Lexical Summary qeshot: Truth, certainty Original Word: קְשׁוֹט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance truth (Aramaic) or qshot (Aramaic) {kesh-ote'}; corresponding to qoshet; fidelity -- truth. see HEBREW qoshet NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to qosht Definition truth NASB Translation surely* (1), true (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קְשֹׁט noun [masculine] truth (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew קשְׁטְ once, Aramaism)); — absolute Daniel 4:34; ׳מִןקֿ Daniel 2:47 of a truth. קַתְרֹס see קיתרס. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope קְשׁוֹט (qĕshōṭ) denotes what is firm, reliable, or objectively true. While the word appears only twice, its meaning is consonant with the broader biblical testimony that God Himself is the standard and source of truth. Old Testament Usage 1. Daniel 2:47 – After Daniel reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the king confesses, “Truly (קְשׁוֹט), your God is God of gods and Lord of kings”. Context in Daniel The book of Daniel records Israel’s exile under Babylonian rule. Both occurrences of קְשׁוֹט are on the lips of Nebuchadnezzar, a Gentile monarch confronted by Yahweh’s supremacy. The term anchors his confessions, underscoring that genuine truth is not cultural or regional but universal, compelling even pagan rulers. Each confession follows a divine revelation—first through a dream interpreted by Daniel, then through personal judgment and restoration. Thus קְשׁוֹט functions as a narrative hinge, highlighting the contrast between Babylonian wisdom and the incontestable reality of God’s sovereignty. Theological Significance Truth in Scripture is never abstract. It is inseparable from God’s character (Psalm 31:5; John 14:6). In Daniel, קְשׁוֹט reveals: Historical Background Babylonian culture prized omens, dream manuals, and a pantheon of gods, yet failed to supply ultimate certainty. When imperial wisdom collapsed, קְשׁוֹט emerged as the term that summarized the superior reliability of Israel’s God. Historically, these confessions likely circulated among exilic Jews as reassurance that empires rise and fall, but covenant truth endures (Isaiah 40:8). Intertextual Echoes Though קְשׁוֹט itself is unique to Daniel, its theological content intersects with other Hebrew terms for truth such as אֱמֶת (’emet) and יָשָׁר (yāshār). Together they build a canonical portrait: God is “abounding in truth” (Exodus 34:6), His Word is “truth” (Psalm 119:160), and messianic rule is established “in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Isaiah 16:5). In the New Testament, ἀλήθεια (alētheia) broadens the motif, culminating in Jesus Christ who embodies truth (John 1:14; John 14:6). Practical Ministry Implications • Apologetics: Daniel’s use of קְשׁוֹט encourages believers to present God’s revelation as objectively true, not merely personally meaningful. Christological and Eschatological Connections The King of heaven whom Nebuchadnezzar extols prefigures the universal reign of Christ. Revelation 19:11 portrays the exalted Messiah as “Faithful and True,” bringing to completion what Daniel foreshadowed: all kingdoms will bow to the One whose judgments are true. Therefore קְשׁוֹט anticipates the eschatological declaration, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). Key Bible References Daniel 2:47; Daniel 4:37; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:5; Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 16:5; John 1:14; John 14:6; Revelation 19:11 Forms and Transliterations קְשֹׁ֔ט קְשֹׁט֙ קשט keShot qə·šōṭ qəšōṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:47 HEB: וְאָמַ֗ר מִן־ קְשֹׁט֙ דִּ֣י אֱלָהֲכ֗וֹן KJV: Of a truth [it is], that INT: and said Of A truth since your God Daniel 4:37 2 Occurrences |