Original Word: בְּשַׁר
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: bshar
Pronunciation: baw-sar'
Phonetic Spelling: (bes-ar')
NASB: flesh, living creatures, meat
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H1320 (בָּשָׂר - flesh)]

1. flesh

flesh

(Aramaic) corresponding to basar -- flesh.

see HEBREW basar

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to basar
Definition
flesh
NASB Translation
flesh (1), living creatures (1), meat (1).

בְּשַׂר noun masculine flesh (ᵑ7 בְּסַר, Syriac ; Biblical Hebrew בָּשָׂר, √ בשׂר); — absolute ׳ב Daniel 7:5 flesh (as devoured by beast); emphatic בְּשְׂרָא Daniel 2:11 flesh = mankind, ׳כָּלבֿ Daniel 4:9 #NAME?

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 1321 בְּשַׁר functions in the Aramaic sections of Daniel as the ordinary word for “flesh,” embracing human beings, animals, and, by extension, the totality of earthly life. Though only three times in Scripture, its strategic placement highlights key themes of revelation, provision, and judgment that run through the prophet’s book and the wider biblical canon.

Old Testament Usage

1. Daniel 2:11 – The Chaldeans confess their inability to meet Nebuchadnezzar’s demand, declaring, “the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Here בְּשַׁר marks the sharp divide between the transcendent God and mortal humanity, stressing human limitation in contrast to divine omniscience.
2. Daniel 4:12 – In the vision of the great tree, “every creature was fed” from its abundance. בְּשַׁר depicts the breadth of living beings sustained by Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom—an image of common grace that turns to judgment when the tree is felled.
3. Daniel 7:5 – The second beast is commanded, “Arise, devour much flesh!” The word becomes a symbol of ruthless imperial conquest, forecasting the devastation wrought by successive world powers.

Theological Emphases

• Human limitation versus divine omnipotence (Daniel 2:11).
• God-given provision for all living beings (Daniel 4:12; compare Psalm 145:15-16).
• The corruptibility and violence of earthly empires (Daniel 7:5; cf. Isaiah 40:6-8).
• The transient quality of “all flesh” in contrast to the eternal word of God, preparing the way for later biblical reflections such as 1 Peter 1:24-25.

Historical and Prophetic Setting

The Aramaic chapters of Daniel (2:4b–7:28) speak to Jews in exile and to Gentile rulers alike. By choosing the common imperial language, the Spirit confronts global power structures. בְּשַׁר underscores:
• The frailty of court sages before the God who “reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2).
• The precarious glory of Babylonian dominion, which can nourish or collapse at the divine decree (Daniel 4).
• The coming sequence of Gentile kingdoms that will consume “flesh” until the Son of Man receives everlasting authority (Daniel 7).

Ministry Implications

• Humility: Recognition that human wisdom and power are “flesh” alerts believers to depend upon God alone for revelation and guidance.
• Stewardship: Earthly authority, like the tree of Daniel 4, is meant to serve and sustain life, not exploit it. Leaders in church and society are accountable for how they treat “all flesh.”
• Hope amid oppression: Even when predatory systems “devour much flesh,” God remains sovereign and will judge oppressive regimes. The vision encourages perseverance and faithfulness under trial.

Connections to New Testament Revelation

• John 1:14—“The Word became flesh.” The Incarnation bridges the gulf confessed in Daniel 2:11, as God comes to dwell with those who are “flesh.”
• Romans 8:3—God sent His Son “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” accomplishing what the law could not. The limitations of flesh highlighted in Daniel find their remedy in Christ.
• Revelation 19:18—A final banquet of judgment upon “the flesh of kings” echoes Daniel 7:5, showing prophetic continuity from exile to consummation.

Related Concepts for Further Study

Hebrew בָּשָׂר (flesh) – Genesis 6:12; Psalm 56:4

Greek σάρξ (sarx) – Galatians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3

Themes of divine transcendence, common grace, and eschatological judgment form a unified thread from Daniel’s Aramaic בְּשַׁר to the New Testament’s culmination in the glorified Christ.

בְּשַׂ֥ר בִּשְׂרָ֖א בִּשְׂרָֽא׃ בשר בשרא בשרא׃ bə·śar beSar bəśar biś·rā bisRa biśrāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts