Lexical Summary Beleshatstsar: Belshazzar Original Word: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Belshazzar Or Belshatstsar {bale-shats-tsar'}; of foreign origin (compare Beltsha'tstsar); Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king -- Belshazzar. see HEBREW Beltsha'tstsar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition "Bel, protect the king," a Bab. king NASB Translation Belshazzar (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs ֵבּלְאשַׁצַּר proper name, masculine (Bêl-šar-uƒur, Bel, protect the king COT Daniel 5:1) Daniel 8:1; represented as king of Babylon, successor, and apparently son of Nebuchadrezzar (Daniel 5:1,2,11 etc.); in cuneiform inscription known only as prince, son of Nabonidus (last Shemitic king of Babylon), see COT 1.c. Topical Lexicon Occurrences Belshazzar appears once in the Hebrew sections of Scripture (Daniel 8:1) and several times in the Aramaic portion of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 5:1, 5:30). The single Hebrew occurrence anchors Daniel’s third vision to a precise historical moment: “In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel …” (Daniel 8:1). Historical Background Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus and served as coregent of Babylon during his father’s lengthy absence in Tema. Babylon at this time stood at the height of its cultural splendor yet on the brink of collapse before the ascending Medo-Persian Empire. Extra-biblical documents such as the Nabonidus Chronicle and cylinder inscriptions confirm Belshazzar’s royal status, supporting the biblical record that he could offer the position of “third ruler in the kingdom” (Daniel 5:16), since he himself was second under Nabonidus. Biblical Account 1. A Decadent Feast (Daniel 5) 2. Daniel’s Visions Dated to His Reign Dating these revelations to Belshazzar’s reign links the decline of Babylon with the unfolding of God’s prophetic program. Character and Actions Belshazzar epitomizes arrogant self-confidence. He ignores the lesson learned by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:37), spurns holy things, and fails to “humble his heart” though he “knew all this” (Daniel 5:22). His life warns against presumption in the face of divine revelation. Theological Significance 1. Sovereignty of God: Belshazzar’s sudden demise fulfills Jeremiah 51:57 and Isaiah 47:11, demonstrating that no empire can outlast God’s decree. Archaeological Corroboration Tablets from Sippar list Bel-shar-uṣur (Belshazzar) alongside Nabonidus, confirming a dual kingship and explaining Daniel’s “third ruler” offer. These finds silence earlier critical claims that Belshazzar was unhistorical. Lessons for Believers • God’s judgment can fall swiftly and unexpectedly; therefore, “today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Summary Belshazzar’s brief yet pivotal appearance in Scripture highlights the themes of divine sovereignty, the certainty of prophetic Word, and the peril of arrogant irreverence. His downfall opened the door for the Medo-Persian ascendancy, setting the stage for further fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan revealed through the prophet Daniel. Forms and Transliterations בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֣ר בלאשצר bê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar bêləšaṣṣar beleshatzTzarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 8:1 HEB: שָׁל֔וֹשׁ לְמַלְכ֖וּת בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֣ר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ חָז֞וֹן NAS: of the reign of Belshazzar the king KJV: of king Belshazzar a vision INT: the third of the reign of Belshazzar the king A vision 1 Occurrence |
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