רְשַׁם (re.sham)
re.sham
to sign
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb resham means to inscribe or sign, specifically in the context of marking a document with one’s name or seal. It appears only twice in the Bible, both times within the book of Daniel, where it describes the act of officially recording or authenticating a decree.
In Daniel 6:17, the king seals the lions’ den with his own signet ring, ensuring no one could tamper with the stone covering. Later, in Daniel 7:1, the text notes that the dreams and visions were written down and recorded, using this term to emphasize their fixed, official status. The word carries a sense of permanence and authority, linking the act of writing directly to personal responsibility and legal finality.
This usage highlights how ancient Near Eastern administration relied on physical markers like seals to validate records. By connecting the written word to the signer’s identity, resham underscores the seriousness of what is committed to paper or stone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word resham describes the act of signing or sealing a document to give it final authority. In Daniel 5:24-25, we see this power in action when a mysterious hand writes on the wall. The writing itself was not just ink; it was an official decree that could not be ignored or changed. This shows us that God’s words carry weight and permanence.
When we read Scripture, we are reading what God has sealed with His truth. Unlike human promises that might fade or change, the Lord’s word stands firm. We can trust that what He says is reliable. His commitments to us are not casual notes but signed contracts of love and grace.
This certainty brings peace to our hearts. We do not need to worry about whether God will keep His promises. The One who speaks is faithful, and His word remains forever true for those who believe.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it was inscribed2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רְשִֽׁים\׃1×
- רְשִׁ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:24
Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
This verse shows the physical act of inscribing a divine message that carries immediate judgment.
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Daniel 5:25
“This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’
Here the written words are identified as an official decree, emphasizing their unchangeable nature.