Daniel in the Lion's Den
Language Background
ARAMAIC. This story is one of the few stories in the Bible written in the ancient language of Aramaic. Aramaic is a sister language to Hebrew, and it was the language the Jews spoke during their captivity in Babylon, which is where the book of Daniel begins.
Most of the Bible stories are written in Hebrew. But here's a fun fact: the alphabet used in the Hebrew Bible, even for all the stories written in the Hebrew language, is actually the Aramaic alphabet!
When you look at the Aramaic words below, you'll see the original word in the Aramaic alphabet, and then next to it you'll see that same word written using the English alphabet (called a “transliteration”) so you can say it out loud!
Learn some new Aramaic words and see how they may expand our thoughts about the Bible story.
God is my judge
Explanation: "dani" means "my judge." "el" means "God."
To pressure or to oversee
Context in the story (Daniel 6:6): "Then these high officials and satraps hargishu to the king and said to him..." [the law they wanted him to pass.]
Context in the story (Daniel 6:15): "Then these men hargishu to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
To make stinky or smell bad
Context in the story (Daniel 6:14): "Then the king, when he heard these words, was much b'esh and set his mind to deliver Daniel."
Question: When the king learns he has to put Daniel in the lion's den, he described his state of being as stinky. What do you think the author meant by that?
Clean, innocent, free
Context in the story (Daniel 6:22): "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found zakhu before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Question: How does each definition of zakhu apply to Daniel?
A messenger (or angel)
Context in the story (Daniel 6:22): "My God sent his malakh and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Explanation: The word malakh means messenger. It can be used as a messenger from God or a messenger from a king. When it’s a messenger from God, it’s usually translated angel. This is true in Hebrew and Aramaic.
Question: Why is the Hebrew word for messenger and angel the same? What did God’s messenger or angel do in this story?
To rule over an area (politically)
Context in the story (Daniel 6:24): "And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions shelitu them and broke all their bones in pieces."
Questions: Why would the author use a political word to describe the advisors being eaten?
To annihilate or destroy
Context in the story (Daniel 6:22): "My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not khaval me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
Context in the story (Daniel 6:26): "I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be khaval ,
and his dominion shall be to the end."
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”