The Aramaic word esar (אֱסָר) denotes a royal decree, edict, or legally binding prohibition. It comes from the root meaning to bind or restrain. Used in the book of Daniel, it refers to the royal decrees of Babylonian and Persian kings that carried the force of law.
The esar — royal decree — stands in sharp contrast to the eternal decrees of God throughout Daniel. When human edicts conflict with divine law, Daniel and his companions choose obedience to God over the king's binding prohibition. This tension reveals a fundamental biblical truth: the decrees of earthly kings are temporary and fallible, while the word of God stands forever. The believer's highest loyalty belongs to the King of kings.