The Aramaic word mâzôwn, represented by H4203, translates as food or meat. It is a very specific term, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage is confined to a single narrative, where it denotes sustenance and provision for all living things.
Both occurrences of H4203 are found in the book of Daniel, within the description of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree. The vision describes a tree so immense that it provides for all creatures. The text states, "in it was meat for all" Daniel 4:12, a phrase that is repeated almost identically as the dream is recounted Daniel 4:21. In this context, mâzôwn signifies the universal and abundant provision supplied by this symbolic tree.
Several related Aramaic words appear in the same passage, clarifying the concept of sustenance:
- H2110 zûwn (feed): This verb corresponds directly to the noun H4203. It is used to describe the outcome of the tree's provision, stating that "all flesh was fed of it" Daniel 4:12. It means to nourish.
- H4 ʼêb (fruit): This word identifies the source of the sustenance. The tree had "the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all" Daniel 4:12, showing that the fruit is the substance of the meat, or food, being provided.
The significance of H4203 is tied entirely to its symbolic use in Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
- Abundant Provision: The word highlights the theme of immense and overflowing provision. The tree, representing the king's dominion, provides meat H4203 not just for some, but "for all" Daniel 4:12.
- Source of Sustenance: In the vision, the tree is the central source of life and nourishment for every beast and fowl. The presence of meat H4203 establishes its role as the sustainer of the entire ecosystem under its branches.
- Symbol of Kingdom: The provision of food is symbolic of the security and resources offered by a powerful kingdom to all who live under its rule and protection, as detailed in the vision Daniel 4:21.
In summary, H4203 mâzôwn is a specific term for food used exclusively to convey the concept of abundant provision in the vision of the great tree in Daniel. Though rare, its role is pivotal in illustrating the vastness of the kingdom's reach and its function as a source of sustenance for all its inhabitants, working alongside words for fruit H4 and feeding H2110 to complete the picture.
TRV