(Aramaic) or דׇּכְרָן (Aramaic); corresponding to זִכְרוֹן; a register; record.
Transliteration:dikrôwn
Pronunciation:dik-rone'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic lemma `{{H1799}}` (דִּכְרוֹן, *dikrôwn*) signifies a "register" or "record." Its semantic range is tightly focused on written documentation, particularly official or historical accounts kept for reference. The definition explicitly notes its correspondence to the Hebrew `{{H2146}}` (זִכְרוֹן, *zikrôn*), which carries similar meanings of "memorial," "remembrance," or "record." Both terms derive from the common Semitic root meaning "to remember" or "to mention" (cf. Hebrew `{{H2142}}`, זָכַר, *zakhar*). Thus, dikrôwn denotes that which is committed to writing so as to be remembered, preserved, and consulted, often in an administrative or legal context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H1799}}` appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Ezra, specifically in two significant contexts that underscore its meaning as an official document or archive:
1. **[[Ezra 4:15]]**: Here, the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin, in their letter to King Artaxerxes, request a search "in the book of the records of your fathers" (בְּסֵפֶר דִּכְרוֹנָהָת אֲבָהָתָךְ). The purpose of this search is to find historical evidence to substantiate their claim that Jerusalem was a rebellious city. This context highlights dikrôwn as a reliable, authoritative historical archive, used for verification and legal precedent in royal administration.
2. **[[Ezra 6:2]]**: This verse describes the discovery of Cyrus's original decree concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. It states, "And there was found in Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was a record thus written" (מְגִלָּה חֲדָה וְדִכְרוֹנָא כְּתִיב בַּהּ כְּנֵמָא). Here, dikrôwn refers to the specific written decree itself, confirming its status as an official, legally binding document. Its discovery in the royal archives (the "house of the records" mentioned in [[Ezra 6:1]]) underscores its administrative significance and the meticulous nature of ancient Near Eastern record-keeping.
In both instances, dikrôwn refers to formal, written accounts, whether historical registers or royal decrees, maintained within governmental archives for official consultation and action.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relation to `{{H1799}}` is the Hebrew `{{H2146}}` (זִכְרוֹן, *zikrôn*), which also translates to "memorial," "remembrance," or "record." This close correspondence emphasizes the shared semantic field across Hebrew and Aramaic. Both words are rooted in the concept of "remembering" (Hebrew `{{H2142}}`, זָכַר, *zakhar*; Aramaic `{{H2143}}`, דְּכַר, *dekhar*).
Other related concepts include:
* **`{{H5608}}` (סֵפֶר, *sepher*) / `{{H5612}}` (סְפַר, *sephar*)**: Hebrew and Aramaic terms for "book" or "scroll," which are the physical vessels containing the dikrôwn or zikrôn. The "book of the records" in [[Ezra 4:15]] explicitly links the dikrôwn to a sepher.
* **`{{H2149}}` (זֶכֶר, *zekher*)**: Another Hebrew cognate from the same root, meaning "remembrance," "memorial," or "name," often referring to that which causes one to be remembered.
* **`{{H3092}}` (יָדַע, *yada'*)**: "To know." The act of record-keeping is fundamentally about preserving knowledge for future reference.
The overarching theme is the preservation of information, whether for historical accuracy, legal enforcement, or perpetuating memory.
### Theological Significance
While `{{H1799}}` primarily describes human administrative records, its theological significance emerges from its context within the biblical narrative and its relation to the broader concept of "remembrance" in scripture.
1. **Divine Order and Providence**: The reliance on dikrôwn in Ezra highlights the importance of order, truth, and verifiable facts within human governance. The discovery of Cyrus's decree in the royal archives ([[Ezra 6:2]]) is not mere happenstance but an act of divine providence. God uses human systems of record-keeping to ensure the fulfillment of His promises and the advancement of His redemptive plan, even across empires and generations. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over historical processes.
2. **Truth and Justice**: The use of records to establish facts ([[Ezra 4:15]]) underscores a biblical value for truth and justice. Just decisions, whether in ancient courts or modern governance, require accurate information. The meticulous keeping of dikrôwn reflects a divinely instilled principle that accountability and fairness are built upon verifiable facts.
3. **Echoes of Divine Remembrance**: Though dikrôwn refers to human records, its close linguistic tie to zikrôn and the root "to remember" subtly points to God's own perfect and eternal "records." The Bible speaks of a "book of remembrance" ([[Malachi 3:16]]) where God records the deeds of His faithful, and the "book of life" ([[Revelation 20:12]]) where the names of the redeemed are inscribed. Unlike fallible human dikrôwn, God's divine records are infallible, comprehensive, and eternally secure, forming the basis of His covenant faithfulness, judgment, and salvation.
### Summary
The Aramaic word `{{H1799}}` (דִּכְרוֹן, *dikrôwn*) denotes an official "register" or "record," closely paralleling the Hebrew `{{H2146}}` (זִכְרוֹן). Its two occurrences in Ezra consistently refer to governmental archives and decrees, emphasizing their role as authoritative, verifiable documents for administrative and historical purposes ([[Ezra 4:15]], [[Ezra 6:2]]). Theologically, dikrôwn highlights God's sovereignty over human history and His use of human systems to fulfill His divine purposes, such as the rebuilding of the temple. It underscores the biblical value of truth and order in governance. Furthermore, its connection to the concept of "remembrance" subtly points to the perfect and eternal "records" of God, upon which divine justice, faithfulness, and the ultimate destiny of humanity are based.
TRV