The Aramaic word shâlâh, represented by H7955, denotes a wrong; thing amiss. It appears 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible. This term is derived from an Aramaic root corresponding to a Hebrew word for the same concept, signifying a mistake or error.
The single biblical use of H7955 occurs in a pivotal moment of recognition by a gentile king. After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are miraculously delivered from the fiery furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar issues a decree. He warns that any people who "speak any thing amiss" against the God of the Hebrews will face a dire punishment, acknowledging that no other god can deliver in such a way Daniel 3:29. The word is used to define the specific transgression of blasphemous or erroneous speech against the true God.
Several related Aramaic words provide a fuller context for the concept of error and speech:
- H7960 shâlûw (a fault; error, [idiom] fail, thing amiss): This word is a close variant and appears alongside H7955 in the phrase "any thing amiss" Daniel 3:29. It is also used to describe how Daniel's accusers could find no error or fault in him Daniel 6:4.
- H560 ʼămar ({to say (used with great latitude)}; command, declare, say, speak, tell): This verb provides the action associated with the "thing amiss." In Nebuchadnezzar's decree, it is the act of "speaking" H560 a wrong that is forbidden Daniel 3:29. The same word is used when the king said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego" Daniel 3:28.
The conceptual weight of H7955 is centered on the gravity of speech against God.
- Defining a Transgression: The term is used in a legal context to formally define a verbal crime—speaking wrongly of God. Nebuchadnezzar's decree attaches a severe, state-enforced penalty to this "thing amiss" Daniel 3:29.
- Acknowledgment of Divine Power: The declaration against speaking a "wrong" is prompted by a direct witness to God's unparalleled power of deliverance. The error is therefore not just a mistake but an offense against a demonstrably supreme deity.
- The Seriousness of Error: The word highlights that a fault or "thing amiss" concerning God is not a trivial matter. In the narrative, it is an action that warrants total destruction, underlining the importance of rightly acknowledging God.
In summary, H7955 is a highly specific Aramaic term for a "wrong" or "thing amiss." Although it appears only once, its context in Daniel 3:29 gives it significant impact. It serves to define blasphemous speech as a punishable offense in the wake of a divine miracle, illustrating how the recognition of God's absolute power demands a corresponding reverence in word and deed.
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