H0148 H0148
counselors, astrologers (Persian/Babylonian loanword)
A category of officials in the Babylonian administration, appearing only in Daniel 3:2-3. When Nebuchadnezzar summoned all his officials to the dedication of the golden image, the list includes 'adragzaraya'—probably astrologers or counselors skilled in interpreting signs. This Aramaic term is a Persian loanword, reflecting the multilingual bureaucracy of the Neo-Babylonian empire. These specialists joined satraps, prefects, governors, and other officials at the royal ceremony that tested Jewish faithfulness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Appearing exclusively in Daniel's account of the image dedication, this term designates a specific class of imperial officials. Scholars connect it to Old Persian administrative titles, possibly referring to judicial counselors or astrological experts. The Septuagint translates with 'astrologers,' suggesting divination functions. Daniel's lists of officials emphasize the empire's elaborate hierarchy—satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all provincial officials. The 'adragzaraya' fit somewhere in this network of power, specialists whose expertise served the king's agenda. 2×
AR["الْقُضَاةَ", "الْقُضَاةُ"]·ben["মন্ত্রীদের", "মন্ত্রীরা"]·DE["[אדרגזריא]"]·EN["the-counselors"]·FR["astrologue"]·heb["אדרגזרים"]·HI["मंत्रियों", "मंत्री"]·ID["para-penasehat"]·IT["[אדרגזריא]"]·jav["para-penasihat"]·KO["고문들과"]·PT["conselheiros"]·RU["советники", "советников"]·ES["los-consejeros"]·SW["washauri"]·TR["danışmanlar", "danışmanları"]·urd["مشیر", "مشیروں-کو"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַדְרַזְדָּא adv. correctly, exactly (according to HaugJBW 1853, 152 f. Scheft 68 f. from Zend derez, make firm, whence Skr. ptcp. pass. dṛḍha, firm, sure, suitable, Zend dereśta, holding firm, Pers. durust, whole, complete, correct; > NöKAT2 617 from אַזְדָּא, q.v.);—Ezr 7:23 יִתְעֲבֵד א׳.