### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **shᵉnâʼ**, represented by `{{H8133}}`, means **to alter, change, or be diverse**. It appears 21 times across 21 unique verses, primarily in the book of Daniel. The word is used to describe a wide range of transformations, from the altering of laws and the passage of time to changes in a person's physical appearance or fundamental nature.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narrative, `{{H8133}}` is used to illustrate concepts of power and authority. God is the one who ultimately "changeth the times and the seasons" [[Daniel 2:21]], demonstrating his sovereignty. In contrast, an antagonistic kingly power "think to change times and laws" [[Daniel 7:25]] in an act of rebellion. The term also describes visible transformations, such as King Nebuchadnezzar's visage being "changed" with fury [[Daniel 3:19]] and King Belshazzar's countenance being "changed" with fear [[Daniel 5:6]]. It is also used in its adjectival sense to describe the prophetic beasts in Daniel's vision, which are "diverse one from another" [[Daniel 7:3]], with the fourth beast being uniquely "diverse from all the beasts that were before it" [[Daniel 7:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the act of changing or being different:
* `{{H5709}}` **ʻădâʼ** (alter, depart, pass (away), remove, take (away)): This word often appears alongside `{{H8133}}`, emphasizing the removal or departure of a current state. God "changeth" times and "removeth" kings [[Daniel 2:21]], and the law of the Medes and Persians "altereth not" [[Daniel 6:8]].
* `{{H1882}}` **dâth** (a royal edict or statute): This is frequently the object that is either subject to change or protected from it. An enemy power seeks to "change" laws [[Daniel 7:25]], and kings establish decrees that cannot be "changed" [[Daniel 6:8]].
* `{{H5732}}` **ʻiddân** (a set time; technically, a year): This word for time is directly affected by the power to change. God "changeth the times" [[Daniel 2:21]], and Nebuchadnezzar's heart is "changed" while seven "times" pass over him [[Daniel 4:16]].
* `{{H1763}}` **dᵉchal** (dreadful, terrible): The fourth beast in Daniel's vision is described as both "diverse" `{{H8133}}` and "dreadful" `{{H1763}}`, linking its uniqueness to the fear it inspires ([[Daniel 7:7]], [[Daniel 7:19]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8133}}` is significant, highlighting key contrasts between divine and human power.
* **Sovereign Authority:** The ability to "change" times, seasons, and rulers is presented as a definitive mark of God's supreme power over all creation and human history [[Daniel 2:21]].
* **Unalterable Will:** The word is used negatively to reinforce permanence. Decrees from Darius and Artaxerxes are protected from being "altered" ([[Ezra 6:11]], [[Daniel 6:8]]), establishing a parallel to God's own immutable purposes, such as his plan for Daniel that could not "be changed" [[Daniel 6:17]].
* **Prophetic Uniqueness:** When used as "diverse," the word marks entities of great prophetic importance. The distinct nature of the fourth beast signals its unparalleled role and impact on the world ([[Daniel 7:7]], [[Daniel 7:23]]).
* **Human Frailty and Judgment:** The word often describes the physical reaction of powerful kings to divine revelation or judgment, as their countenances are "changed" by fear, revealing their vulnerability before God ([[Daniel 5:6]], [[Daniel 5:9]], [[Daniel 5:10]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8133}}` is a dynamic word that captures the essence of transformation, authority, and distinction. From God's sovereign power to alter the course of history to the unchangeable nature of a royal decree, and from a king's fearful expression to a uniquely terrifying beast in a vision, **shᵉnâʼ** illustrates the profound impact of change. It serves as a crucial term for understanding the themes of power, law, and prophecy within the Aramaic portions of Scripture.
TRV