### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **ʼarʻîyth**, represented by `{{H773}}`, means **bottom**. As the feminine form of a corresponding root, it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, making its single usage highly specific. It refers literally to the lowest part or floor of a place.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H773}}` is in the dramatic conclusion to the story of Daniel in the lions' den. After Daniel's miraculous survival, the king commanded that the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and wives, be cast into the same den. The scripture notes that the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones before they even "came at the **bottom** of the den" [[Daniel 6:24]]. Here, the word marks the final, violent destination that the accusers never reached intact, emphasizing the swiftness of their judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of this word is built by several other Aramaic terms within the same passage:
* `{{H1358}}` **gôb** (den): This word for "a pit (for wild animals)" is the location where the event occurs. It is the den where Daniel was protected and where his accusers met their end [[Daniel 6:24]].
* `{{H7412}}` **rᵉmâh** (to throw, set): This verb describes the action taken against Daniel's accusers, who were "cast" into the lions' den by the king's command [[Daniel 6:24]].
* `{{H1855}}` **dᵉqaq** (to crumble or (trans.) crush): This term describes the violent fate of the accusers, whose bones were "brake all... in pieces" before they reached the bottom of the den, underscoring the ferocity of the lions [[Daniel 6:24]].
### Theological Significance
Though used only once, the theological weight of `{{H773}}` is found in its specific narrative role.
* **Swift Retribution:** The use of "bottom" as a destination they failed to reach highlights the immediacy and severity of the judgment against those who maliciously conspired against God's servant, Daniel [[Daniel 6:24]].
* **The Point of No Return:** The bottom of the den symbolizes ultimate and final destruction. In this context, `ʼarʻîyth` represents the endpoint of a path of wickedness, a place from which there is no escape.
* **Contrast with Divine Deliverance:** Daniel was cast into the same "den" `{{H1358}}` but was kept safe [[Daniel 6:23]]. His accusers, however, were destroyed before hitting the bottom, illustrating the profound difference between God's protection for the righteous and the fate awaiting the wicked.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H773}}` is a rare Aramaic word whose significance is entirely derived from its single, powerful context in the book of Daniel. While simply meaning "bottom," it functions as a stark marker for the finality of divine justice. Its placement in the narrative of [[Daniel 6:24]] transforms it from a mere physical descriptor into a symbol of the ultimate and inescapable consequence of opposing God's faithful.
TRV