נְבִזְבָּה
𐤍𐤁𐤆𐤁𐤄
nᵉbizbâh
H5023 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A gift or reward, usually given as a mark of favor or compensation, particularly in an official or royal context. Used to refer to a grant, bestowal, or present, typically given by an authority figure to an individual for services rendered or as a demonstration of benevolence.
Semantic Range
royal grant, official reward, gift or present given by a king, largess
Root / Etymology
Root: uncertain. The word appears only in late Biblical Aramaic (Daniel 2:6, 4:21, 5:17). Its form suggests a possible relationship to a Semitic root meaning 'to grant' or 'to distribute,' but the precise origin and etymological development are unclear. Its internal structure is not clearly aligned with known Hebrew or Aramaic roots, and no convincing cognates exist in related Northwest Semitic languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נְבִזְבָּה occurs exclusively in Aramaic sections of Daniel and reflects the administrative and courtly language of the late Babylonian and early Persian period. It denotes a material or honorary reward provided by a king for interpreting dreams or delivering royal services. Standard translations as 'reward,' 'gift,' or 'largess' capture the sense but may miss the specific nuance of an official grant in a royal context. The term does not have a direct Hebrew equivalent and is not attested outside the biblical Aramaic corpus. English translations may sometimes use terms such as 'reward' or, less accurately, 'honor,' but the nuance of royal largess, a bestowal from a superior, is primary. Later religious or cultural connotations such as 'charity' or 'prize' are not applicable to the biblical usage. The word reflects the broader ancient Near Eastern tradition of royal grants and compensations but is distinct from terms for wages or payment for ordinary labor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; a largess; reward.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נבזב (uncertain) (n-b-z-b) — to bestow, to grant, to reward
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5023-01 |
וּ/נְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖/ךְ | unevazebeyatakhe | AC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
and your rewards | your royal grants | 1 |
H5023-02 |
וּ/נְבִזְבָּה֙ | unevizebah | AC/Ncfsa |
and rewards | royal grant | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5023-02 |
Daniel 2:6 | וּ/נְבִזְבָּה֙ | unevizebah | AC/Ncfsa |
and rewards | royal grant |
H5023-01 |
Daniel 5:17 | וּ/נְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖/ךְ | unevazebeyatakhe | AC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
and your rewards | your royal grants |