שְׁמַשׁ (she.mash)
she.mash
to minister
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb shemash means to serve or minister, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Daniel 7:10. In this vision of the heavenly court, it describes the countless attendants standing ready before the Ancient of Days. The term captures the act of service performed by those in attendance, highlighting the orderly and respectful nature of divine worship.
Lexical sources identify this word as the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew shamas (H8532), which also means to minister. While some older dictionaries suggest a distant connection to shemesh ("sun"), most modern scholars treat it simply as the standard Aramaic term for service, distinct from its Hebrew counterpart in usage but identical in core meaning. It emphasizes the functional role of the servants in the celestial hierarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shemash appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Daniel’s vision of the heavenly court. It describes the countless attendants who minister before the Ancient of Days. This single usage paints a picture of orderly, respectful service in the presence of God. It reminds us that worship involves more than words; it includes the posture of our hearts and the readiness to serve.
For your daily life, this word offers a quiet encouragement. You are part of a larger story where service is honored. Whether you are helping a neighbor or working in your job, your acts of kindness reflect the same spirit seen in that heavenly vision. God sees the faithful service offered in secret, and He values it deeply.
Let this truth comfort you when your efforts feel unnoticed. The Bible shows us that true ministry is not about fame but about faithfulness before God. You can trust that your small acts of love are woven into His grand plan, just as the thousands in Daniel’s vision stood ready to serve.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were ministering to/ him1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔/הּ1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 7:10
A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.
This verse uses shemash to describe the countless attendants serving the Ancient of Days, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of heavenly worship.