H0826 H0826
Conjurer or enchanter, an Aramaic term for Babylonian court diviners in the book of Daniel.
An Aramaic noun designating a class of Babylonian court magicians who practiced divination, incantation, or astrology. Found exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel, the word appears in lists of professional wise men summoned by the king to interpret dreams and signs (Dan 2:10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15). It is likely a Babylonian loanword. Spanish interestingly renders it both as 'astrologos' (astrologers) and 'encantadores' (enchanters), reflecting the uncertainty about exactly which divinatory specialty the term covers. English consistently uses 'enchanters,' while the untranslated Hebrew in French and German editions suggests the term's technical obscurity.
Senses
1. enchanter, astrologer, conjurer — A practitioner of divination or magical arts at the Babylonian royal court, used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Daniel. The term appears alongside other professional categories -- magicians, Chaldeans, soothsayers -- when Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar summon their wise men for dream interpretation or sign-reading (Dan 2:10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15). Probably a Babylonian loanword (cf. Akkadian ashipu, 'exorcist'), the term's precise specialty remains debated, as reflected in the Spanish rendering split between 'astrologos' and 'encantadores.' 6×
AR["الـ-مُنَجِّمُونَ", "الْعَرَّافُونَ", "الْعَرَّافِينَ", "وَ-مُنَجِّمٍ"]·ben["-জ্যোতিষীদের", "এবং-জ্যোতিষী", "জ্যোতিষীদের", "জ্যোতিষীরা"]·DE["[אשפיא]", "[אשפין]", "[ואשף]", "[לאשפיא]"]·EN["and-enchanter", "enchanters", "the-enchanters"]·FR["[אשפיא]", "[אשפין]", "[ואשף]", "[לאשפיא]"]·heb["אשפים", "ו-אשף", "ל-אשפים"]·HI["और-टोन्हा", "को-तांत्रिकों", "टोन्हे", "तांत्रिक", "तांत्रिकों"]·ID["ahli-ahli-jampi", "ahli-sihir", "dan-ahli-sihir", "para-ahli-jampi"]·IT["[אשפיא]", "[אשפין]", "[ואשף]", "[לאשפיא]"]·jav["*-para-ahli-nujum", "lan-ahli-tenung", "para-ahli-nujum", "para-ahli-tenung", "para-juru-sihir"]·KO["그리고-점쟁이에게도", "점술사들", "점술사들-을", "점술사들-의", "점술사들-이", "점쟁이들이"]·PT["encantadores", "os-encantadores", "ou-encantador"]·RU["заклинателей", "заклинатели", "и-заклинателя"]·ES["a-los-astrólogos", "astrólogos", "encantadores", "los-astrólogos", "y-encantador"]·SW["na-msihiri", "wachawi", "wasihiri"]·TR["sihirbazlar", "sihirbazların", "ve-sihirbazdan"]·urd["اور-نجومی", "فالگیر", "فالگیروں", "فالگیروں-کو", "نجومی"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אָשַׁף (K § 58 a) n.m. conjurer, enchanter (prob. Bab. loan-word; so BH אַשָּׁף);—abs. א׳ Dn 2:10; pl. abs. אָֽשְׁפִין v 27; 5:11, emph. אָֽשְׁפַיָּא 4:4; 5:7, 15.