### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ), Strong's number `{{H1872}}`, fundamentally denotes a literal "arm." As an Aramaic word, its usage is confined to the Aramaic portions of the biblical text, primarily in the book of Daniel. Its base definition explicitly states its correspondence to the Hebrew term זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ), `{{H2220}}`. While its primary meaning is anatomical, the "arm" in ancient Near Eastern thought, much like in Hebrew idiom, often serves as a metonym for strength, power, and capability, as it is the limb through which physical force is exerted and work is accomplished. Therefore, though its biblical occurrences are literal, the semantic potential for representing power is inherent in the term itself, reflecting its Hebrew counterpart.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) appears twice in the book of Daniel, both instances within the description of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great statue in Daniel chapter 2.
1. **[[Daniel 2:32]]**: "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of bronze." Here, the term is used in its most straightforward, anatomical sense, describing the physical composition of the statue. The "arms" are explicitly linked with the "breast" of silver, representing the second kingdom in Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The literal description of the statue's limbs serves as a symbolic representation of successive earthly empires.
2. **[[Daniel 2:37]]**: While not explicitly using "arms" to describe Nebuchadnezzar directly, this verse is part of Daniel's interpretation of the statue, where he states, "You, O king, are the king of kings: for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory." The preceding verse ([[Daniel 2:32]]) established the arms as part of the statue's composition. Thus, the context of [[Daniel 2:37]] implicitly refers back to the statue's components, including its arms, as representative of human, temporal dominion given by God. In both instances, the usage of דְּרַע is descriptive and literal in terms of the statue's anatomy, but the statue itself is profoundly symbolic of earthly political power and succession.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is its Hebrew counterpart, זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ), `{{H2220}}`. This Hebrew term, also meaning "arm," is far more frequently used in the Old Testament and carries profound theological weight, often referring to the mighty "arm of the Lord" as a symbol of divine power, intervention, and salvation (e.g., [[Exodus 6:6]], [[Deuteronomy 5:15]], [[Isaiah 53:1]]).
Other conceptually related terms include:
* יָד (yād), `{{H3027}}`: "hand," often used metonymically for power, possession, or control.
* כֹּחַ (kōaḥ), `{{H3581}}`: "strength, power, might."
* עֹז (ōz), `{{H5797}}`: "strength, might, power."
* גְּבוּרָה (gᵉvûrāh), `{{H1369}}`: "strength, might, valor."
While דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) itself is limited to literal descriptions, its conceptual field connects it to the broader biblical themes of human and divine power, sovereignty, and the means by which power is exercised.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) is primarily indirect, derived from its context within Daniel 2. Unlike its Hebrew counterpart `{{H2220}}`, which is frequently employed to describe the omnipotent "arm of the Lord" executing His will in history, דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) in Daniel refers to the "arms" of a human-made statue.
1. **Symbol of Human Dominion**: The "arms of silver" in the statue represent the second great earthly kingdom (Medo-Persia) that would succeed Babylon. Thus, the term, though literal in its description of the statue, becomes a symbol of transient human political power and dominion. This power, while significant in human history, is ultimately depicted as subordinate to the divine will, as shown by the statue's eventual destruction by the "stone cut without hands" ([[Daniel 2:34]]).
2. **Contrast with Divine Power**: The limited and literal use of דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) stands in stark contrast to the robust theological usage of `{{H2220}}` (זְרוֹעַ) when referring to God's arm. While human kingdoms, represented by the statue's arms, possess a measure of strength and authority, their power is finite and temporal. The "arm of the Lord," by contrast, signifies infinite, eternal, and redemptive power that ultimately establishes an indestructible kingdom. The very transience of the silver arms highlights the ultimate sovereignty of God over all earthly empires.
### Summary
דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ), Strong's number `{{H1872}}`, is an Aramaic term meaning "arm," corresponding directly to the Hebrew זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ), `{{H2220}}`. Its biblical occurrences are limited to two verses in Daniel 2, where it is used in a literal, anatomical sense to describe the "arms" of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream ([[Daniel 2:32]], [[Daniel 2:37]]). While its direct theological weight is minimal, its context within Daniel 2's prophetic vision endows it with indirect significance. The "arms of silver" symbolize the transient nature of human political power and succeeding earthly kingdoms, standing in implicit contrast to the eternal and all-encompassing power of God, often represented by the "arm of the Lord" in Hebrew scripture. Thus, דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) serves as a small but crucial component in the larger narrative of divine sovereignty over human history.
TRV