The Aramaic word ʼĕdayin, represented by H116, is a temporal adverb meaning then. It appears 57 times across 53 unique verses in the Bible. This word functions as a critical narrative marker, signaling the immediate consequence of an action or the next key event in a sequence, often translated as "then," "at that time," or "now."
While H116 consistently conveys a temporal sequence, its Aramaic nature in the biblical text is significant, distinguishing it from its Hebrew counterparts. Unlike the more general Hebrew אָז ('az) or אָזַי ('azay), H116 is confined to the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra, where it functions with particular precision, often marking the immediate and direct consequence of a preceding statement, command, or revelation. This specificity contributes to the dramatic tension and narrative drive inherent in these texts, ensuring that the reader understands events as unfolding inexorably in a tightly linked chain of cause and effect. It does not merely indicate a subsequent point in time, but rather a direct result or an inevitable next step in a divinely orchestrated or humanly decreed sequence.
This adverb's usage often implies a sense of immediacy and finality to the action it introduces. When a king commands, H116 signals the instantaneous execution or the immediate emotional/physical response. When a divine secret is revealed, H116 marks the immediate human reaction or the next stage in the prophetic process. It serves to underscore the weight and authority of the preceding event, whether it be a royal edict, a prophetic vision, or a miraculous intervention, making the "then" a moment of narrative culmination and transition.
In the books of Daniel and Ezra, H116 is consistently used to structure the narrative and show cause and effect. It frequently follows a royal command, indicating the swift execution of a decree. For instance, after King Darius commanded, then Daniel was brought to the den of lions Daniel 6:16. It also marks the reaction to a supernatural event or revelation, such as when the secret of the king's dream was revealed to Daniel, then Daniel blessed the God of heaven Daniel 2:19. The word propels the story forward by connecting a pivotal moment, like Belshazzar's troubling vision, to its immediate result: then the king's countenance was changed Daniel 5:6.
Beyond marking royal decrees and divine revelations, H116 frequently highlights the collective response of groups or the administrative procedures that follow significant events. For example, after Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream was revealed, "Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel" Daniel 2:46, demonstrating a profound personal and public reaction. Similarly, after the king's decision regarding Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, "Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king" Daniel 3:13, illustrating the immediate implementation by his officials.
In Ezra, H116 can mark bureaucratic processes or their cessation. After the opponents of the Jews sent a letter to King Artaxerxes, and the king's reply was read, "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem" Ezra 4:24, signifying the direct and immediate impact of the royal decree on the rebuilding efforts. It also signals the initiation of formal inquiries, such as when the Persian officials questioned the Jewish elders, "Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?" Ezra 5:9, showing H116 as a marker for the onset of official proceedings that drive the narrative forward.
Several related words are frequently linked with H116 to build these narrative sequences:
- H4430 melek (a king): The actions of a king often serve as the catalyst for the events that follow ʼĕdayin Daniel 6:25.
- H560 ʼămar (to say, command): A royal command is a common precursor to a consequential action introduced by "then" Daniel 3:19.
- H1841 Dânîyêʼl (Daniel): Many events marked by H116 revolve around the prophet Daniel, either as the subject of an action or the one responding to a divine revelation Daniel 6:3.
- H858 ʼâthâh (to arrive, bring): This verb often describes the action that immediately follows a command, such as when Nebuchadnezzar commanded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought, then they brought these men before the king Daniel 3:13.
- H104 ʼiggᵉrâʼ (Aramaic letter): Royal letters or official correspondence often serve as the direct precursor to actions or consequences introduced by H116, particularly in Ezra, where decrees are communicated via written documents.
- H113 ʼâdôwn (lord): The authority of a lord or sovereign, often encompassing but broader than just a king, is frequently the source of commands or situations that precipitate the events signaled by H116.
The narrative weight of H116 is significant as it structures some of the most dramatic moments in Daniel and Ezra.
- Consequence of Royal Decrees: The word is often used to demonstrate the power and immediacy of a king's command. When Darius made a decree to search the archives, then a search was made in the house of the rolls Ezra 6:1.
- Reaction to Divine Revelation: H116 marks the pivotal moment of human response following a divine act. After Daniel had a dream and visions, then he wrote the dream down Daniel 7:1.
- Triggering Dramatic Events: It serves to escalate tension by connecting one action directly to the next. After Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, then he commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter Daniel 3:19.
- Divine Vindication and Exaltation: H116 often marks the moment of God's intervention to vindicate His faithful servants or to elevate them to positions of power and influence after they have undergone trials or demonstrated loyalty. After Daniel was found unharmed in the lions' den, "Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den" Daniel 6:23, leading to Daniel's subsequent honor. Similarly, after interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, "Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts" Daniel 2:48.
- The Unfolding of Prophetic Understanding: In Daniel's visions, H116 can indicate the transition from receiving a vision to seeking its interpretation or a deeper understanding of its implications. For instance, after seeing the vision of the four beasts, Daniel states, "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast" Daniel 7:19, signaling his active engagement with and desire to comprehend the divine revelation.
The Aramaic adverb H116, 'ĕdayin, is a fundamental temporal marker in the books of Daniel and Ezra, consistently translated as "then" or "at that time." Its 57 occurrences across 53 unique verses underscore its crucial role in shaping the narrative flow and establishing clear chains of cause and effect within these historical and prophetic accounts. Far from being a mere chronological indicator, H116 acts as a powerful narrative engine, propelling the story forward by linking pivotal moments to their immediate and often dramatic consequences.
This word is particularly prominent in marking the execution of royal decrees, demonstrating the absolute authority of the monarchs, as seen when "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions" Daniel 6:16. It also highlights human reactions to divine revelations, such as when "Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven" Daniel 2:19 after the secret of the king's dream was unveiled. Furthermore, H116 extends its function to administrative contexts, marking the direct impact of official communications like letters, as in "Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem" Ezra 4:24 following a royal edict.
The theological significance of H116 lies in its consistent portrayal of divine sovereignty and vindication. It frequently signals moments where God intervenes to deliver or exalt His faithful servants after trials, as evidenced by Daniel's promotion or rescue from the lions' den Daniel 2:48, Daniel 6:23. Moreover, in the prophetic narratives, H116 marks critical junctures in the unfolding of divine understanding, indicating when Daniel transitions from receiving a vision to actively seeking its profound implications Daniel 7:19. Thus, 'ĕdayin functions as a vital structural and thematic element, underscoring the immediate and inevitable progression of events, whether driven by human decree or divine purpose.
TRV