The Aramaic word shᵉdar, represented by H7712, is a primitive root meaning to endeavor; labour. This highly specific term is exceptionally rare in scripture. It appears 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible, capturing a singular moment of intense, focused effort.
The sole use of H7712 is found in the narrative of Daniel in the lions' den. When King Darius realized his own unchangeable decree had condemned Daniel, the king was "sore displeased with himself" and committed to finding a way to save him. The scripture states that he laboured until the sun went down to deliver Daniel Daniel 6:14. This word powerfully conveys the king's desperate and sustained struggle against the very law he had established.
The context of this unique word is illuminated by several related Aramaic terms used in the same verse:
- H888 bᵉʼêsh (displease): This word describes the king's emotional state, which was to be "offended morally" with himself. This profound displeasure is the direct catalyst for his subsequent "labour."
- H7761 sûwm (set): The king "set his heart on Daniel," a phrase indicating his determined focus and resolve. This act of setting his mind precedes and directs the physical and mental effort of his labor.
- H7804 shᵉzab (deliver): This term is used for the king's initial goal to "deliver" Daniel. It frames the purpose of his strenuous endeavor.
- H5338 nᵉtsal (rescue): As the sun sets, the king's aim is still to "deliver" or "rescue" Daniel. The use of both H7804 and H5338 emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the salvation the king was attempting to achieve through his labor.
The theological weight of H7712 is derived from its singularity and the powerful contrast it provides.
- Human Limitation: The king's intense "labour" ultimately fails, highlighting the limits of human power, even that of a monarch. His effort stands in stark contrast to God, who later "delivereth and rescueth" Daniel effortlessly Daniel 6:27.
- The Weight of a Decree: The king's struggle demonstrates a conflict between a ruler's own law and his conscience. His labor is a desperate attempt to find a loophole in a rigid, self-imposed system.
- Sincere Repentance: The act of laboring H7712 gives a physical expression to the king's inner turmoil and regret ("sore displeased with himself"), showing a ruler genuinely attempting to undo his own terrible mistake Daniel 6:14.
In summary, H7712 is a precise and potent word, used just once to illustrate a specific moment of human futility. In its sole context in Daniel 6:14, it defines King Darius's prolonged but unsuccessful effort to save Daniel from the consequences of a foolish law. This singular instance of "labour" serves as a crucial narrative element, powerfully demonstrating human limitation and setting the stage for the divine deliverance that only God could accomplish.
TRV