally binding. The king is urged to "sign the writing" Daniel 6:8, and he does so, signing "the writing and the decree" Daniel 6:9. The immutability of this act is emphasized when his officials later remind him of the decree "that thou hast signed" Daniel 6:13. Second, the word is used for the supernatural writing on the wall at Belshazzar's feast, where a disembodied hand appears and a "writing was written" Daniel 5:24.
Several related Aramaic words clarify the context in which H7560 is used:
- H3792 kᵉthâb ({something written, i.e. a writing, record or book}; prescribing, writing(-ten)): This noun refers to the physical text or document that is signed or written. It is the object of the action in "sign the writing" Daniel 6:8 and the result of the action in "this is the writing that was written" Daniel 5:25.
- H633 ʼĕçâr ((Aramaic) corresponding to אֱסָר in a legal sense; an interdict; decree): This term specifies the legal and authoritative nature of what is being signed. It is the binding decree that King Darius signs Daniel 6:9 and the one Daniel is accused of ignoring Daniel 6:13.
The narrative weight of H7560 is significant in the book of Daniel. It highlights the power and permanence of the written word in moments of crisis.
- Irrevocable Human Law: The act of the king signing (rᵉsham) the decree sets in motion an unchangeable law, creating the central conflict for Daniel's faith Daniel 6:8. Daniel's knowledge that "the writing was signed" Daniel 6:10 is the catalyst for his act of faithful defiance.
- Divine Judgment: The word is also used for God's divine inscription. When the hand appears at the feast, the text states the "writing was written" Daniel 5:24, signifying a final and inescapable judgment from a power far greater than any earthly monarch.
- Authority Solidified: In both human and divine contexts, to sign or write is to finalize a decision and give it authority. For King Darius, it is the seal of his royal power Daniel 6:9; for God, it is the seal of judgment on a defiant king Daniel 5:25.
In summary, H7560 is a crucial verb that captures the moment a declaration becomes official and binding. Used exclusively in Daniel, it marks points of no return, whether it is a king establishing an irrevocable decree or God delivering an ultimate verdict. The act of writing or signing becomes the pivotal action that tests faith and pronounces judgment.
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