### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **yᵉrach**, represented by `{{H3393}}`, means **a month**. It is the Aramaic corresponding term for the Hebrew word for month. It appears only **2 times** in **2 verses**, where it is used as a standard unit for measuring time.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H3393}}` is used to provide precise temporal details. It marks the specific time for the completion of the second temple, noting it was finished on "the third day of the **month** Adar" [[Ezra 6:15]]. It also measures a period of duration, specifying the "twelve **months**" that passed before Nebuchadnezzar's judgment and humbling [[Daniel 4:29]]. In both cases, it anchors significant historical events to a clear timeline.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide a broader context for biblical timekeeping:
* `{{H144}}` **ʼĂdâr** (Adar, the 12th Hebrew month): This word provides the specific name of the month mentioned in Ezra, appearing as "the month **Adar**" [[Ezra 6:15]].
* `{{H3118}}` **yôwm** (a day): A smaller unit of time, it appears with `{{H3393}}` to provide an exact date, as in "the third **day** of the month" [[Ezra 6:15]]. It is also used in Daniel to refer to periods like "the latter **days**" [[Daniel 2:28]].
* `{{H8140}}` **shᵉnâh** (a year): A larger unit of time, it is used alongside `{{H3393}}` to place an event within a king's reign, such as "the sixth **year** of the reign of Darius" [[Ezra 6:15]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3393}}` lies in its function of marking divinely significant time.
* **Historical Precision:** The word is used to date the completion of God's house, a key moment in Israel's history, demonstrating the orderly fulfillment of God's purposes [[Ezra 6:15]].
* **Framework for Judgment:** In the book of Daniel, the twelve-month period serves as a timeline leading to a divine judgment, showing how segments of time operate within God's sovereign plan [[Daniel 4:29]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3393}}` is a specific Aramaic term for **month**. Though its usage is rare, it plays a crucial role in dating key events in biblical history, such as the completion of the temple, and in structuring the narrative of God's interaction with rulers like Nebuchadnezzar. It illustrates how even simple units of time are used in scripture to record the precise unfolding of divine history.
TRV