### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **Mâday**, represented by `{{H4076}}`, refers to the **Mede(-s)**, a people and country in central Asia. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses, consistently linking this group with the Persians in the context of empire and law.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H4076}}` is used to identify a key political power. Its first appearance is prophetic, as Daniel declares that Belshazzar's kingdom will be divided and given to the **Medes** and Persians [[Daniel 5:28]]. This theme of Medo-Persian authority is central to the account of Daniel in the den of lions, where the unchangeable "law of the **Medes** and Persians" is cited repeatedly as an unbreakable edict, binding even the king himself ([[Daniel 6:8]], [[Daniel 6:12]], [[Daniel 6:15]]). The term also appears in a historical context, identifying the province where a crucial administrative record was found [[Ezra 6:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words clarify the role and characteristics of the Medes in scripture:
* `{{H6540}}` **Pâraç** (Persia, Persians): This word is almost always paired with **Mâday**, signifying the dual nature of the Medo-Persian empire. The transfer of power is to the **Medes** and **Persians** together [[Daniel 5:28]].
* `{{H1882}}` **dâth** (decree, law): This term is intrinsically linked to the authority of the **Medes**. The "law of the **Medes** and Persians" is described as a fixed and unalterable legal standard [[Daniel 6:8]].
* `{{H4437}}` **malkûw** (kingdom, kingly, realm, reign): This word defines the domain that was prophesied to be given to the **Medes** and Persians, highlighting the transfer of sovereign power from Babylon [[Daniel 5:28]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H4076}}` carries significant thematic weight, particularly in the book of Daniel.
* **Prophetic Judgment:** The **Medes** are introduced as instruments of divine judgment against the Babylonian kingdom, illustrating God's sovereignty over the rise and fall of empires [[Daniel 5:28]].
* **Inflexible Human Law:** The "law of the **Medes** and Persians" serves as a narrative device that represents the unyielding and unchangeable nature of human decrees, which are ultimately shown to be subordinate to God's power to deliver [[Daniel 6:15]].
* **Imperial Administration:** The discovery of a roll in the province of the **Medes** underscores the vast and organized bureaucracy of the empire, which preserved records that would later prove crucial for God's people [[Ezra 6:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4076}}` is more than just a name for a people; it signifies a specific and powerful Gentile empire in biblical history. Through its association with prophecy, unchangeable laws, and imperial administration, the term **Mâday** plays a crucial role in illustrating God's control over world powers and His ability to work through them to accomplish His purposes.
TRV