Lexical Summary shegal: wives Original Word: שֵׁגָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wife (Aramaic) corresponding to shegal; a (legitimate) queen -- wife. see HEBREW shegal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shegal Definition (royal) consort NASB Translation wives (3). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope שֵׁגָל (shegal) designates the royal wife who shares the throne with a reigning monarch. Unlike a harem concubine, the shegal bears official standing, appearing publicly beside the king and sharing in his honors. In Daniel the word is embedded in an Aramaic narrative, yet it preserves the same meaning found elsewhere in Hebrew poetry. Occurrences in Scripture Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:3, Daniel 5:23 record Belshazzar’s profane banquet in which “the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines drank from them” (Daniel 5:3). The plural form indicates that several shegal-status wives were present. Their inclusion in the revelry underscores the depth of irreverence: even those who personified royal dignity joined in desecrating vessels consecrated to the Lord. Historical Background Neo-Babylonian custom normally segregated royal women from male banquets, reserving the public stage for high-ranking men. Herodotus notes that Persian queens dined separately, entering later only for ceremonial greetings. Daniel 5’s scene therefore highlights extraordinary moral and political decline. Bringing the shegalim into a drunken feast marked Belshazzar’s disregard for propriety and foreshadowed the kingdom’s imminent fall. Theological and Symbolic Significance 1. Covenant desecration. Holy vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple symbolized Yahweh’s covenant presence. When the shegalim raised those cups to toast lifeless idols (Daniel 5:23), they joined the king in declaring false gods superior to the Holy One of Israel. Application for Ministry • Leadership responsibility. Those closest to power can either magnify godliness or amplify sin. Counsel to modern leaders must stress vigilance over both personal conduct and household influence (1 Timothy 3:4-5). Related Concepts and Further Study Queen (גְּבִירָה, gebirah) – 1 Kings 15:13 Royal bride imagery – Psalm 45:9; Revelation 19:7 Divine judgment on pride – Proverbs 16:18; Acts 12:21-23 Forms and Transliterations שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְ שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ שגלתה שגלתך šê·ḡə·lā·ṯāḵ šê·ḡə·lā·ṯêh šêḡəlāṯāḵ šêḡəlāṯêh shegelaTach shegelaTehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 5:2 HEB: מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃ NAS: and his nobles, his wives and his concubines KJV: and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, INT: the king and his nobles his wives and his concubines Daniel 5:3 Daniel 5:23 3 Occurrences |
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