(Aramaic) corresponding to דֶּשֶׁא; {a sprout; by analogy, grass}; tender grass.
Transliteration:detheʼ
Pronunciation:deh'-thay
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term דֶּתֶא (detheʼ, `{{H1883}}`) denotes "a sprout" or "tender grass." Its semantic range closely parallels that of its Hebrew cognate, דֶּשֶׁא (desheʼ, `{{H1877}}`), which also refers to grass, herbage, or green vegetation. The emphasis in `{{H1883}}` leans towards the nascent, vulnerable, and fresh aspect of plant life, suggesting new growth or the initial stages of vegetation. It implies a delicate form of sustenance, distinct from more robust or mature flora.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Aramaic word `{{H1883}}` occurs exclusively within the book of Daniel, specifically in chapter 4, where it appears four times: [[Daniel 4:15]], [[Daniel 4:23]], [[Daniel 4:25]], and [[Daniel 4:32]]. In each instance, it describes the "tender grass" that King Nebuchadnezzar is compelled to eat during his divinely ordained period of madness and humiliation.
The context is crucial: Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful king of Babylon, is humbled by God, driven from human society, and made to live like an animal in the field. His diet of "tender grass" is a stark symbol of his radical demotion from the pinnacle of human glory to a state of utter degradation and dependence on the most basic form of sustenance. This imagery vividly portrays the reversal of his status and the profound extent of God's judgment upon his pride. The repetition of the phrase underscores the severity and duration of his punishment until he acknowledges the sovereignty of the Most High God.
### Related Words & Concepts
As noted, `{{H1883}}` is directly related to the Hebrew `{{H1877}}` (desheʼ), which is broadly used for "grass," "herbage," or "green thing" throughout the Old Testament. Examples include the creation account where God commands the earth to bring forth "grass" (`{{H1877}}`) ([[Genesis 1:11]], [[Genesis 1:12]]), or the imagery of divine provision in [[Psalm 23:2]] ("He makes me lie down in green pastures").
Other related terms for vegetation in the biblical lexicon include:
* `{{H6212}}` (esev): "herb" or "vegetation," often used for plants yielding seed.
* `{{H2092}}` (zevach): "growth" or "produce," referring to what grows from the ground.
* `{{H3418}}` (yereq): "green thing" or "green herb," emphasizing color and freshness.
The conceptual framework surrounding `{{H1883}}` includes themes of divine judgment, human pride and humiliation, sovereignty, sustenance, and the natural world as a stage for divine action.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1883}}` in Daniel 4 is profound and multifaceted. It serves as a stark symbol of divine sovereignty over all earthly powers. Nebuchadnezzar's reduction to eating "tender grass" dramatically illustrates that even the most formidable human ruler is utterly subject to God's will and can be humbled to the lowest state. This act of divine discipline is not merely punitive but redemptive, designed to bring the king to a recognition that "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will" ([[Daniel 4:17]], [[Daniel 4:25]], [[Daniel 4:32]]).
The "tender grass" also highlights the fragility and transience of human glory and power when contrasted with the enduring and absolute power of God. It underscores the biblical principle that pride precedes a fall ([[Proverbs 16:18]]). Moreover, Nebuchadnezzar's eventual restoration, after acknowledging God's supremacy, implies that even in the deepest humiliation, there is a path to restoration through humility and recognition of divine authority. The return to eating "tender grass" before his sanity is restored further emphasizes a return to a fundamental, unadorned existence, stripped of all worldly pretense.
### Summary
The Aramaic word דֶּתֶא (detheʼ, `{{H1883}}`), meaning "sprout" or "tender grass," appears exclusively in Daniel 4. Its sole biblical usage describes the diet of King Nebuchadnezzar during his divinely imposed period of madness and humiliation. This imagery powerfully symbolizes the king's profound degradation from imperial glory to an animalistic state, serving as a vivid testament to God's absolute sovereignty over human rulers and kingdoms. Theologically, `{{H1883}}` underscores the fragility of human pride, the humbling nature of divine judgment, and the ultimate necessity of acknowledging God's supreme authority as the source of all life and power. It stands as a potent reminder of the transient nature of earthly dominion in contrast to the enduring reign of the Most High.
TRV