Melzar

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Melzar A proper name (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ), or official title (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘steward’) in   Daniel 1:11;   Daniel 1:16 , in both cases with the article. It is generally agreed that the word is a loan-word from the Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] massaru , ‘guardian,’ and stands for one who was teacher and warden of the royal wards. Cheyne, however, is led by the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] to conclude for Belshazzar as the true reading, and to read in   Daniel 1:11 : ‘And Daniel said to Belshazzar, prince of the eunuchs,’ etc.

W. F. Cobb.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

An official title, for the precedes Melzar in the Hebrew "The steward" or" tutor," superintending the nurture and education of the young, subordinate to "the master of the eunuchs" ( Daniel 1:11;  Daniel 1:16); from Persian Mal Cara , "head cupbearer," or Nazar to guard.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Melzar. (Steward). The Authorized Version is wrong in regarding melzar as a proper name; it is rather an official title,  Daniel 1:11;  Daniel 1:16, the marginal reading, "the steward," is, therefore, more correct.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The government of the person of Daniel and his companions when captives in Babylon, ( Daniel 1:16) The word Melzar is of the Chaldean language, and signifies steward.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

One under whom Danieland his companions were placed in Babylon. Daniel 1:11-16 . The Hebrew has the article, and it is supposed to be a title, as 'the steward,' rather than a proper name.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The name or the official title of a butler or steward at the court of Nebuchadnezzar,  Daniel 1:11-16 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Daniel 1:11 1:16

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Daniel 1:11,16

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrews meltsar', מֶלְצִר , prob. from the Pers. Master Of Wine , i.e. chief butler; so Bohlen, Symbol . p. 22; others, Treasurer ), the title rather than the name of an officer in the Babylonian court (as in the margin, "steward," but Sept. Ἀμερσάρ , on account of the Hebrews art., Vulg. Malasar ), being that of the person who had charge of the diet of the Hebrew youths in training for promotion as magi ( Daniel 1:11;  Daniel 1:16; comp. Lengerke, Stuart, Comment . ad loc.). "The Melzar was subordinate to the ‘ master of the eunuchs;' his office was to superintend the nurture and education of the young; he thus combined the duties of the Greek Παιδαγωγός and Τροφεύς , and more nearly resembles our ‘ tutor' than any other officer. As to the origin of the term, there is some doubt; it is generally regarded as of Persian origin, the words Mal Cara giving the sense of ‘ head cup-bearer;' Furst ( Lex . s.v.) suggests its connection with the Hebrew Nazar , ‘ to guard."'

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mel´zar ( המּלצר , ha - melcar  ; Septuagint Ἀβιεσδρί , Abiesdrı́ , Theod. Ἁμελσάδ , Hamelsád ): Possibly a transliteration of the Babylonian Ameluucur, the officer to whom was entrusted the bringing-up of Daniel and his three companions (  Daniel 1:11 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "the steward," margin "Hebrew: Hammelzar"). It has been suggested that the name is not the name of a person, but denotes the office of guardian, like the Babylonian maṣṣaru . In this case the l would come by dissimulation from the first of the two ṣ sounds, which on its side has come from an assimilated n , the root being naṣaru , "to protect" "to guard."