Daniel 2:16 — Word Study
WLCוְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל עַ֖ל וּבְעָ֣ה מִן־ מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֚י זְמָ֣ן יִנְתֵּן־ לֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ פ
BSA◂So DanielDânîyêʼl [the prophet, God's judge] went inʻălal and askedbᵉʻâʼ■ [sought, requested] the kingmelek [ruler, monarch] to givenᵉthan ◂some timezᵉmân [a set season, scheduled event] so that he could givechăvâʼ [show, explain] [him]melek the interpretationpᵉshar [meaning, explanation]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל | and Daniel | Conjunction, noun proper masculine |
| עַ֖ל | he went in | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וּבְעָ֣ה | and he asked | Conjunction, verb qal perfect third person masculine singular |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| מַלְכָּ֑א | king the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| דִּ֚י | that | Conjunction |
| זְמָ֣ן | time | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| יִנְתֵּן־ | he will give | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לֵ֔הּ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| וּפִשְׁרָ֖א | and interpretation the | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
| לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה | to declare | Preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common |
| לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ פ | to king the | Preposition, noun common both singular determined, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation. |
| KJV | Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. |
| ASV | And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. |
| YLT | and Daniel hath gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to shew the interpretation to the king. |
| WEB | Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. |
| BBE | And Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king. |
Translations agree on Daniel's request for time, emphasizing his proactive approach in seeking the interpretation of the king's dream.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses that clarify Daniel's request and intention.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectדָּנִיֵּאל
verbעֲלַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 2:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Daniel's Request for Timegenerated
Daniel 2:16 describes a critical moment when Daniel, faced with a royal decree that threatens his life and the lives of other wise men, seeks an audience with King Nebuchadnezzar. He requests time to provide the interpretation of the king's dream, demonstrating his faith and reliance on God for wisdom. This passage highlights the tension and urgency of the situation, as Daniel must act quickly to avert disaster.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 2:9–11 | If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.” |
| 2 | Daniel 1:18–19 | Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — דָּנִיֵּאל, ve.Da.ni.Yelgenerated
The name דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniye'l) means 'God is my judge,' reflecting Daniel's identity as a prophet who interprets divine messages. The parsing indicates that it is a masculine proper noun, emphasizing his role as a key figure in the narrative.
Daniel is significant not only for his prophetic insights but also for his steadfast faith during the Babylonian exile. His name encapsulates his mission and relationship with God, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment and guidance throughout the book.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase asked the king to give him some time.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is עַ֖ל, he went in, which governs the entire clause. It is followed by a conjunction and two additional clauses that detail what Daniel asked for and the purpose of his request.
The structure indicates a clear sequence of action: Daniel enters, makes a request, and states his intention to provide an interpretation, highlighting the urgency and significance of his actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עַ֖ל as εἰσῆλθε, meaning 'he entered,' which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning of coming into a place. This choice emphasizes the act of entering the king's presence as a critical step in Daniel's request.
The Greek word for פְּשַׁר is not provided in the data, but it would typically relate to the interpretation of dreams, maintaining the focus on Daniel's role as an interpreter.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 2:16 shows Daniel entering the king's presence to ask for time to interpret a troubling dream. This moment is crucial as it reflects Daniel's faith and his role as a prophet during a time of crisis.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Daniel needed time to seek God's revelation for the interpretation of the king's dream, which was causing distress.
Daniel's request shows his courage and reliance on God, as he seeks to provide a solution in a dire situation.
Interpreting the dream was crucial for Daniel and the wise men, as failure to do so could result in their execution.
This passage highlights themes of divine wisdom, faith under pressure, and God's sovereignty over earthly rulers.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does Daniel's approach to the king teach us about seeking help in difficult situations?
- How can we apply Daniel's reliance on God for wisdom in our own lives?
- In what ways can we be proactive like Daniel when faced with challenges?
- What does this passage reveal about the importance of prayer and seeking understanding?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this passage, noting Daniel's request for time to disclose the interpretation of the king's dream.
Verses 16, 17. "Therefore when Arioch had explained the matter to Daniel, Daniel entered in and asked the king to grant him some time for the disclosure of the solution to the king.Early Church Fathers on Daniel 2 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 2:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen Daniel went in,.... Or "went up" (n); to the king's palace, which might be built on an eminence; or into his chamber, where he probably was; or in some upper room, very likely introduced by
Read John Gill on Daniel 2 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 2 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThere are four things here very strange and wonderful. 1. That Arioch, instead of executing the king’ s decree speedily, should make this stop. 2. That he should dare to see the king’ s face when he was so wroth, instead of doing what his commission tied him to. 3. That Daniel should have the boldness to go in to the king when he was in his fury. 4. That he should desire time and obtain it of the king, who had denied the same thing to the wise men. To which we answer, The signal hand of God was in all this. 2. In particular, Daniel was in great esteem with the king above all the wise men, ,20 3. 3. He gave both Arioch and the king hopes he would show and interpret the king’ s dream.
Read Matthew Poole on Daniel 2 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Ver. 16. Then Daniel … desired the king to give him time.] Not to study or deliberate, but to pray with fervency and perseverance, which is the best help to find out secrets. And that he would show the king the interpretation.] Beatus, ait Plato, qui etiam in senectute veritatem consequitur, He is happy who findeth out the truth, though it be long first, saith Plato.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 2 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Daniel went in.—Two characteristics of the prophet strike us, which distinguish the one who trusts in God’s help from those who relied entirely upon their secular wisdom. (1) The courage of Daniel, which led him to venture into the king’s presence upon a humane errand. (2) His humility, in asking the king to give him time. The wise men regarded the whole matter as an impossibility, and treated it as such, not even asking for any extension of time. But the faith of Daniel inspired him with this courageous humility, and was amply rewarded. We are not told in so many words that this extension of time was granted, or that Daniel undertook to show more than the interpretation of the dream.…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 2 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. That he would give him time] That is, that he might seek unto God for a revelation of the thing. The Chaldeans dared not even to promise this; they would only pledge themselves for the interpretation, provided the king would furnish the dream. Daniel engages both to find the lost dream, and to give the proper interpretation.
Read AdamClarke on Daniel 2 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. give him time] or (R.V.) appoint him a time. and that he would shew] that he might (R.V. marg.) declare. Daniel only asked for time; and such a request would be the more readily granted, as Nebuchadnezzar had already (Daniel 1:20) been favourably impressed by his superior skill.
Read Cambridge on Daniel 2 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen Daniel went in ... - Either by himself, or through the medium of some friend.
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 2 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king.
Tyndale line
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would shew the king the interpretation.
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
So Daniel went and desired the king that he woulde giue him leasure and that he woulde shewe the king the interpretation thereof.
Strictly literal
And Daniel went in, and requested of the king that he would give him time, that he might shew the king the interpretation.
and Daniel hath gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to shew the interpretation to the king.
and Daniel has gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to show the interpretation to the king.
But Daniel went in, and requested of the king that he would give him time, that he might tell the interpretation to the king.
Then Daniel went in and requested an appointment with the king so that he could present the interpretation to the king.
From the Latin
Daniel went in and desired of the king, that he would give him time to resolve the question and declare it to the king.
Simplified
Daniel immediately went to see the king and asked for more time to explain the dream and its meaning to him.
And Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in this verse, with eight out of twelve words matching. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the essential elements of Daniel's request remain consistent across both texts.
וְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל עַ֖ל וּבְעָ֣ה מִן־ מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֚י זְמָ֣ן יִנְתֵּן־ לֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ פ
8 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 2:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniye'l) refers to the biblical figure Daniel, a prophet known for his interpretations of dreams during the Babylonian exile. His name means 'God is my judge.' Daniel is recognized as the fourth of the major prophets and is also called Belteshazzar. He is first mentioned in Ezra 8:2 and noted for his holiness, as acknowledged by Ezekiel.
דָּנִיֵּאל n.pr.m. Daniel (BH id.)
base
H1841 דָּנִיֵּאל
1841 Daniye'l daw-nee-yale'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 1840; Danijel, the Heb.
prophet:--Daniel.
see HEBREW for 01840
דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2
§ Daniel = "God is my judge"
1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel
1a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H01095 or H01096)
דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.
A prophet living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1;
Adj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculineAC/Npm
dan'-yel (daniye'l, dani'-el, "God is my judge"; Daniel):
(1) One of the sons of David (1Ch 3:1).
(2) A Levite of the family of Ithamar (Ezr 8:2; Ne 10:6).
(3) A prophet of the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, the hero and author of the Book of Daniel.
1. Early Life:
We know nothing of the early life of Daniel, except what is recorded in the book bearing his name. Here it is said that he was one of the youths of royal or noble seed, who were carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. These youths were without blemish, well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace. The king commanded to teach them the…
Daniel
God is my judge, or judge of God. (1.) David’s second son, “born unto him in Hebron, of Abigail the Carmelitess” (1 Chr. 3:1). He is called also Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3).
(2.) One of the four great prophets, although he is not once spoken of in the Old Testament as a prophet. His life and prophecies are recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was descended from one of the noble families of Judah (Dan. 1:3), and was probably born in Jerusalem about B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah. At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdom of Israel had come to an end nearly a century before), or immediately after his victory over the Egyptians at the second battle of Carchemish, in the fourth year of the reign of…
(judgment of God). The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. (1 Chronicles 3:1) In (2 Samuel 3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) The fourth of ’the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, (Daniel 1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. (Daniel 1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king’s service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king’s meat" for fear of defilement. (Daniel 1:8-16) At the close of his three years…
1. Called Belteshazzar by the Chaldeans, a prophet descended from the royal family of David, who was carried captive to Babylon, when very young, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, B. C. 606. He was chosen, with his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to reside at Nebuchadnezzar’s court, where he received a suitable education, and made great progress in all the sciences of the Chaldeans, but declined to pollute himself by eating provisions from the king’s table, which would often be ceremonially unclean to a Jew, or defiled by some connection with idol-worship. At the end of their three years’ education, Daniel and his companions excelled all others, and received honorable appointments in the royal service. Here Daniel soon displayed his prophetic gifts in interpreting a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, by whom he was made governor of Babylon, and head of the learned…
עֲלַל (alal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come in or go in, with various forms indicating different nuances such as thrusting oneself in or introducing. It appears in both active and passive forms, including to bring in and to be brought in. The entries suggest a focus on the act of entering or introducing something.
[עֲלַל] vb. go or come in
Pe.
Haph. bring in
Hoph. be brought
base
H5954 עֲלַל
5954 `alal al-al'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5953 (in the sense of thrusting
oneself in), to enter; causatively, to introduce:--bring in,
come in, go in.
see HEBREW for 05953
עֲלַל (a.lal) — to come.
1) to thrust in, go in, come in
1a) (P'al) to go in, come in
1b) (Aphel) to bring in
1c) (Hophal) to be brought in
Adj — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularAVqp3ms
A principal thing to notice about this preposition, which in the King James Version represents about 16 Hebrew and as many Greek words and prepositions, is that, in hundreds of cases (especially in the Old Testament, but frequently also in the New Testament) in the Revised Version (British and American) the rendering is changed to more exact forms ("to," "unto," "by," "upon," "at," "with," "among," "for," "throughout," etc.; compare e.g. Ge 6:16; 13:8; 17:7,9,12; 18:1; Ex 8:17; Le 1:9, etc.); while, nearly as often, "in" is substituted for divergent forms of the King James Version (e.g. Ge 2:14; 17:11; 31:54; 40:7; 49:17; Ex…
בְּעָא (b`a') is an Aramaic verb meaning to ask, seek, or request. It covers a range of actions including making a petition or praying. This word appears only in the book of Daniel, where it is used in contexts related to seeking favor or making requests.
בְּעָא vb. ask, seek, only Dn
Pe.
ask, request
seek
Pa. resort (for favours)
base
H1156 בְּעָא
1156 b`a' beh-aw'
(Aramaic) or b ah (Aramaic) {beh-aw'}; corresponding to 1158;
to seek or ask:--ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request,
seek.
see HEBREW for 01158
בְּעָא (be.a) — to ask.
1) to ask, seek, request, desire, pray, make petition
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to ask, request
1a2) to seek (for favour)
Adj | V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal perfect third person masculine singularAC/Vqp3ms
מִן (min) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' and it covers a range of uses including source, reason, and comparison. It can indicate physical origin, temporal aspects, or causation. The entries agree on its various applications, with no significant disagreement noted.
מִן prep. from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more then
base
H4481 מִן
4481 min min
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4480:--according, after, +
because, + before, by, for, from, X him, X more than, (out)
of, part, since, X these, to, upon, + when.
see HEBREW for 04480
מִן־ (min) — from.
1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than
1a) from, out of (of place)
1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source)
1c) from (of time)
1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)
AR — PrepositionAR
מֶ֫לֶךְ (melek) means 'king' in Hebrew and is also noted in Aramaic. The entries confirm its singular meaning related to royalty, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 178 n.m. king
base
H4430 מֶ֫לֶךְ
4430 melek meh'-lek
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4428; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04428
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
king
Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428)
§ 1) king
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
King
Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).
This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;
"a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country." --Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the substitution of a regal form of government for that of judges seems to have been the siege of Jabesh-gilead by Nahash king of the Ammonites. (1 Samuel 11:1; 12:12) The conviction seems to have forced itself on the Israelites that they could not resist their formidable neighbor…
דִּי (diy) is an Aramaic word meaning 'that,' functioning as a relative conjunction and a preposition in various contexts. It can indicate relationships such as 'who,' 'which,' or 'because,' and is used in adverbial phrases. The entries highlight its role in connecting clauses and marking possession.
דִּי part. of relation, who, which, that, used also as mark of gen. and conj. that, because
base
H1768 דִּי
1768 diy dee
(Aramaic) apparently for 1668; that, used as relative
conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial
phrases; also as preposition of:--X as, but, for(-asmuch +), +
now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, + what
(-soever), when, which, whom, whose.
see HEBREW for 01668
דִּי (di) — that.
part of relation
1) who, which, that
mark of genitive
2) that of, which belongs to, that
conj
3) that, because
AC — ConjunctionAC
זְמַן (zeman) refers to 'time' or a 'set time' and is derived from the related word זְמַן (zeman) in Hebrew. The entries indicate that it covers the concept of seasons and specific times, with its usage found in Aramaic contexts.
H2166 זְמַן, זְמָן
2166 zman zem-awn'
(Aramaic) from 2165; the same as 2165:--season, time.
see HEBREW for 02165
see HEBREW for 02165
זְמַן (ze.man) — time.
a set time, time, season
Aramaic of ze.man (זְמָ֑ן "time" H2165)
Adj — Noun common · both singular absoluteANcbsa
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
נְתַן (nethan) means 'to give' and encompasses a range of actions such as bestowing, delivering, and paying. The entries indicate that it is a verb used in various contexts, including the act of allowing or setting something. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meaning.
[נְתַן] vb. give
base
H5415 נְתַן
5415 nthan neth-an'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5414; give:--bestow, give pay.
see HEBREW for 05414
נְתַן (ne.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to give
1a2) to give, allow
1a3) to give, pay
נְתַן (ne.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to give
1a2) to give, allow
1a3) to give, pay
נְתַן (ne.tan) — to give: pay.
: pay
1) to give
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to give
1a2) to give, allow
1a3) to give, pay
Adj — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularAVqi3ms
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
AR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixAR/Sp3ms
פְּשַׁר (pshar) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'interpretation,' specifically referring to the interpretation of dreams. It is derived from a root that also relates to the concept of interpretation. The entries consistently emphasize its use in the context of dream interpretation.
פְּשַׁר 31 n.m. interpretation (of dream)
base
H6591 פְּשַׁר
6591 pshar pesh-ar'
(Aramaic) from 6590; an interpretation:--interpretation.
see HEBREW for 06590
פְּשַׁר (pe.shar) — interpretation.
interpretation (of dream)
Aramaic of pit.ron (פִּתְרוֹן "interpretation" H6623)
Adj | N-ms | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
in-tur-pre-ta'-shun:
1. General Principles:
Is a generic term and may refer to any work of literature. Referred specifically to the sacred Scriptures, the science of interpretation is generally known as hermeneutics, while the practical application of the principles of this science is exegesis. In nearly all cases, interpretation has in mind the thoughts of another, and then, further, these thoughts expressed in another language than that of the interpreter. In this sense it is used in Biblical research. A person has interpreted the thoughts of another when he has in his own mind a correct reproduction or photograph of the thought as it was conceived in the mind of the original writer or speaker. It is accordingly a purely reproductive process, involving no originality of thought on the part of the interpreter. If the latter adds anything of his own it is eisegesis and not exegesis. The…
Revealing the true meaning of supernatural dreams, Ge 41:1-57 Da 2:4, unknown tongues, etc., 1Co 12:12,30 14:5,13.
For the right interpretation of the word of God, the chief requisites are, a renewed heart, supremely desirous to learn and do the will of God; the aid of the Holy Spirit, sought and gained; a firm conviction that the word of God should rule the erring season and heart of man; a diligent comparison of its different parts, for the light they throw upon each other; all reliable information as to the history and geography, the customs, laws, and languages, the public, domestic, and inner life of Bible times. Thus to study the Bible for one’s self is the privilege and duty of every one.
→ See TONGUES
חֲוָה (chava') is a verb meaning 'to show' or 'to declare.' It has forms in both the Pael and Aphel stems, indicating actions like interpreting or informing. The term appears in Aramaic and corresponds to another Hebrew root, חָוָה (H2331), which also relates to the concept of showing.
[חֲוָה] vb. Pa. Haph. declare
base
H2324 חֲוָה, חֲוָא
2324 chava' khav-aw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2331; to show:--shew.
see HEBREW for 02331
חֲוָה (cha.vah) — to show.
1) to show, interpret, explain, inform, tell, declare
1a) (Pael) to show, interpret
1b) (Aphel) to show
Adj | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct commonAR/Vhcc
מֶ֫לֶךְ (melek) means 'king' in Hebrew and is also noted in Aramaic. The entries confirm its singular meaning related to royalty, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
מֶ֫לֶךְ 178 n.m. king
base
H4430 מֶ֫לֶךְ
4430 melek meh'-lek
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4428; a king:--king, royal.
see HEBREW for 04428
מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) — king.
king
Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428)
§ 1) king
Adj | N-ms | Art — Preposition · noun common both singular determined · particleAR/Ncbsd/Ta
King
Is in Scripture very generally used to denote one invested with authority, whether extensive or limited. There were thirty-one kings in Canaan (Josh. 12:9, 24), whom Joshua subdued. Adonibezek subdued seventy kings (Judg. 1:7). In the New Testament the Roman emperor is spoken of as a king (1 Pet. 2:13, 17); and Herod Antipas, who was only a tetrarch, is also called a king (Matt. 14:9; Mark 6:22).
This title is applied to God (1 Tim. 1:17), and to Christ, the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:15, 16;
"a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country." --Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the substitution of a regal form of government for that of judges seems to have been the siege of Jabesh-gilead by Nahash king of the Ammonites. (1 Samuel 11:1; 12:12) The conviction seems to have forced itself on the Israelites that they could not resist their formidable neighbor…