Lexical Definition
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר Bêlshaʼtstsar (bale-shats-tsar') Belshazzar N:N-M-P
or בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר Bêlʼshatstsar (bale-shats-tsar'); of foreign origin (compare בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר)
Belshazzar.
- § Belshazzar = "Bel protect the king"
- Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king
1) king of Babylon at the time of its fall; he to whom Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֣ר | Belshazzar | Dan.8.1 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.5.1
- son of: Nebuchadnezzar (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר)
- Also named: be.le.shats.tsar (בֵּֽלְאשַׁצַּר, בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר "Belshazzar" בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
ֵבּלְאשַׁצַּר proper name, masculine (Bêl-šar-uƒur, Bel, protect the king COT Dan 5:1) Dan 8:1 represented as king of Babylon, successor, and apparently son of Nebuchadrezzar (Dan 5:1; Dan 5:2; Dan 5:11 etc.); in cuneiform inscription known only as prince, son of Nabonidus (last Shemitic king of Babylon), see COT 1.c.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Daniel | 5:1 · 5:2 · 5:11 · 8:1 |
Profile
Male • Son of Nebuchadnezzar • The last Emperor of Babylon, son of Nabonidus.
Emperor living at the time of Exile and Return
Belshazzar, the last Emperor of Babylon, is mentioned in the book of Daniel as the son of Nebuchadnezzar (though historically known as the son of Nabonidus).
- Emperor living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.5.1;
- referred to as Belshazzar בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, or Belshazzar בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר;
- a son of Nebuchadnezzar נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר.
Belshazzar is a prominent figure in the book of Daniel, mentioned in chapters 5, 7, and 8. He is introduced as the king of Babylon and the son of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:1, 22), although historical records identify him as the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Belshazzar is known for holding a great feast, during which he and his nobles drank from the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:1-4). During this feast, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall, which only Daniel could interpret (Daniel 5:5-28). The message foretold the end of Belshazzar's kingdom, and that very night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Daniel 5:30-31). Belshazzar is also mentioned in Daniel's visions (Daniel 7:1; 8:1), providing a historical context for the prophetic revelations. Belshazzar's reign and his sudden downfall serve as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and the consequences of disregarding God's authority.
All entries for Belshazzar: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר ☩ בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר
Related Profiles:
- Nebuchadnezzar (father)