The Aramaic word himmôw, represented by H1994, is a pronoun corresponding to the Hebrew word הֵם (hêm). It appears 11 times in 11 unique verses. Its primary definition is they, them, or those, and it can also function idiomatically to mean are.
In the biblical texts of Ezra and Daniel, H1994 is used to refer to people, objects, and even actions. In Daniel's vision of the great image, a stone smites the feet and "brake them to pieces" Daniel 2:34. Subsequently, the wind "carried them away" Daniel 2:35, referring to the shattered remnants of the statue. It is used for people when God "gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar" Ezra 5:12, referring to the people of Israel. The word also functions as a state of being, as when the returning exiles declare, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth" Ezra 5:11.
Several related words clarify the actions performed upon the persons or things identified by H1994:
- H1855 dᵉqaq (to crumble or (trans.) crush; break to pieces): This describes the action taken against the parts of the image in Daniel's vision, where the stone broke them Daniel 2:34.
- H989 bᵉṭêl (to stop; (cause, make to), cease, hinder): This word is used when adversaries "made them to cease by force and power" from rebuilding Ezra 4:23.
- H3052 yᵉhab (to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; deliver, give): This verb shows divine action, as when God "gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar" because of their fathers' provocation Ezra 5:12.
- H5376 nᵉsâʼ ({to lift}; carry away, make insurrection, take): This describes the fate of the statue's pieces, which the wind "carried them away" Daniel 2:35.
- H7066 qᵉnâʼ (to purchase; buy): This word is used in the command to Ezra to "buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs... and offer them" Ezra 7:17.
The functional importance of H1994 lies in its ability to clearly identify the object of divine, royal, and prophetic action.
- Target of Divine Judgment and Provision: The pronoun specifies who is being acted upon by God. He "gave them" into captivity for their sin Ezra 5:12, but His eye was also upon the elders so their enemies could not cause them to cease their work Ezra 5:5.
- Subject of Prophetic Fulfillment: In Daniel, himmôw is essential for describing the destruction of the worldly kingdoms. The stone breaks them and the wind carries them away, signifying their complete removal Daniel 2:34-35.
- Identification of People and Items: The word points to specific groups or items central to the narrative, such as the temple vessels Nebuchadnezzar took, which Cyrus later commanded to be returned and delivered Ezra 5:14. It also identifies the men slain by the heat of the furnace Daniel 3:22.
In summary, H1994 is a crucial Aramaic pronoun that functions as "they," "them," or "those." While a simple word, its role is significant in the narratives of Daniel and Ezra. It clarifies the recipients of divine judgment, royal decrees, and prophetic actions, whether referring to people like the Israelites or objects like the sacred temple vessels. Its context determines its specific reference, making it a key pointer word for understanding the flow of events in these scriptures.
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