Word Study for H3493 (יַתִּיר)

yattîyr /yat-teer'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to יַתִּיר

Meaningpreeminent; as an adverb, very

KJV usageexceeding(-ly), excellent.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yattîyr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word yattîyr, represented by H3493, is used to denote that which is preeminent, excellent, or exceeding. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Daniel. As both an adjective and an adverb, it signifies a superior quality or an exceptional degree.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the book of Daniel, H3493 is applied to both people and things to emphasize their extraordinary nature. It describes the positive, God-given qualities of Daniel, who possessed an "excellent spirit" (Daniel 6:3, Daniel 5:12) and "excellent wisdom" Daniel 5:14. It is also used to describe the overwhelming splendor of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, whose brightness was "excellent" Daniel 2:31. As an adverb, it intensifies descriptions, such as the furnace being "exceeding hot" Daniel 3:22 or the terrifying fourth beast being "strong exceedingly" Daniel 7:7 and "exceeding dreadful" Daniel 7:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide context for the kind of superiority that yattîyr describes:

H2452 chokmâh (wisdom): This word is directly modified by H3493 to describe the profound, divinely sourced "excellent wisdom" found in Daniel Daniel 5:14.
H1763 dᵉchal (dreadful, fear, terrible): H3493 acts as an intensifier for this word, highlighting the terrifying nature of the fourth beast in Daniel's vision, which was "exceeding dreadful" Daniel 7:19.
H2122 zîyv (brightness, countenance): The "excellent" quality of the great image's "brightness" in Nebuchadnezzar's dream connects these two terms, conveying a splendor that was beyond ordinary Daniel 2:31.

Theological Significance

The narrative weight of H3493 in Daniel is significant, as it consistently marks things that are at the pinnacle of their category, for good or for ill.

Superior Character: The word elevates Daniel above his peers. His "excellent spirit" is the reason he is "preferred above the presidents and princes" Daniel 6:3, showing that his distinction comes from a superior internal character.
Prophetic Emphasis: When used adverbially, H3493 underscores the sheer scale and intensity of prophetic events and entities, such as the immense power of the fourth beast Daniel 7:7 and the urgency of the king's command Daniel 3:22.
Majesty and Power: The term is associated with the peak of earthly power and glory, describing the "excellent majesty" added to Nebuchadnezzar after his humbling Daniel 4:36 and the impressive appearance of the image representing world empires Daniel 2:31.

Summary

In summary, H3493 is a crucial Aramaic descriptor in the book of Daniel for expressing the ultimate degree of a quality. It is not merely a synonym for "very good" but a marker of the exceptional. It effectively contrasts the divinely endowed excellence of a faithful servant with the exceedingly dreadful power of prophetic beasts and the magnificent but transient splendor of human kingdoms.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 8 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יַתִּירָה
יַתִּיר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

8 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.