### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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]].
### Summary
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.
TRV