The Aramaic word ʼăkal, represented by H399, is the counterpart to the Hebrew word for to eat. It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses, exclusively in the book of Daniel. While its base definition is to eat, its application extends figuratively to mean devouring with destructive force or making a malicious accusation.
In its biblical usage, H399 has a literal and a figurative sense. Literally, it describes the humbled King Nebuchadnezzar, who "did eat grass as oxen" as part of his judgment Daniel 4:33. Figuratively, it is used to depict the violent and consuming nature of the prophetic beasts in Daniel's visions. A bear-like beast is commanded to "Arise, devour much flesh" Daniel 7:5, and the dreadful fourth beast "devoured and brake in pieces" (Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:19). This imagery extends to worldly kingdoms, as the fourth kingdom "shall devour the whole earth" Daniel 7:23. The word is also used in a unique phrase to mean "accuse," as when Chaldeans came to "accused the Jews" Daniel 3:8.
Several related words expand upon the concepts of consumption and destruction associated with H399:
- H7170 qᵉrats (accuse): This word is paired with H399 to create a phrase for accusation, figuratively meaning "to eat the morsels of" someone through slander. This is seen when men "accused Daniel" before the king Daniel 6:24 and when the Chaldeans "accused the Jews" Daniel 3:8.
- H1855 dᵉqaq (to crumble or (trans.) crush; break to pieces): This word frequently appears alongside H399 to intensify the description of destruction, as the fourth beast "devoured and brake in pieces" its victims Daniel 7:7.
- H1759 dûwsh (to trample; tread down): Used in conjunction with H399, this describes the total subjugation by the fourth kingdom, which will "devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down" Daniel 7:23.
- H7512 rᵉphaç (to trample, i.e. prostrate; stamp): This action follows the devouring, showing complete dominance, as the fourth beast "stamped the residue with his feet" after it devoured and broke its prey Daniel 7:7.
The significance of H399 is concentrated within the prophetic and narrative portions of Daniel, highlighting several key themes:
- Destructive Power of Empires: The primary figurative use of ʼăkal is to illustrate the rapacious and all-consuming nature of earthly kingdoms, which are depicted as wild beasts that devour and destroy Daniel 7:23.
- Malicious Accusation: The unique pairing of H399 with H7170 portrays slander and accusation as a form of consumption, an act that seeks to chew up and destroy a person's reputation and life (Daniel 3:8, Daniel 6:24).
- Divine Humiliation: The word's single literal use powerfully demonstrates God's sovereignty over the proudest of kings, reducing Nebuchadnezzar to the level of an animal that must eat grass Daniel 4:33.
In summary, H399 carries a meaning that goes far beyond simple consumption. Within its limited appearances, it serves as a powerful descriptor for destruction, subjugation, and malicious slander. From the humbling of a king eating grass to the visions of terrifying beasts devouring the earth, ʼăkal is a key term for understanding the themes of worldly power and divine judgment in the book of Daniel.
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