English · KJV
H363

אִילָן

ʼîylân /ee-lawn'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) corresponding to אֵילוֹן
Meaninga tree
KJV usagetree.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼîylân — 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 ʼîylân, represented by H363, means tree. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Daniel. It serves as a powerful symbol for a mighty kingdom in a prophetic dream.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, all occurrences of H363 are found in the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar. The tree is described as immense, growing strong with its height reaching unto heaven and visible to all the earth (Daniel 4:11, Daniel 4:20). A divine decree is issued by a watcher from heaven to "Hew down the tree" and destroy it (Daniel 4:14, Daniel 4:23). However, a crucial command is given to leave the stump of its roots in the earth, signifying that the destruction would not be absolute Daniel 4:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are used to describe the symbolic tree and the actions taken upon it:

  • H1414 gᵉdad (hew down): This verb describes the primary action of judgment against the great tree, as commanded by the watcher from heaven (Daniel 4:14, Daniel 4:23).
  • H6056 ʻănaph (bough, branch): The command concerning the symbolic tree includes instructions to "cut off his branches" Daniel 4:14.
  • H6136 ʻiqqar (stump): This word refers to the remaining stock of the tree, which is left in the earth and bound with a band of iron and brass Daniel 4:23. It is the basis for the kingdom's future restoration Daniel 4:26.
  • H8330 shôresh (root): The part of the tree to be preserved, as in the command to leave the stump of the tree roots, representing a remnant of hope Daniel 4:26.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H363 is entirely contained within this single vision:

  • Symbol of a Mighty Kingdom: The tree grew strong and its height reached to heaven Daniel 4:11, providing shelter for beasts and fowls Daniel 4:14, representing the vastness of a powerful dominion.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The command to hew down the tree comes from a "watcher and an holy one" H5894 coming down from heaven H8065, illustrating that earthly power is subject to divine authority and judgment Daniel 4:23.
  • Preservation and Restoration: The specific instruction to "leave the stump of the tree roots" Daniel 4:26 is directly linked to the promise that the kingdom will be restored once it is known "that the heavens do rule" Daniel 4:26.

Summary

In summary, H363 is more than a literal tree; it is a central metaphor in a key prophetic narrative. Its usage in Daniel 4 illustrates the rise and fall of a great kingdom under the sovereign watch of heaven. The imagery of the great tree being hewn down yet having its stump preserved powerfully conveys themes of divine judgment on pride and the possibility of restoration through humility and the recognition of God's ultimate rule.

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 a noun across 6 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.

  • אִילָנָ
  • אִילָן

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1414 גְּדַד (Aramaic) corresponding to גָּדַד; to cut down; hew down. H6056 עֲנַף (Aramaic) or עֶנֶף; (Aramaic), corresponding to עָנָף; {a twig (as covering the limbs)}; bough, branch. H6136 עִקַּר (Aramaic) from עֲקַר; a stock; stump. H8330 שֹׁרֶשׁ (Aramaic) corresponding to שֶׁרֶשׁ; {a root (literally or figuratively)}; root. H5894 עִיר (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to עוּר; a watcher, i.e. an angel (as guardian); watcher. H8065 שָׁמַיִן (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמַיִם; {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clou

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

6 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.