נֶבְרַשְׁתָּא (nev.re.sah)
nev.re.sah
lampstand
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun nebrashtha refers specifically to a lampstand or candlestick. In the Bible, this word appears only once, in Daniel 5:5, during the dramatic scene of Belshazzar’s feast. It describes the sacred vessels brought from the Jerusalem temple that were used for drinking and lighting, marking them as objects of high religious significance.
Lexical sources clarify that this term does not refer to the seven-branched menorah found in the Holy Place. Instead, it likely denotes a simpler stand or candelabrum, perhaps one with fewer branches. This distinction is important because it separates the general category of lighting fixtures from the specific, highly symbolic temple lampstand.
The word’s presence in Daniel highlights the tension between sacred and profane use. When Belshazzar uses these holy vessels for a pagan banquet, the text emphasizes their identity as nebrashtha objects set apart for God. The sudden appearance of writing on the wall serves as a divine judgment on this misuse of consecrated items.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nebrashtha appears only once in Scripture, marking a moment of sudden divine interruption. In Daniel 5:5, it identifies the sacred lampstand present during Belshazzar’s feast. This object was not merely furniture; it represented the holy presence of God brought from Jerusalem. Its use for pagan revelry turned a symbol of worship into an instrument of judgment.
For your faith, this reminds us that objects and traditions hold weight only when they point to God correctly. We are called to honor what is set apart for Him. When we treat sacred things with casual disrespect, we miss the seriousness of our relationship with the Creator. The text invites reflection on how we handle the holy in our own lives.
May you find peace in knowing that God sees the heart behind every action. Whether in quiet prayer or public worship, let your life reflect reverence for His presence. This story ends not just in warning, but in the assurance that God remains sovereign over all human history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- candlestick/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:5
In the same hour, the fingers of a man’s hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
The word identifies the specific sacred lampstand whose presence during the pagan feast triggered the divine writing on the wall.