### 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.
TRV