Lexical Summary bar: field Original Word: בַּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance field (Aramaic) corresponding to bar; a field -- field. see HEBREW bar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to bar Definition (an open) field NASB Translation field (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּר noun [masculine] open field; — emphatic בָּרָא, in ׳חֵיוַת ב (= Biblical Hebrew חַיִּת הַשָּׂדֶה), Daniel 2:38; Daniel 4:9; Daniel 4:18; Daniel 4:20; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; ׳דִּתְאָא דִּי ב Daniel 4:12; Daniel 4:20. Topical Lexicon Linguistic and Contextual Overview Strong’s Hebrew 1251 (בַּר, bar) is an Aramaic noun that denotes the open countryside or field, and by extension the untamed creatures that inhabit it (“beasts of the field”). All eight occurrences lie in the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:38; 4:12; 4:15; 4:21; 4:23 [twice]; 4:25; 4:32). Each text reinforces one of Daniel’s central motifs: God’s absolute sovereignty over kingdoms, nature, and history. Occurrences in Daniel 1. Daniel 2:38 places “the beasts of the field” under Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, illustrating the breadth of imperial dominion granted by God. Theological Themes Dominion and Dependence Bar frames mankind’s authority as delegated and finite. When Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God, the field and its creatures thrive under his empire (Daniel 4:12). When he exalts himself, he is cast out to the very field he once controlled (Daniel 4:32). The word thus serves as a narrative boundary marker between human pride and divine prerogative. Reversal and Humiliation Bar marks the place of reversal. The field, normally associated with provision (Genesis 2:5; Psalm 104:14), becomes a setting of humiliation when the highest monarch eats grass like cattle. This reversal foreshadows later biblical patterns in which the proud are abased and the lowly exalted (Luke 1:52). Creation under God’s Care Repeated mention of “beasts of the field” reminds readers that God sustains every level of creation. Nebuchadnezzar’s vision shows a single tree providing “food for all” (Daniel 4:12), echoing Edenic imagery and anticipating prophetic pictures of messianic blessing where even the wild beasts dwell securely (Isaiah 11:6–9). Messianic and New Testament Echoes Though bar in Daniel is Aramaic for “field,” Hebrew bar elsewhere can denote “son” (Psalm 2:12) and “grain” (Psalm 65:13). While distinct lexically, these overlapping sounds create literary resonance. In Jesus’ parables the field becomes a metaphor for the world (Matthew 13:38), and the Son of Man claims authority over that field (Matthew 9:38). Daniel’s bar scenes prefigure Christ’s triumph: the true King humbled (Philippians 2:6–8) and then enthroned (Daniel 7:13–14). Historical Setting The Babylonian exile exposed Israel to Aramaic, the lingua franca of the empire. Bar’s appearance in Daniel anchors the text in that multilingual environment. The field outside Babylon’s walls—home to grazing livestock—would have been a visible reminder of Nebuchadnezzar’s forced sojourn and eventual repentance recorded in Daniel 4:34–37. Practical Ministry Implications Humility Before Sovereignty Bar challenges believers to recognize God’s lordship. The moment Nebuchadnezzar glorifies himself, he is thrust into the bar; the moment he glorifies God, his kingdom is restored. Leaders today must remain humble stewards, aware that authority is a trust, not a right. Care for Creation God’s provision for “beasts of the field” encourages responsible stewardship of the environment. Human flourishing and creation’s well-being are intertwined; when rulers honor God, both people and creatures benefit. Trust Amid Exile Daniel’s audience, displaced from their homeland, needed assurance that God ruled even foreign fields. Bar testifies that no location lies outside divine control. Modern believers scattered by circumstance can find comfort in the same truth. Summary Bar in Daniel is more than a geographical term; it is a theological signpost. It reminds readers that the God who reigns over palaces also reigns over pastures, that pride leads to degradation while humility invites restoration, and that every corner of creation—city or field—ultimately serves His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations בָּרָ֔א בָּרָ֗א בָּרָ֣א בָּרָ֤א בָּרָא֙ בָּרָא֩ בָרָ֑א ברא bā·rā ḇā·rā baRa bārā ḇārā vaRaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:38 HEB: אֲ֠נָשָׁא חֵיוַ֨ת בָּרָ֤א וְעוֹף־ שְׁמַיָּא֙ NAS: [or] the beasts of the field, or the birds KJV: the beasts of the field and the fowls INT: of men the beasts of the field the birds of the sky Daniel 4:12 Daniel 4:15 Daniel 4:21 Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:32 8 Occurrences |
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