Lexical Summary geshem: body, bodies Original Word: גֶּשֶׁם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance body (Aramaic) apparently the same as geshem; used in a peculiar sense, the body (probably for the (figuratively) idea of a hard rain) -- body. see HEBREW geshem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to geshem Definition the body NASB Translation bodies (2), body (3). Topical Lexicon Entry: גֶּשֶׁם (geshem) – bodyScope of Usage in Scripture גֶּשֶׁם appears five times, all in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Daniel 3:27, 3:28, 4:33, 5:21, 7:11). In every occurrence it denotes the tangible, physical body. The term accents the concrete, visible reality of human and even beastly existence, highlighting how the sovereign God acts upon the material as readily as upon the spiritual. Physical Preservation of the Faithful (Daniel 3) The first two uses occur in the furnace narrative. Babylon’s rulers “saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men” (Daniel 3:27). Nebuchadnezzar then praises God for “delivering His servants … who yielded up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28). גֶּשֶׁם underscores the totality of their consecration: not merely minds or spirits, but flesh and blood laid on the line. Their intact bodies become visible proof that the God of Israel rules over natural forces and validates those who refuse idolatry. Humiliation and Restoration of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) When the proud king is driven from men, “his body was drenched with the dew of heaven” (Daniel 4:33). The same body that had once basked in royal luxury becomes a signboard of divine judgment. Yet its eventual restoration (Daniel 4:34–36) testifies that God’s discipline, though severe, aims at repentance and the recognition that “He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth” (Daniel 4:35). The Beastly Body of Belshazzar (Daniel 5) Daniel recalls how Belshazzar’s predecessor “was driven away from mankind; his mind became like that of an animal, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven” (Daniel 5:21). Here גֶּשֶׁם acts as a narrative hinge: the body becomes an arena in which arrogance is judged. Belshazzar’s failure to heed this lesson seals his own doom (Daniel 5:22–30). The Slain Body of the Fourth Beast (Daniel 7) In Daniel’s vision the fourth beast is destroyed: “Its body was thrown into the blazing fire” (Daniel 7:11). גֶּשֶׁם draws attention to the tangible overthrow of a seemingly invincible empire. God’s final victory will not be merely spiritual; it will include decisive action upon all fleshly powers opposed to His kingdom. Biblical Anthropology Daniel’s use of גֶּשֶׁם complements the broader scriptural portrayal of humanity as a unified whole—body and spirit intertwined (Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7). Far from depreciating the physical, Scripture shows God actively preserving, disciplining, and ultimately redeeming the body. This anticipates later revelation: “The body is … for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body” (1 Corinthians 6:13). Foreshadowing Bodily Resurrection Deliverance from the furnace and restoration from beastly humiliation prefigure the greater hope affirmed in Isaiah 26:19 and consummated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:39). גֶּשֶׁם thus contributes to the unfolding promise that God will not abandon His people to physical ruin but will one day transform their lowly bodies to be like the glorious body of Christ (Philippians 3:21). Ministry Significance 1. Whole-person discipleship: Believers are called to present their bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Summary גֶּשֶׁם in Daniel emphasizes God’s direct sovereignty over human and beastly bodies. Whether preserving the righteous, humbling the proud, or eradicating evil, the Lord’s dealings with גֶּשֶׁם affirm that His redemptive purposes encompass every fiber of created existence, culminating in the promised resurrection and renewal of the whole person. Forms and Transliterations בְּגֶשְׁמְה֗וֹן בגשמהון גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ גִּשְׁמַ֔הּ גֶשְׁמְהֹ֗ון גשמה גשמהון bə·ḡeš·mə·hō·wn begeshmeHon bəḡešməhōwn ḡeš·mə·hō·wn geshmeHon ḡešməhōwn giš·mah giš·mêh gishMah gishMeh gišmah gišmêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:27 HEB: שְׁלֵ֨ט נוּרָ֜א בְּגֶשְׁמְה֗וֹן וּשְׂעַ֤ר רֵֽאשְׁהוֹן֙ NAS: effect on the bodies of these men nor KJV: men, upon whose bodies the fire INT: had the fire the bodies was the hair of their head Daniel 3:28 Daniel 4:33 Daniel 5:21 Daniel 7:11 5 Occurrences |
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