### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **zᵉʻiq**, represented by `{{H2200}}`, means **to make an outcry; cry**. It is the Aramaic correspondent to the Hebrew word זָעַק. This term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its single instance highly specific in its meaning and context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H2200}}` is found in the dramatic narrative of Daniel in the lions' den. When King Darius came to the den after a night of anguish, he did not merely speak, but he "**cried** with a lamentable voice" to Daniel [[Daniel 6:20]]. This use of **zᵉʻiq** conveys a powerful outburst of emotion, a desperate and sorrowful shout to discover if Daniel had been saved by his God from the lions.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this outcry is enriched by several related Aramaic words found in the same verse:
* `{{H7127}}` **qᵉrêb** (to approach): This action precedes the cry, as the king physically had to **approach** the den before he could call out to Daniel [[Daniel 6:20]].
* `{{H6088}}` **ʻătsab** (lamentable): This word directly modifies the nature of the king's cry, describing his voice as full of affliction and grief [[Daniel 6:20]].
* `{{H7032}}` **qâl** (a voice or sound): This is the medium of the cry. The king's outcry was made with a specific **voice** that was lamentable [[Daniel 6:20]]. This word is also used for the **sound** of musical instruments [[Daniel 3:5]].
* `{{H560}}` **ʼămar** (to say): This follows the initial cry. After the emotional outburst of **zᵉʻiq**, the king forms a specific question, as he spoke and **said**, "O Daniel, servant of the living God..." [[Daniel 6:20]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H2200}}` is tied directly to its dramatic context in [[Daniel 6:20]].
* **Human Anguish and Hope:** The king's cry is not one of faith, but of deep, human anguish mixed with a desperate hope. It represents a moment where a powerful ruler confronts the limits of his own authority and vocalizes his distress concerning the power of Daniel's God.
* **A Prelude to Divine Testimony:** The **zᵉʻiq** serves as the emotional climax before the resolution. It is the sorrowful outcry that immediately precedes the miraculous testimony of God's deliverance, setting the stage for the revelation that Daniel is unharmed.
* **Vocalizing a Test of Faith:** The cry is essentially the king's verbalization of the test he has set. His lamentable voice asks whether God was "able to deliver" Daniel, making the outcry the pivotal point of the narrative's tension [[Daniel 6:20]].
### Summary
In summary, while **zᵉʻiq** `{{H2200}}` is used only once, its singular appearance is poignant and powerful. It is not a simple word for speaking, but for a raw, emotional outcry. Occurring in [[Daniel 6:20]], it captures the precise moment of a king's profound distress and anxious hope, highlighting the tension between human despair and the potential for divine intervention. This single use demonstrates how a specific term can perfectly encapsulate the emotional weight of a critical narrative moment.
TRV