Lexical Summary heder: Room, chamber, inner room Original Word: הֶדֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance glory From hadar; honour; used (figuratively) for the capital city (Jerusalem) -- glory. see HEBREW hadar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hadar Definition an ornament, adornment, splendor NASB Translation Jewel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs הֶ֫דֶר noun [masculine] ornament, adornment, splendour, only construct מַלְכוּת ׳ה Daniel 11:20 splendour of (the) kingdom, compare AV RV, i.e. Judaea, or perhaps Jerusalem according to Leng Hi Meinh; but rather royal splendour, compare Gr, & especially Bev who reads ׳נוֺגֵשׂ מַעֲבִיר ה (for HCT מעביר נוגשׂ), i.e. an exactor who shall cause the royal splendour to pass away. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrenceהֶדֶר appears once, in Daniel 11:20, describing the “royal splendor” that the king seeks to preserve even while exacting oppressive tribute. “Then in his place will arise one who will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor, but within a few days he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle” (Daniel 11:20). The single usage grants the term a focused nuance: outward magnificence sustained by heavy taxation, fragile in the face of divine decree. Historical Context in Daniel 11:20 Daniel 11 traces successive rulers in the Seleucid dynasty. The “tax collector” episode corresponds to Seleucus IV Philopator (187–175 BC), who, under pressure from Rome, dispatched his minister Heliodorus to seize Temple treasure in Jerusalem. Although Seleucus sought to uphold regal prestige, his reign ended abruptly and ingloriously—“destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.” The narrative underscores how earthly courts cling to splendor only to see it undone according to God’s timetable. The grandeur of the Hellenistic monarchies, represented by הֶדֶר, is shown to be contingent and vulnerable. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty over Human Majesty Scripture consistently presents God as the One who “deposes kings and raises up others” (Daniel 2:21). The lone appearance of הֶדֶר accentuates that even the most dazzling royal display is subject to God’s overruling purpose. Earthly impressiveness cannot shield a ruler from divine judgment. 2. The Ephemeral Nature of Worldly Glory The brief, almost parenthetical reference to splendor in Daniel 11:20 illustrates how fleeting such grandeur is. While Seleucus IV taxed his subjects to project magnificence, his death came swiftly and without the honor of battle. “Man in his pomp will not remain” (Psalm 49:12). 3. Contrast with God’s Unfading Glory Throughout Scripture, God’s glory is portrayed as eternal and moral (Psalm 104:31; Habakkuk 2:14). The fragile הֶדֶר of Daniel 11:20 stands in deliberate contrast, inviting readers to anchor their hope in the Lord’s enduring majesty rather than in transient human pageantry. Themes for Ministry Application • Stewardship versus Exploitation Leaders are called to serve, not to burden others for self-aggrandizement. The tax collector scene warns against exploiting resources or people to prop up personal image (compare Ezekiel 34:2–4). • Humility before God “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). Daniel 11:20 exemplifies how the pursuit of splendor incubates downfall. Believers are exhorted to “humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10). • Hope in the Ultimate Kingdom The collapse of Hellenistic pomp foreshadows the triumph of a kingdom “that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44). The passage encourages steadfastness amid temporal upheavals, knowing that Christ’s reign endures. Related Biblical Motifs While הֶדֶר itself is unique to Daniel 11:20, Scripture frequently addresses the allure and demise of earthly magnificence: Each account reinforces the principle revealed in Daniel 11:20: God alone bestows lasting glory, and He brings every human display of grandeur into judgment. Forms and Transliterations הֶ֣דֶר הדר he·ḏer Heder heḏerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 11:20 HEB: מַעֲבִ֥יר נוֹגֵ֖שׂ הֶ֣דֶר מַלְכ֑וּת וּבְיָמִ֤ים NAS: through the Jewel of [his] kingdom; KJV: of taxes [in] the glory of the kingdom: INT: will send an oppressor the Jewel of kingdom days |
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