לְחֵם (le.chem)
le.chem
feast
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun lechem appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Daniel 5:1. In this specific context, it translates to "feast" or a lavish banquet. The verse describes King Belshazzar’s great celebration, where he and his nobles drank wine while praising their idols.
This word is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew lechem (H3899), which typically means "bread" or "food." While the Hebrew term usually refers to sustenance in general, the Aramaic usage here shifts focus to the event itself. It captures the atmosphere of a royal feast rather than just the physical meal.
Its single occurrence highlights the contrast between the king’s indulgent party and the sudden arrival of the divine writing on the wall. The word anchors the scene in a moment of earthly excess, making the subsequent judgment more striking. Translators consistently render it as "feast" to reflect this specific narrative weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for feast in this passage points to a moment of intense human celebration that stands in stark contrast to divine reality. In Daniel 5:1, King Belshazzar hosts a lavish banquet with a thousand nobles, drinking wine and praising idols. This scene captures the height of earthly pride and excess, where luxury becomes a stage for defiance rather than gratitude.
For your faith, this word reminds us that celebrations can become hollow when they exclude God. The sudden appearance of the writing on the wall interrupts the party, showing that no amount of wealth or wine can shield us from divine judgment. It invites us to examine our own gatherings and motives, ensuring they honor rather than ignore the Creator.
Ultimately, this single occurrence highlights the fleeting nature of worldly pleasure compared to eternal truth. While the feast ends in disaster, God’s word remains steady and just. We are encouraged to find our true satisfaction not in temporary indulgence but in the lasting presence of God, who sees all hearts and acts with perfect justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a feast1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְחֶ֣ם1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:1
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
This verse uses the word to describe Belshazzar's arrogant banquet, setting the stage for the divine judgment that follows.