Word Study for H888 (בְּאֵשׁ)

bᵉʼêsh /be-aysh'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to בָּאַשׁ

Meaning(to smell bad; figuratively, to be offensive morally)

KJV usagedisplease.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bᵉʼêsh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word bᵉʼêsh, represented by H888, means to displease. It is an uncommon term, appearing only 1 time in the Bible. Its base meaning corresponds to the concept of smelling bad and is used figuratively to describe something that is morally offensive.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole use of H888 is found in the narrative of Daniel in the lions' den. When King Darius realized his own unchangeable decree meant that Daniel must be condemned, the scripture states the king was "sore displeased with himself" Daniel 6:14. This term captures his intense internal and moral conflict upon hearing the words that sealed Daniel's fate, highlighting his profound regret and distress over his own role in the situation.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words appear in the immediate context of its single usage:

H7690 saggîyʼ (exceeding, great(-ly)... sore, very): This adverb modifies H888 in its only appearance, indicating that the king was "sore" or very displeased Daniel 6:14, emphasizing the depth of his emotional reaction.
H7804 shᵉzab (deliver): This word appears in the same verse, showing the direct consequence of the king's displeasure: he "set his heart on Daniel to deliver him" Daniel 6:14.
H5338 nᵉtsal (deliver, rescue): Also used in Daniel 6:14, this word reinforces the king's objective as he labored until sunset to rescue Daniel from the decree.

Theological Significance

The narrative weight of H888 is concentrated in its ability to reveal character and motivation.

Moral Offense: The term's connection to a bad smell underscores that the king's reaction was not just disappointment but a sense of moral revulsion at the situation he had created. He was displeased with himself.
Human Limitation: The king's displeasure is a sign of his powerlessness. Despite being a great monarch, he is trapped by his own law, and his distress highlights the conflict between human authority and divine righteousness Daniel 6:14.
Motivation for Deliverance: This profound displeasure is the catalyst for the king's actions. It drives him to seek a way to deliver H7804 and rescue H5338 Daniel, setting a contrast between the king's futile, day-long effort and God's ultimate deliverance from the lions' den.

Summary

In summary, bᵉʼêsh H888 is a highly specific term that, in its single biblical use, captures a moment of intense moral distress. It defines King Darius's reaction not as simple sadness, but as a deep, self-directed displeasure that is offensive to his own conscience. This emotion drives the subsequent action of the narrative in Daniel 6:14, illustrating the conflict between human fallibility and the call to do what is right.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

בְּאֵשׁ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.