בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.te.shats.tsar)
be.le.te.shats.tsar
Belteshazzar
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Beltshazzar is a Babylonian title given to the prophet Daniel when he was taken into exile in Jerusalem’s first deportation. The sources identify it as meaning "lord of the straitened's treasure," reflecting the cultural practice of assigning new names to captives to signify their new status and allegiance within the empire.
This name appears exclusively in the book of Daniel, where it serves as a marker of his high office. It is used when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges Daniel’s divine gift for interpreting dreams (Daniel 2:26) and later refers to him as a man "in whom is the spirit of the holy gods" (Daniel 4:8). The name persists into the reign of Belshazzar, highlighting Daniel’s enduring presence through the transition from Babylonian to Persian rule.
Notably, the prophet Ezekiel, writing around the same time, refers to him by his original Hebrew name, Daniel, praising him as a figure of righteousness alongside Noah and Job (Ezekiel 14:14). This dual naming illustrates the tension between his public identity in Babylon and his spiritual heritage among his people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Daniel arrived in Babylon, he received the name Belteshazzar. This new title marked his place within the empire, yet it never replaced his true identity before God. It serves as a reminder that while our surroundings may change or impose new labels on us, our core self remains rooted in who we are in Christ.
We often face pressures to conform to the expectations of those around us. Daniel’s life shows that we can hold our public responsibilities with integrity while keeping our spiritual heritage alive. Like him, we are called to be faithful witnesses regardless of where life takes us or what titles we might carry.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Belteshazzar2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר1×
- בֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 1:7
The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
This verse records the moment Daniel received his Babylonian name, marking the start of his exile and new identity.
-
Daniel 10:1
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the message was true, even a great warfare. He understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.
Decades later, this name is still used when Daniel receives a final vision, showing his enduring role as God's prophet.