Daniel: Hebrew and Aramaic

[John Reece]

NOTICE

Please do not post any cabala in this thread.

ABBREVIATIONS and BIBLIOGRAPHY

BDB: A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament with an appendix containing the Biblical Aramaic, based on the Lexicon of William Gesenius as translated by Edward Robinson; edited with constant reference to the Thesaurus of Gesenius as completed by E. Rodgers, and with authorized use of the latest German editions of Gesenius's , by Francis Brown, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs (Oxford University Press, 1907; reprinted with corrections 1953, 1957, 1959; 1962)

BHS: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1977).

Collins (1993): Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Hermeneia: Augsburg Fortress, 1993), by John J. Collins.

Collins (1995): The Scepter and the Star: The Messiahs of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Other Ancient Literature (The Anchor Bible Reference Library: Doubleday, 1995), by John J. Collins.

Collins (2008) : King and Messiah as Son of God: Divine, Human, and Angelic Messianic Figures in Biblical and Related Literature (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008), by Adela Yarbro Collins and John J. Collins.

Collins (undated): Cosmology and Eschatology in Jewish and Christian ApocalypticismGesenius' Hebrew Grammar, edited and enlarged by the late E. Kautzsch, second English edition revised in accordance with the 28th German edition (1909) by A. E. Cowley; 2nd English edition (Oxford University Press, 1910, reprinted from corrected sheets of the 2nd edition 1946, 1949, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1966 )

HALOT: The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old TestamentA Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament based upon the work of Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1988), by William L. Holladay.

IBHS: An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew SyntaxA Grammar of Biblical HebrewA Biblical Hebrew Reference GrammarAnalytical Key to the Old Testament (Baker Book House, 1989), four volumes, by John Joseph Owens.

Van Pelt: Basics of Biblical Aramaic: Complete Grammar, Lexicon, and Annotated Text, (Zondervan, 2011) by Miles V. Van Pelt.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:1 (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ לְמַלְכוּת יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה בָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל יְרוּשָׁלִַם וַיָּצַר עָלֶיהָ

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

בִּשְׁנַת () : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + construct of שָׁנָה () : in the year
שָׁלוֹשׁ () : third
לְמַלְכוּת () : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + construct מַלְכוּת () : of the reign of.
יְהוֹיָקִים () : proper name Jehoiakim.
מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה () : construct מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) + proper name יְהוּדָה () : king of Judah.
בָּא (bāʾ) : Qal perfect 3 m.s. of בּוֹא () : came.
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר () : proper name : Nebuchadnezzar.
מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל (meleḵ-bāḇel) : construct מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) + proper name בָּבֶל (bāḇel) : king of Babylon.
יְרוּשָׁלִַם () : proper name : to Jerusalem.
וַיָּצַר (wayyāṣar) : consecutive ו (waw) + Qal imperfect m.s. of צוּר (ṣūr) : and besieged.
עָלֶיהָ () : preposition עַל (ʿal) + 3 feminine singular suffix : it.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:2a (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וַיִּתֵּן אֲדֹנָי בְּיָדוֹ אֶת־יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

The Lord gave into his hand Jehoiakim, king of Judah

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

אֲדֹנָי (ʾᵃḏōnāy) : the Lord
וַיִּתֵּן (wayyittēn) : consecutive ו (waw) + Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of נָתַן (nāṯan) : gave.
בְּיָדוֹ () : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + noun יָד (yāḏ) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : into his hand.
אֶת (ʾeṯ) : direct object indicator.
יְהוֹיָקִים () : proper name Jehoiakim.
מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה () : construct מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) + proper name יְהוּדָה () : king of Judah.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:2b (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וּמִקְצָת כְּלֵי בֵית־הָאֱלֹהִים

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

and some of the vessels of the temple of God

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּמִקְצָת () : conjunction וּ () + preposition מִן (min) + construct קְצָת (qᵉṣāṯ) : and some of.
כְּלֵי () : plural construct of כְּלִי (ḵᵉlı̂) : the vessels of.
בֵית־הָאֱלֹהִים () : construct of בַּיִת (ḇayiṯ) + definite article הַ (ha) + אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhı̂m) : the temple of God.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:2c (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וַיְבִיאֵם אֶרֶץ־שִׁנְעָר בֵּית אֱלֹהָיו

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the temple of his god

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וַיְבִיאֵם (wayᵉḇı̂ʾēm) : consecutive waw + Hiphil imperfect of בּוֹא () + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : and he brought them.
אֶרֶץ־שִׁנְעָר () : construct אֶרֶץ (ʾereṣ) + proper name שִׁנְעָר () : to the land of Shinar [Old Greek = Babylon].
בֵּית אֱלֹהָיו () : construct of בַּיִת (bayiṯ) + אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhı̂m) + 3 m.s. suffix : to the temple of his god.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:2d (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִים הֵבִיא בֵּית אוֹצַר אֱלֹהָיו

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

and he deposited the vessels in the treasury of his god.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְאֶת (wᵉʾeṯ) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + direct object indicator אֶת (ʾeṯ) : and.
הַכֵּלִים (hakkēlı̂m) : definite article הַ (ha) + plural of כְּלִי (kᵉlı̂) : the vessels.
הֵבִיא (hēḇı̂ʾ) : Hiphil perfect 3 m.s. of בּוֹא () : he placed, put, deposited.
בֵּית אוֹצַר () : construct of בַּיִת (bayiṯ) + construct אוֹצַר () : in the treasury/store house of
אֱלֹהָיו (ʾᵉlōhāyw) : אֱלֹהִים (ʾᵉlōhı̂m) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : his god.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:3a (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאַשְׁפְּנַז רַב סָרִיסָיו לְהָבִיא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וַיֹּאמֶר (wayyōʾmer) : consecutive waw + Qal imperfect 3 m.s. of אָמַר (ʾāmar) : then ... said.
הַמֶּלֶךְ (hammeleḵ) : definite article הַ (ha) + noun מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) : the king.
לְאַשְׁפְּנַז () : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + proper name אַשְׁפְּנַז () : to Ashpenaz.
רַב סָרִיסָיו (raḇ sārı̂sāyw) : construct רַב (raḇ) + plural of סָרִיס (sārı̂s) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : chief of his court officials.
לְהָבִיא (lᵉhāḇı̂ʾ) : preposition לְ (lᵉ) + Hiphil infinitive construct of בּוֹא () : to bring in.
מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל () : prep. מִן (min) + plural construct of בֵּן (bēn) + proper name יִשְׂרָאֵל (yiśrāʾēl) : out of the sons of Israel.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:3b (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וּמִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה וּמִן־הַפַּרְתְּמִים

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

and some of the royal line and some of the nobility

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּמִזֶּרַע () : conj. וּ () + prep. מִן (min) + construct זֶרַע (zeraʿ) : and some of the seed/line.
הַמְּלוּכָה () : definite article הַ (ha) + noun מְּלוּכָה () : the royal.
וּמִן־הַפַּרְתְּמִים () : conj. וּ () + prep. מִן (min) + def. art. הַ (ha) + plural noun פַּרְתְּמִים (partᵉmı̂m) : and some of the nobility.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4a (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

יְלָדִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין־בָּהֶם כָּל־מְאוּם

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

youths without blemish

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

יְלָדִים (yᵉlāḏı̂m) : plural of יֶלֶד (yeleḏ) : youth.
אֲשֶׁר אֵין־בָּהֶם () : relative אֲשֶׁר () + substantive construct אֵין () + prep. בָּ (bā-) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix הֶם (-hem) : without.
כָּל־מְאוּם () : construct of כֹּל (kōl) + noun מאוּם () : any physical defect (BDB, 548).

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4b (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וְטוֹבֵי מַרְאֶה

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

and handsome

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְטוֹבֵי מַרְאֶה () : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + plural construct of טוֹב () + מַרְאֶה (marʾeh) : and good of appearance.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4c (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וּמַשְׂכִּילִים בְּכָל־חָכְמָה

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

proficient in all wisdom

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְוּמַשְׂכִּילִים () : conjunction וְ () + Hiphil m.p. participle of שָׂכַל (śāḵal) : and having insight (BDB).
בְּכָל־חָכְמָה () : prep. בְּ (bᵉ) + construct of כֹּל (kōl) + חָכְמָה () : in all wisdom.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4d (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וְיֹדְעֵי דַעַת

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

well-informed*

*Old Greek, γραμματικούς, gives their expertise a more literary character.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְיֹדְעֵי דַעַת () : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + Qal m.p. participle construct of יָדַע (yāḏaʿ) + noun דַעַת (ḏaʿaṯ) : and knowing knowledge.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4e (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וּמְבִינֵי מַדָּע

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (TNIV):

quick to understand

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּמְבִינֵי מַדָּע () : conjunction וּ () + Hiphil m.p. participle construct of בִּין (bı̂n) + מַדָּע (maddāʿ) : able to understand, i.e. old enough (BDB).

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4f (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וַאֲשֶׁר כֹּחַ בָּהֶם לַעֲמֹד בְּהֵיכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (Collins):

who were capable of serving in the palace of the king

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וַאֲשֶׁר כֹּחַ בָּהֶם () : conj. וַ (wᵉ) + relative אֲשֶׁר () + noun כֹּחַ (kōaḥ) + prep. בְּ (bᵉ) + 3 m.p. suffix : and who were competent.
לַעֲמֹד (laʿᵃmōḏ) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of עָמַד (ʿāmaḏ) : to serve.
בְּהֵיכַל () : prep. בְּ (bᵉ) + construct הֵיכַל () : in the palace of.
הַמֶּלֶךְ (hammeleḵ) : definite article הַ (ha) + noun מֶּלֶךְ (meleḵ) : the king.

[John Reece]

Daniel 1:4g (Hebrew)

Text (BHS):

וּלֲלַמְּדָם סֵפֶר וּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים

Transliteration (Accordance):
Translation (NRSV):

they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּלֲלַמְּדָם () : conj. וּ () + prep. לְ (lᵉ) + Piel infinitive construct of לָמַד (lāmaḏ) + 3 m.p. suffix : and to teach them.
סֵפֶר (sēp̱er) : absolute genitive (GKC 128aN) : the writing (of).
וּלְשׁוֹן () : conj. וּ () + construct of לָשׁוֹן () : and language of.
כַּשְׂדִּים (kaśdı̂m) : the Chaldeans.