Lexical Summary peshar: interpretation Original Word: פְשַׁר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance interpretation (Aramaic) from pshar; an interpretation -- interpretation. see HEBREW pshar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from peshar Definition interpretation NASB Translation interpretation (30). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּשַׁר31 noun masculineDaniel 2:45 interpretation (of dream) (compare Biblical Hebrew as loan-word); — construct ׳פ Daniel 4:3; Daniel 5:15,26; Daniel 7:16; emphatic מִּשְׁרָא Daniel 2:4 7t. Daniel; + Daniel 4:15; Daniel 4:16 Kt (Qr הֵּ֯); הָ֯ Daniel 2:7; Daniel 5:12; suffix הֵּ֯ Daniel 2:5,6 (twice in verse) + 11 t. Daniel; + Qr Daniel 4:15; Daniel 4:16 (Kt אָ֯); plural מִּשְׁרִין Daniel 5:16. Topical Lexicon Root and Semantic Field פְשַׁר (pesher) denotes the act or result of “explaining, interpreting, solving.” The underlying idea is that something obscure is untied so that its meaning becomes plain. The term therefore belongs to the semantic field of revelation: the hidden is made known, not by human ingenuity alone but by disclosure granted from above. Canonical Distribution Approximately thirty-one occurrences appear in the Old Testament—about thirty in the Aramaic chapters of Daniel (2–5) and one in Hebrew, Ecclesiastes 8:1. In every case the focus is on disclosing a mystery, dream, or enigmatic sentence. Narrative Clusters in Daniel 1. The Colossus Dream (Daniel 2) 2. The Great Tree Dream (Daniel 4) 3. The Handwriting on the Wall (Daniel 5) In each cluster פְשַׁר functions as a literary signpost: the repeated term heightens tension, showcases the impotence of worldly wisdom, and magnifies the God who “reveals deep and hidden things” (Daniel 2:22). Role in Wisdom Literature Ecclesiastes 8:1 links interpretation to the transformative power of wisdom: “Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom brightens his face and changes its hard appearance”. Here פְשַׁר serves as the hallmark of true discernment that softens harshness and produces joy. Key Theological Themes • Divine Revelation: Interpretation is God-given, not humanly manufactured (Daniel 2:28). Historical and Later Jewish Usage At Qumran the term “pesher” became the label for inspired commentaries (e.g., Pesher Habakkuk), illustrating how the biblical concept of God-given interpretation shaped Jewish exegesis between the Testaments. The practice underscores continuity with Daniel’s conviction that meaning must come from God. New Testament Resonance Greek terms for “interpret” (hermēneuō, diermēneuō) echo פְשַׁר. Jesus “explained to them what was written about Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27), and the Spirit promises guidance “into all truth” (John 16:13), carrying forward the biblical pattern: revelation leads to Spirit-enabled interpretation. Ministry Applications • Preaching and Teaching: Like Daniel, servants of God lean on divine illumination, not rhetorical prowess, to disclose Scripture’s meaning. Summary פְשַׁר is more than a technical term; it is a theological witness. Every biblical occurrence insists that ultimate meaning originates with God, is granted to the faithful, and carries ethical and eschatological weight. From Daniel’s courts to the reflective wisdom of Ecclesiastes, interpretation is portrayed as a sacred trust that unveils God’s sovereign purposes and invites responsive obedience. Forms and Transliterations וּפְשַׁ֥ר וּפִשְׁרֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ וּפִשְׁרֵ֥הּ וּפִשְׁרֵֽהּ׃ וּפִשְׁרֵא֙ וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א וּפִשְׁרָ֥א וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ ופשר ופשרא ופשרה ופשרה׃ פְּשַֽׁר־ פְשַׁ֥ר פִּשְׁרִ֛ין פִּשְׁרֵ֣א ׀ פִּשְׁרֵֽהּ׃ פִּשְׁרָא֙ פִשְׁרֵ֖הּ פִשְׁרָ֖א פִשְׁרָא֙ פשר פשר־ פשרא פשרה פשרה׃ פשרין feShar fishRa fishReh p̄ə·šar pə·šar- p̄əšar pəšar- peshar piš·rā p̄iš·rā piš·rê piš·rêh p̄iš·rêh piš·rîn pishRa pishRe pishReh pishRin pišrā p̄išrā pišrê pišrêh p̄išrêh pišrîn ū·p̄ə·šar ū·p̄iš·rā ū·p̄iš·rāh ū·p̄iš·rê ū·p̄iš·rêh ufeShar ufishRa ufishRah ufishRe ufishReh ūp̄əšar ūp̄išrā ūp̄išrāh ūp̄išrê ūp̄išrêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:4 HEB: (לְעַבְדָ֖ךְ ק) וּפִשְׁרָ֥א נְחַוֵּֽא׃ NAS: and we will declare the interpretation. KJV: and we will shew the interpretation. INT: the dream servant the interpretation will shew Daniel 2:5 Daniel 2:6 Daniel 2:6 Daniel 2:7 Daniel 2:9 Daniel 2:16 Daniel 2:24 Daniel 2:25 Daniel 2:26 Daniel 2:30 Daniel 2:36 Daniel 2:45 Daniel 4:6 Daniel 4:7 Daniel 4:9 Daniel 4:18 Daniel 4:18 Daniel 4:19 Daniel 4:19 Daniel 4:24 Daniel 5:7 Daniel 5:8 Daniel 5:12 Daniel 5:15 31 Occurrences |
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