Lexical Summary yesaph: added Original Word: יסַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance add (Aramaic) corresponding to yacaph -- add. see HEBREW yacaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to yasaph Definition to add NASB Translation added (1). Topical Lexicon Core Idea: God Adds and RestoresThe verb in Daniel 4:36 expresses the action of “adding” or “increasing.” Though it occurs only once, the concept is woven throughout Scripture—God Himself is the One who bestows additional honor, influence, and blessing. Human rulers can be stripped of glory in a moment, yet the Lord may choose to restore and even augment what was lost when there is genuine humility before Him. Usage in Daniel 4:36 “...and I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness was added to me.” (Daniel 4:36) Nebuchadnezzar, who had been driven away in judgment, confesses that both his sanity and his expanded greatness came directly from “the King of heaven” (Daniel 4:37). The word signals a divinely initiated increase: what returns to the king exceeds what he originally possessed. The term therefore highlights God’s prerogative not merely to replace what He removes, but to amplify it at His will. Historical Setting Daniel chapter 4 records a royal decree in which Nebuchadnezzar publishes his humbling and restoration. The empire of Babylon is at its zenith; yet its emperor acknowledges that his new “added greatness” results from submission to the Most High. This admission stands in marked contrast to the proud boasts carved on Mesopotamian monuments, underscoring the uniqueness of biblical revelation in Ancient Near Eastern history. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty God alone “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). The added greatness teaches that promotion ultimately comes “from the LORD” (Psalm 75:6-7). 2. Grace After Discipline Discipline is not an end in itself. When chastisement achieves repentance, God delights to restore “the years that the swarming locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). Nebuchadnezzar becomes a living illustration. 3. Humility Precedes Honor “Before honor comes humility” (Proverbs 15:33). The increase arrives only after the king lifts his eyes to heaven and acknowledges divine authority (Daniel 4:34). 4. Witness to the Nations A pagan monarch’s public confession magnifies Israel’s God before the Gentile world—anticipating the global scope of the gospel (Matthew 24:14). Intertextual Echoes • Joseph: “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52). After suffering, increase. Ministry Application 1. Pastoral Counseling When believers face loss due to sin or trial, Daniel 4:36 offers hope: repentance can lead to restoration that surpasses former status. 2. Leadership Training Christian leaders, like Nebuchadnezzar, must hold authority lightly, recognizing that increase is a stewardship granted by God. 3. Mission Strategy Testimonies of transformed lives, especially from unlikely backgrounds, serve as powerful evangelistic tools—just as a Babylonian king’s account reached all his provinces. Christological Perspective Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate paradox of abasement followed by exaltation. Philippians 2:8-9 parallels the pattern: after humbling Himself to death on a cross, He is “highly exalted” and receives “the name above every name.” The lone occurrence of the word in Daniel foreshadows the Messiah’s perfect fulfillment of humbled obedience rewarded with everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:14). Eschatological Outlook In the coming kingdom, the redeemed “will reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12), displaying God’s ability to add honor beyond measure. Nebuchadnezzar’s temporal increase prefigures the eternal, unassailable glory awaiting all who bow to the Son. Summary The solitary use of this verb shines a bright light on a sweeping biblical principle: God not only restores but enlarges. Whether in the life of an ancient emperor, a repentant believer, or the advancing church, the Most High delights to “add” greatness for His own glory. Forms and Transliterations ה֥וּסְפַת הוספת hū·sə·p̄aṯ Husefat hūsəp̄aṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:36 HEB: וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה ה֥וּסְפַת לִֽי׃ NAS: greatness was added to me. KJV: majesty was added unto me. INT: greatness and surpassing was added 1 Occurrence |
    |