Lexical Summary shezab or shezib: Deliver, rescue Original Word: שְׁזַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deliver (Aramaic) corresponding to azab; to leave, i.e. (causatively) free -- deliver. see HEBREW azab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to azab Definition to deliver NASB Translation deliver (5), delivered (2), delivering (1), delivers (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֵׁיזִב verb deliver (probably Shaph`el as loan-word from Assyrian šûzub(u), ušêib, deliver, √ ezêbu (א4 = עזב), DlPr 140 HptGGN 1583, 91; BAS i.13 K§ 43, l, Anm.; ᵑ7 שֵׁיזֵב, Syriac Topical Lexicon Linguistic and Canonical Setting The verb under study appears only in the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:4 b–7:28). Although Aramaic served as the diplomatic and commercial language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, the word’s meaning—“to deliver” or “to rescue”—carries unmistakably Hebrew theological overtones. Its deliberate use in narratives addressed to Gentile monarchs places Yahweh’s saving power on an international stage, revealing that the God of Israel is not bound by geography or political borders. Occurrences in Daniel 1. Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3) The distribution—three references in chapter 3 and six in chapter 6—links the term to two pivotal deliverance accounts that form literary pillars in the Aramaic section, bracketing visions that speak of God’s ultimate dominion. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty: Both narratives stress that God’s power to rescue exceeds the might of kings, furnaces, and lions. Deliverance is not contingent on human manipulation but rests on divine prerogative. Implications for Faith and Practice • Courage under Persecution: The term invites believers to stand firm when obedience collides with cultural demands, confident that deliverance—whether temporal or eternal—is in God’s hands. Christological and Eschatological Motifs The angelic or “fourth man” presence in the furnace prefigures the incarnate Son who “will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Daniel’s sealed den anticipates the sealed tomb, and his emergence foreshadows resurrection victory. Ultimately, the verb points beyond episodic rescues to the final deliverance promised in Daniel 12:1 and fulfilled in Revelation 21:4. Worship and Devotional Uses Hymns and prayers draw on these texts to celebrate God as Deliverer. Personal meditation on Daniel 3 and 6 nurtures trust, especially for believers facing hostility, illness, or systemic injustice. Summary Every use of this Aramaic verb in Daniel showcases God’s unrivaled ability to rescue His faithful servants, demonstrates His ongoing covenant loyalty during exile, and heralds His sovereignty to the nations. These deliverances anticipate the ultimate salvation accomplished in Jesus Christ and challenge believers in every age to steadfast faith, bold witness, and confident hope. Forms and Transliterations וְשֵׁיזִ֣ב ושיזב יְשֵֽׁיזְבִנְכ֖וֹן יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּֽךְ׃ יְשֵׁיזִֽב׃ ישיזב׃ ישיזבנך׃ ישיזבנכון לְשֵׁיזָבוּתֵ֑הּ לְשֵׁיזָבוּתַ֑נָא לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָ֖ךְ לשיזבותה לשיזבותך לשיזבותנא מְשֵׁיזִ֣ב משיזב שֵׁיזִ֣יב שיזיב lə·šê·zā·ḇū·ṯa·nā lə·šê·zā·ḇū·ṯāḵ lə·šê·zā·ḇū·ṯêh ləšêzāḇūṯāḵ ləšêzāḇūṯanā ləšêzāḇūṯêh lesheizavuTach lesheizavuTana lesheizavuTeh mə·šê·ziḇ məšêziḇ mesheiZiv šê·zîḇ šêzîḇ sheiZiv vesheiZiv wə·šê·ziḇ wəšêziḇ yə·šê·zə·ḇin·ḵō·wn yə·šê·zə·ḇin·nāḵ yə·šê·ziḇ yəšêzəḇinḵōwn yəšêzəḇinnāḵ yəšêziḇ yesheizevinChon yesheizevinNach yesheiZivLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:15 HEB: אֱלָ֔הּ דֵּ֥י יְשֵֽׁיזְבִנְכ֖וֹן מִן־ יְדָֽי׃ NAS: is there who can deliver you out of my hands? KJV: [is] that God that shall deliver you out of INT: god who deliver of hand Daniel 3:17 Daniel 3:17 Daniel 3:28 Daniel 6:14 Daniel 6:16 Daniel 6:20 Daniel 6:27 Daniel 6:27 9 Occurrences |