Lexical Summary
hadar: majesty
Original Word:הֲדַר
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:hadar
Pronunciation:hah-DAHR
Phonetic Spelling:(had-ar')
KJV: honour, majesty
NASB:majesty
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) fromH192 (אֱוִיל מְרוֹדַך - Evil-merodach)2]
1. magnificence
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
honor, majesty
(Aramaic) fromhadar; magnificence -- honour, majesty.
see HEBREWhadar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) from
hadarDefinitionan honor, majesty
NASB Translationmajesty (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] , of king; — emphatic
Daniel 5:18; suffix
Daniel 4:27;
Daniel 4:33 (where Behrm plausibly (after Theod.) [
return]).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and ScopeHadar denotes visible magnificence, royal dignity, and the public display of honor. It appears in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament and captures the splendor that surrounds a throne, a kingdom, or any person to whom God has delegated authority. The term speaks of glory that can be seen and recognized, not merely acknowledged internally.
Canonical Occurrences
1.Daniel 4:30 – Nebuchadnezzar boasts, “Is this not Babylon I have built as the royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”.
2.Daniel 4:36 – After his judgment and restoration, the king testifies, “my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.”
3.Daniel 5:18 – Daniel reminds Belshazzar that “the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.”
Historical Setting
The Babylonian court was famed for its pomp, imposing architecture, and ceremonial grandeur. Hadar perfectly suits this milieu, where imperial propaganda equated earthly magnificence with divine favor. Yet the Book of Daniel frames that splendor within God’s higher sovereignty, clarifying that every vestige of royal glory is derivative and revocable.
Theological Significance
1. Derived, Not Innate – In each occurrence, splendour is shown to come from God. When Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself, he loses everything; when he acknowledges the Most High, hadar returns (Daniel 4:36).
2. Divine Sovereignty – The narrative demonstrates that God alone bestows honor (Daniel 5:18). Human rulers, however formidable, hold majesty on loan.
3. Judgment and Mercy – Hadar can be withdrawn as an act of judgment and restored as an act of mercy, underscoring both God’s justice and grace.
Christological Foreshadowing
Earthly rulers display temporary hadar; Christ embodies perfect and everlasting majesty. The glory that filled Solomon’s Temple and Babylon’s halls foreshadows the superior splendor of the risen Lord (Revelation 1:12–16;Hebrews 1:3). The contrast between borrowed Babylonian majesty and Christ’s intrinsic glory highlights His unique kingship.
Pastoral Implications
• Leadership – Any authority exercised in church, state, or family is a stewardship. Pride turns delegated honor into an idol; humility keeps it an offering to God.
• Identity – Believers find their dignity in union with Christ, not in titles or achievements. This guards against both arrogance and despair.
• Worship – Recognizing God as the giver of all splendor fuels heartfelt praise and thanksgiving.
Practical Ministry Applications
1. Preaching – Daniel’s use of hadar offers a vivid illustration when exhorting rulers, employers, or parents about servant leadership.
2. Counseling – When counseling those crushed by lost status or success, point to Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration to show that dignity can be recovered when one submits to God.
3. Discipleship – Encourage believers to pursue excellence (Colossians 3:23) without making personal “splendor” an idol.
Related Biblical Themes and Cross-References
• Hebrew hod (splendor):Proverbs 20:29;Isaiah 35:2
• Divine bestowal of glory:Psalm 8:5;John 17:22
• God’s removal of honor:1 Samuel 15:28;Acts 12:21–23
• Christ’s superior majesty:Philippians 2:9–11;2 Peter 1:16–17
Summary
Hadar in Daniel magnifies the truth that all human grandeur is granted by God, accountable to God, and ultimately meant to reflect God. Properly understood, it draws worshipers away from the fleeting glitter of worldly kingdoms to the everlasting splendor of the King of kings.
Forms and Transliterations
הַדְרִ֤י הַדְרִֽי׃ הדרי הדרי׃ וְהַדְרָ֔ה והדרה haḏ·rî hadRi haḏrî vehadRah wə·haḏ·rāh wəhaḏrāh
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