The Aramaic word nûwd, represented by H5111, means to flee or get away. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, highlighting a specific moment of divinely-commanded dispersion. Its meaning corresponds to the Hebrew word נָוֶה.
In its sole biblical appearance, nûwd is part of a dramatic proclamation cried aloud by a heavenly watcher. The command is given to dismantle a great symbolic tree, with instructions to “Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit.” Within this decree of judgment, the text explicitly commands, “let the beasts get away from under it” Daniel 4:14. This usage directly connects the word to an act of sudden, forced departure from a place of shelter.
The theological significance of nûwd, though based on a single verse, is potent and focused.
- Consequence of Judgment: The command for the beasts to “get away” is not a choice but a direct result of judgment being executed upon the tree. It illustrates that when a source of power and protection is struck down by divine decree, those dependent on it are forcibly dispersed.
- Loss of Security: The beasts were dwelling under the shelter of the tree Daniel 4:12. Their flight signifies a sudden and total loss of that security, provision, and habitation, demonstrating the comprehensive impact of God's judgment.
- Dispersion of Influence: The action of fleeing is part of a larger sequence of deconstruction: hewing, cutting, shaking off, and scattering Daniel 4:14. It visually portrays the collapse of a king's dominion and the scattering of his subjects or dependents.
In summary, nûwd is a rare but impactful Aramaic term. Its single usage in the book of Daniel provides a vivid and concise image of forced displacement. It functions as a key verb within a divine judgment, capturing the moment that dependents must flee when their source of shelter is destroyed. The word powerfully conveys the unavoidable consequences that ripple outward when a powerful entity is brought low by God.
