### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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]].
### Summary
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.
TRV