(Aramaic) or (prolonged) הִמּוֹן; (Aramaic), corresponding to הֵם; they; [idiom] are, them, those.
Transliteration:himmôw
Pronunciation:him-mo'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
`{{H1994}}` (הִמּוֹ), along with its prolonged form הִמּוֹן, is an Aramaic third-person plural personal pronoun. It directly corresponds to the Hebrew pronoun `{{H1992}}` (הֵם). Its primary semantic range includes "they" (as a subject), "them" (as an object), and "those" (as a demonstrative or antecedent pronoun). A notable feature of its usage, as indicated in its definition, is its occasional idiomatic function as a copula, implying "are" in certain predicative contexts within Aramaic nominal sentences, where it links a subject to its predicate. This is a common grammatical feature of pronouns in Semitic languages.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
As an Aramaic word, `{{H1994}}` is exclusively found in the Aramaic sections of the biblical books of Ezra and Daniel. Its occurrences are fundamental for understanding the subjects and objects of actions within these narratives.
Examples of its usage include:
* As an object pronoun: In [[Ezra 4:10]], it refers to the nations whom Osnappar "settled *them*" (וְאוֹשִׁב הִמּוֹ) in Samaria. Similarly, [[Daniel 2:34]] describes a stone that "broke *them* in pieces" (וְהַדֶּקֶת הִמּוֹא), referring to the feet of the statue. [[Daniel 2:35]] also uses it when stating the wind "carried *them* away" (וּנְשָׂא הִמּוֹ).
* As a subject pronoun: In [[Daniel 6:24]], it describes the accusers of Daniel, noting that the king "cast *them* into the den of lions—*them*, their children, and their wives" (וְלַחֲדָא רְמוֹ לְהוֹן לְגֻבָּא דִּי אַרְיָוָתָא הִמּוֹן וּבְנֵיהוֹן וּנְשֵׁיהוֹן). Here, it serves to emphasize the specific group.
* As an idiomatic copula ("are"): In [[Daniel 4:18]], Nebuchadnezzar laments that "none of the wise men of my kingdom *are* able to make known to me the interpretation" (וְהִמּוֹן לָא יָכְלִין לְהוֹדָעוּתַנִי פִּשְׁרָא). Here, `{{H1994}}` (הִמּוֹן) functions as the subject pronoun that implicitly carries the sense of "are" in conjunction with the following predicate, indicating the state or ability of the wise men. This usage highlights its role in forming complete statements about a group.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic parallel to `{{H1994}}` is the Hebrew third-person plural pronoun `{{H1992}}` (הֵם) and its variant `{{H1993}}` (הֵמָּה). Both Hebrew and Aramaic are Semitic languages, sharing common grammatical structures and pronominal systems. Understanding `{{H1994}}` necessitates an awareness of the broader category of personal pronouns in biblical languages, which serve to identify speakers, addressees, and third parties. Concepts such as subject, object, and predicate are inherently related to its function.
### Theological Significance
While `{{H1994}}` is primarily a grammatical particle, its theological significance is derived from the entities it designates and the roles those entities play in the divine narrative. In the books of Ezra and Daniel, `{{H1994}}` frequently refers to groups of people who are either in opposition to God's people or are instruments in His sovereign plan. For instance, in Daniel, it often refers to the various earthly kingdoms or their representatives, highlighting their finite power and ultimate subservience to God's eternal kingdom ([[Daniel 2:34-35]]).
When it refers to those who defy God's decrees, such as the accusers of Daniel ([[Daniel 6:24]]), it underscores the collective nature of human rebellion and its consequences. Conversely, when it implicitly refers to groups within God's people, it can emphasize their collective identity and experience, whether of suffering or deliverance. Thus, `{{H1994}}` helps delineate the corporate nature of humanity, nations, and their interactions with the divine will, serving as a linguistic tool that undergirds theological themes of sovereignty, judgment, and redemption.
### Summary
`{{H1994}}` (הִמּוֹ/הִמּוֹן) is an essential Aramaic third-person plural pronoun, equivalent to the Hebrew `{{H1992}}`. Its core meanings are "they," "them," and "those." Crucially, it can also function idiomatically as a copula, signifying "are" in certain grammatical constructions, as observed in [[Daniel 4:18]]. Found exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, its usage is vital for identifying the collective actors and recipients of actions within these narratives. Theologically, while a grammatical element, `{{H1994}}` plays a significant role in delineating the various human groups and nations in relation to God's sovereign plan, underscoring themes of collective identity, responsibility, and destiny within the biblical revelation.
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