(Aramaic) corresponding to מְדִינָה; {properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region}; province.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **mᵉdîynâh**, represented by `{{H4083}}`, is the term for a **province**. It appears 11 times across 11 unique verses. The word's base definition refers to a judgeship or jurisdiction, highlighting its use as a term for a district under specific rule, generally a region or province within a larger kingdom.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4083}}` consistently refers to a formal administrative region under the authority of a king. It is most frequently used to identify the "province of Babylon," which serves as the setting for pivotal events in the book of Daniel, including the erection of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image [[Daniel 3:1]]. This province is the domain where Daniel is made a ruler [[Daniel 2:48]] and where his companions are put in charge of its affairs ([[Daniel 2:49]], [[Daniel 3:12]]). The term also designates other distinct territories, such as the "province of Judea" [[Ezra 5:8]] and the "province of the Medes," where an official record was found [[Ezra 6:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the administrative context of a province:
* `{{H4430}}` **melek** (a king): This is the supreme authority who rules over the provinces. The king commands the rulers of the provinces [[Daniel 3:2]] and has the power to appoint individuals like Daniel over the entire province of Babylon [[Daniel 2:48]].
* `{{H5460}}` **çᵉgan** (governor): Defined as "a prefect of a province," these are the officials who administer the region. The king gathered governors and other rulers from the provinces to attend the dedication of his image [[Daniel 3:2]].
* `{{H7984}}` **shilṭôwn** (ruler): This word for "a potentate" is used to describe the collective leadership of the administrative districts. In Daniel, "all the rulers of the provinces" were summoned by King Nebuchadnezzar ([[Daniel 3:2]], [[Daniel 3:3]]).
* `{{H7149}}` **qiryâʼ** (city): This term for a city is used in contrast to a province. In Ezra, a letter to the king warns that a rebellious city could be hurtful to kings and provinces, showing the relationship between a city and the larger region it belongs to [[Ezra 4:15]].
### Theological Significance
The narrative weight of `{{H4083}}` is significant in understanding the political landscape of Daniel and Ezra.
* **Administrative Framework:** The province is the fundamental unit of imperial government described in the text. It is the jurisdiction from which resources are gathered [[Ezra 7:16]] and officials are summoned, demonstrating the organized power of the king over his vast territory [[Daniel 3:2]].
* **Sphere of Influence and Testing:** For God's people in exile, the province is the arena for both promotion and trial. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are given authority over the affairs of the province of Babylon [[Daniel 2:49]], placing them in positions of significant influence within the gentile empire, where their faith is ultimately tested.
* **Geographic and Political Identity:** The term `mᵉdîynâh` provides specific geographic and political context to the events. It distinguishes between regions with unique identities, such as Judea [[Ezra 5:8]] and Babylon [[Daniel 3:1]], grounding the narrative in the concrete administrative reality of the Persian and Babylonian empires.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4083}}` defines a **province** not just as a location, but as a distinct sphere of jurisdiction within an empire. Its use in Daniel and Ezra is crucial for establishing the political backdrop against which the characters operate. The word `mᵉdîynâh` frames the narrative of exile and return, illustrating how God’s faithful servants navigated and influenced the official administrative structures of the world's ruling powers.
TRV