(Aramaic) corresponding to עָרוֹד; an onager; wild ass.
Transliteration:ʻărâd
Pronunciation:ar-awd'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic lemma עֲרָד (ʻărâd), Strong's `{{H6167}}`, corresponds directly to the Hebrew עָרוֹד (ʻārôd), Strong's `{{H6166}}`. Both terms denote the "onager" or "wild ass." The onager (Equus hemionus) is a species of wild equine native to the Middle East and Asia, known for its swiftness, strength, and notoriously untamable nature. Unlike the domesticated donkey, the wild ass resists human subjugation, embodying a spirit of freedom and an existence outside the bounds of human control. Its semantic range is thus confined to this specific animal, emphasizing its wild, untamed, and often desolate habitat.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Aramaic term `{{H6167}}` appears only once in the biblical text, specifically in the book of Daniel:
* **[[Daniel 5:21]]**: "And he was driven from the sons of men; his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses."
This singular occurrence is profoundly significant. It describes the seven-year period of Nebuchadnezzar's divine judgment, where he was stripped of his sanity and royal power, reduced to an animal-like existence. The phrase "his dwelling was with the wild asses" vividly portrays his complete alienation from human society and his descent into a state of primal, untamed existence. Living among wild asses underscores his loss of human reason, dignity, and dominion, placing him in the realm of creatures that are inherently free from human control and symbolic of the wilderness. The context highlights the ultimate sovereignty of God over human pride and power.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is its Hebrew counterpart, עָרוֹד (ʻārôd), `{{H6166}}`, which appears in two other Old Testament passages:
* **[[Job 39:5]]**: "Who has sent out the wild ass free? Or who has loosed the bonds of the onager?" This verse emphasizes the inherent freedom and untamable nature of the wild ass, portraying it as a creature whose liberty is divinely ordained and beyond human constraint.
* **[[Isaiah 32:14]]**: "Because the palaces will be forsaken, the bustling city will be deserted; the forts and towers will become caves forever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks." Here, the wild ass is associated with desolation and ruin, inhabiting places once bustling with human activity but now abandoned.
Other related concepts include:
* **Wilderness (`{{H4057}}` midbar)**: The natural habitat of the wild ass, often symbolizing desolation, testing, or a place outside human civilization.
* **Beasts/Animals (`{{H2416}}` chayyah)**: The broader category of non-human creatures, often used to contrast with humanity or to represent untamed forces.
* **Humility and Divine Judgment**: The theological themes often associated with the humbling of proud individuals or nations, as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's experience.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of `{{H6167}}` in [[Daniel 5:21]] carries immense theological weight. It serves as a stark illustration of divine judgment against human pride and arrogance. Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler of his time, was brought low and forced to live among the wild asses, symbolizing his complete loss of human reason, royal authority, and self-control. This transformation underscores several key theological truths:
1. **God's Absolute Sovereignty**: The narrative powerfully demonstrates that "the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses." No human power, no matter how great, can stand against God's ultimate authority.
2. **The Humbling of Pride**: Nebuchadnezzar's descent into an animalistic state, particularly one associated with untamed wilderness, is a profound object lesson on the consequences of exalting oneself against God. His reduction to living with wild asses highlights the stripping away of all human-derived glory.
3. **The Nature of True Dominion**: The passage implicitly contrasts human dominion, which is granted and can be revoked by God, with the untamed existence of the wild ass. Nebuchadnezzar's experience forces him to acknowledge that true power and wisdom come only from God.
### Summary
The Aramaic word עֲרָד (ʻărâd), `{{H6167}}`, denotes the "wild ass" or "onager," an animal characterized by its untamable nature and association with the wilderness. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Daniel 5:21]] is exceptionally significant, depicting King Nebuchadnezzar's divinely ordained humiliation. Driven from human society to live among wild asses, he was reduced to an animal-like existence, a powerful symbol of his loss of reason, dignity, and dominion. The theological implications are profound, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty over human affairs, the severe consequences of pride, and the ultimate truth that all power resides with the Most High. The wild ass, therefore, serves as a poignant emblem of divine judgment and the humbling of human arrogance.
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