### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **ʼăzâd**, represented by `{{H230}}`, means **firm** or **be gone**. It appears only **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, both within the book of Daniel. Its meaning conveys a sense of finality and certainty, describing a matter that is unalterably settled or has departed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H230}}` are found in the pivotal narrative of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king uses the word to declare to the Chaldeans that "The thing is **gone** from me" [[Daniel 2:5]]. This statement establishes the impossible challenge: they must reveal a dream whose content is lost to the dreamer himself. The king repeats the phrase to underscore his certainty about their inability and their attempts to stall, saying he knows they want to gain time because "ye see the thing is **gone** from me" [[Daniel 2:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide context for the situation created by **ʼăzâd**:
* `{{H4406}}` **millâh** (a word, command, discourse, or subject): This is the "thing" that is **gone** from the king. It refers to the subject of the dream and the royal command itself, which has been firmly issued ([[Daniel 2:5]], [[Daniel 2:8]]).
* `{{H2493}}` **chêlem** (a dream): This is the specific **millâh**, or matter, that is **gone**. The entire conflict hinges on the retrieval of this forgotten **dream** [[Daniel 2:5]].
* `{{H3046}}` **yᵉdaʻ** (to know): The Chaldeans are commanded to "make known" what is **gone** [[Daniel 2:5]]. The king later states, "I **know** of certainty" that they are stalling because of this very fact [[Daniel 2:8]].
* `{{H2084}}` **zᵉban** (to acquire by purchase; gain): The king accuses the Chaldeans of attempting to **gain** the time precisely because they perceive that the matter is irrevocably **gone** [[Daniel 2:8]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative weight of `{{H230}}` is significant in establishing the story's central conflict.
* **Creating an Impasse:** The declaration that the dream is **gone** creates a problem that no human wisdom or magical art can solve. It serves to expose the limitations of the king's wise men and Chaldeans `{{H3779}}`.
* **Demonstrating Royal Authority:** The word is used by the king `{{H4430}}` to issue a firm, non-negotiable decree. The finality of the situation ("the thing is **gone**") is matched by the finality of the consequences for failure [[Daniel 2:5]].
* **Setting the Stage for Divine Revelation:** By establishing a truly impossible scenario, the word **ʼăzâd** functions as the catalyst for divine intervention. Only a God who can reveal secrets could solve a problem defined by such absolute loss of information.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H230}}` is a crucial, though rare, term that defines the narrative crisis in Daniel 2. It conveys more than simple forgetfulness; it signifies a firm, settled state that makes the king's demand impossible for his advisors. Its use highlights the contrast between the limits of human power and the boundless knowledge of God, who alone can restore what is **gone**.
TRV