8120. shemash

Lexical Summary

shemash: attending

Original Word: שְׁמַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shmash
Pronunciation: SHEH-mesh
Phonetic Spelling: (shem-ash')
KJV: minister
NASB: attending
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of H8121 (שֶׁמֶשׁ - sun) through the idea of activity implied in day-light]

1. to serve

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

minister

(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of shemesh through the idea of activity implied in day-light; to serve -- minister.

see HEBREW shemesh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to the root of shemesh
Definition
to minister
NASB Translation
attending (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. [שְׁמַשׁ] verb Pa`el minister (ᵑ7

Pa`el id., תַּשְׁמִישׁ use; Palmyrene שמש, תשמיש, SAC¹¹⁴, compare 122 Lzb³⁷⁹; Syriac , ; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic , Pa, Late Hebrew שִׁמֵּשׁ, תַּשְׁמִישׁ; Egyptian šms, servant, Coptic šemše, compare WMM in Buhl¹⁴); — Imperfect3masculine plural suffix יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּתּ Daniel 7:10 were ministering to him.

Topical Lexicon

Root and Semantic Range

The form שְׁמַשׁ (shĕmash) is a participial derivative from the verbal root שָׁמַשׁ, “to serve, minister, attend.” While the root is common in Classical Hebrew, the participle שְׁמַשׁ occurs only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 7:10. The broader root family conveys personal service rendered to a superior—often a king, priest, or deity—and includes senses of liturgical, priestly, or cultic ministry.

Context in Daniel 7:10

Daniel 7:10: “A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands served Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.”

The participle “served” (שְׁמַשִׁין, plural participle) depicts untold multitudes engaged in continuous ministry before the Ancient of Days. Within the apocalyptic vision, the scene underscores three truths:

1. Divine Majesty: The service is directed toward the sovereign Judge enthroned in glory, highlighting His unrivaled supremacy.
2. Angelic Order: The ministers are heavenly beings, evidencing an organized angelic host whose very identity is bound to service.
3. Judicial Setting: Their ministry surrounds the convening of the heavenly court, indicating that worship and service accompany divine judgment.

Angelology and Ministry

While Daniel 7:10 is the sole occurrence of the form, the concept permeates Scripture. Other passages describe similar angelic ministry:

• Psalm 103:20–21: “Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength, who carry out His word… Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.”
• Revelation 5:11: “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels… and their number was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands.”

Together these verses affirm that angelic identity is inseparable from devoted service, an unceasing engagement in the worship, administration, and purposes of God.

Historical and Rabbinic Reflection

In post-biblical Judaism the noun שַׁמָּשׁ came to denote a synagogue attendant or caretaker, reflecting continuity of the servant theme. This functional role mirrored the heavenly prototype: facilitating worship, maintaining order, and enabling the assembly to focus on the presence of God.

Theology of Worship and Service

1. Worship as Service: Biblical worship entails active ministry, not passive observation (Exodus 24:13; Romans 12:1).
2. Holiness of God’s Presence: The river of fire and innumerable ministers remind believers that access to God is both gracious and awe-inspiring (Hebrews 12:22–24).
3. Divine Administration: God’s governance employs ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). Their perfect obedience models the believer’s calling to wholehearted service (Matthew 6:10).

New Testament Resonance

Though Greek terms are employed, the underlying idea links directly to שָׁמַשׁ:

• Luke 1:74: believers “serve Him without fear.”
• Hebrews 9:14: the blood of Christ cleanses to “serve the living God.”
• 1 Peter 4:10–11: spiritual gifts are to be used “as faithful stewards, serving one another.”

The continuity underscores a redemptive pattern: angelic, Israelite, and ecclesial communities are defined by their ministry to God.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Vocation of Service: Every believer is called to reflect the heavenly pattern of diligent, orderly service.
• Corporate Worship: Liturgical roles—musicians, ushers, teachers—mirror the angelic ministers before the throne.
• Eschatological Hope: The vision of Daniel 7 assures the church that her present service anticipates eternal participation in God’s unending kingdom (Revelation 22:3).

Related Terms and Themes

• עָבַד (abad) – “to work, serve,” often used for covenantal service (Exodus 3:12).
• לָטַר (latreuo, Greek) – “to minister, serve God,” prominent in New Testament worship vocabulary (Acts 24:14).
• Διάκονος (diakonos, Greek) – “servant,” source of the English word “deacon,” institutionalizing service within church order (1 Timothy 3:8–13).

Summary of Significance

Shĕmash, though appearing once, encapsulates the essence of ministerial devotion that spans heaven and earth. In Daniel 7 the term lifts the reader’s gaze to the throne room, where ceaseless, ordered service exalts the Ancient of Days. That heavenly paradigm shapes Israel’s priesthood, Christ’s redeeming work, and the church’s calling. Thus the solitary occurrence powerfully affirms that true greatness in God’s kingdom is measured not by status but by unending, reverent service.

Forms and Transliterations

יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ ישמשונה yə·šam·mə·šūn·nêh yəšamməšūnnêh yeshammeshunNeh

Englishman's Concordance

Daniel 7:10
HEB: (אַלְפִין֙ ק) יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ וְרִבּ֥וֹ [רַבְּוָן
NAS: upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads
KJV: thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand
INT: Thousands Thousands were attending and myriads and myriads

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8120
1 Occurrence

yə·šam·mə·šūn·nêh — 1 Occ.