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.
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.
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.
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.
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