1113. Belshatstsar
Lexical Summary
Belshatstsar: Belshazzar

Original Word: בֵּלְשַׁאצּר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Belsha'tstsar
Pronunciation: bel-shat-tsar
Phonetic Spelling: (bale-shats-tsar')
NASB: Belshazzar
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H1112 (בֵּלשַׁאצַּר בֵּלאשַׁצַר - Belshazzar)]

1. Belshazzar

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Belshazzar

(Aramaic) corresponding to Belsha'tstsar -- Belshazzar.

see HEBREW Belsha'tstsar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to Beleshatstsar
Definition
a Bab. king
NASB Translation
Belshazzar (7).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר proper name, masculine king of Babylonian, according to Daniel 5:1,2,9,22,29 (Biblical Hebrew id., p. 128) = בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר Daniel 5:30; Daniel 7:1; Βαλτασαρ; see BevEncy. Bib. Belshazzar DrDu xxviii f..

Topical Lexicon
Historical Setting

Belshazzar was the last reigning monarch of Babylon mentioned in Scripture, functioning as co-regent with his father Nabonidus (556–539 B.C.). While Nabonidus spent extended periods in Arabia, Belshazzar exercised royal authority in the capital, making him “king” in the practical sense Daniel records. The Neo-Babylonian Empire stood at its zenith in wealth and cultural influence, yet it was spiritually bankrupt, having defied the God who had earlier humbled Nebuchadnezzar.

Scriptural Occurrences

Belshazzar’s name appears seven times, all in the Book of Daniel: Daniel 5:1, 5:2, 5:9, 5:22, 5:29, 5:30, and Daniel 7:1. Six references surround the narrative of the fateful banquet; the seventh (Daniel 7:1) timestamps Daniel’s apocalyptic vision.

The Banquet and the Writing on the Wall (Daniel 5)

Belshazzar’s opulent feast for a thousand nobles showcased Babylon’s luxury and irreverence. In a deliberate act of defiance he “gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem” (Daniel 5:2). As wine flowed, so did blasphemy: “You praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone…but you did not honor the God who holds in His hand your very breath” (Daniel 5:23).

A mysterious hand inscribed on the plaster wall: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. Summoned from obscurity, Daniel interpreted the message:

“MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:26–28).

That same night, while drunken revelry still echoed, “Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain” (Daniel 5:30), and Darius the Mede received the kingdom.

Role in Daniel’s Visions (Daniel 7:1)

The first apocalyptic vision of Daniel, outlining four successive world empires, is dated “in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon.” This timing underscores that God granted prophetic insight to His servant while Babylon’s throne still appeared secure, emphasizing divine sovereignty over future history.

Prophetic and Redemptive Themes

1. Divine sovereignty: The swift collapse of Belshazzar’s rule fulfills Jeremiah 27:7 and Isaiah 13:17-22 concerning Medo-Persian conquest.
2. Moral accountability: National power cannot shield rulers from God’s moral bar. Pride and sacrilege invite swift retribution (Proverbs 16:18).
3. Typology of final judgment: The handwriting on the wall foreshadows the ultimate weighing of all humanity (Revelation 20:12).

Archaeological Corroboration

Babylonian documents such as the Nabonidus Cylinder and the Verse Account confirm Belshazzar’s position as crown prince and regent, explaining why Daniel offers him third place in the kingdom (Daniel 5:7). These findings harmonize Scripture with history, countering earlier critical claims that Belshazzar never existed.

Theological Lessons

• Sacred things are not to be profaned. Belshazzar converted consecrated vessels into party ware and paid with his life.
• Spiritual heritage requires personal faith. Though he knew Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony (Daniel 5:22), Belshazzar refused humility.
• God’s judgment may be sudden and irreversible; mercy must be sought while it is offered (Isaiah 55:6).

Application for Believers

Belshazzar’s account urges vigilance against complacency. Material prosperity, cultural sophistication, or political security cannot replace reverence for God. Individual and national destinies rest in the hands of the One who “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). A sober heart, humility, and respect for what God calls holy remain essential marks of faithfulness today.

Forms and Transliterations
בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֔ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר בֵלְשַׁאצַּר֙ בלאשצר בלשאצר לְבֵלְאשַׁצַּר֙ לבלאשצר ḇê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar ḇêləšaṣṣar beleshatzTzar lə·ḇê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar ləḇêləšaṣṣar leveleshatzTzar veleshatzTzar
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Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 5:1
HEB: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א עֲבַד֙
NAS: Belshazzar the king held
KJV: Belshazzar the king made
INT: Belshazzar the king held

Daniel 5:2
HEB: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר אֲמַ֣ר ׀ בִּטְעֵ֣ם
NAS: When Belshazzar tasted the wine,
KJV: Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine,
INT: Belshazzar gave make to eat

Daniel 5:9
HEB: אֱ֠דַיִן מַלְכָּ֤א בֵלְשַׁאצַּר֙ שַׂגִּ֣יא מִתְבָּהַ֔ל
NAS: King Belshazzar was greatly
KJV: was king Belshazzar greatly
INT: Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed

Daniel 5:22
HEB: ק) בְּרֵהּ֙ בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֔ר לָ֥א הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ
NAS: Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled
KJV: his son, O Belshazzar, hast not
INT: as for thee his son Belshazzar not humbled

Daniel 5:29
HEB: בֵּאדַ֣יִן ׀ אֲמַ֣ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙
NAS: Then Belshazzar gave orders,
KJV: commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed
INT: Then gave Belshazzar clothed Daniel

Daniel 5:30
HEB: בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א קְטִ֕יל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר מַלְכָּ֥א [כַשְׂדָּיָא
NAS: That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean
KJV: In that night was Belshazzar the king
INT: night was slain Belshazzar king Chaldean

Daniel 7:1
HEB: בִּשְׁנַ֣ת חֲדָ֗ה לְבֵלְאשַׁצַּר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל
NAS: year of Belshazzar king
KJV: year of Belshazzar king
INT: year the first of Belshazzar king of Babylon

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1113
7 Occurrences


bê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar — 5 Occ.
lə·ḇê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar — 1 Occ.
ḇê·lə·šaṣ·ṣar — 1 Occ.

1112
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