### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **shᵉnâh**, represented by `{{H8140}}`, is the term for **year**. As the Aramaic correspondent to the Hebrew word for year, it signifies a revolution of time. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, exclusively within the books of Ezra and Daniel, where it functions as a critical chronological marker.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its scriptural usage, `{{H8140}}` consistently anchors significant events to specific points in history. It is frequently used to date the decrees and reigns of kings, such as in the "first **year** of Cyrus the king" when the decree was made to rebuild the house of God ([[Ezra 6:3]], [[Ezra 5:13]]). The term also marks periods of activity or inactivity, noting that work on the temple ceased until the "second **year** of the reign of Darius" [[Ezra 4:24]] and was finished in the sixth **year** of his reign [[Ezra 6:15]]. Beyond royal timelines, it can denote a person's age, as when Darius the Median took the kingdom at about sixty-two **years** old [[Daniel 5:31]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words appear in conjunction with `{{H8140}}`, particularly in the context of prophetic revelation:
* `{{H2493}}` **chêlem** (dream): This is an Aramaic word for a **dream**. It appears alongside `{{H8140}}` when Daniel receives a significant **dream** in the first **year** of King Belshazzar [[Daniel 7:1]].
* `{{H2376}}` **chêzêv** (vision): This word means a sight, look, or **vision**. It is used to describe the **visions** Daniel had that were associated with his **dream** in that specific **year** [[Daniel 7:1]].
* `{{H4903}}` **mishkab** (bed): This term, corresponding to the Hebrew for **bed**, is where Daniel received his dream and visions, grounding the supernatural event in a physical place and a specific historical **year** [[Daniel 7:1]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H8140}}` is found in its role of structuring the historical and prophetic narratives of Ezra and Daniel. It underscores God's sovereignty over the timeline of human events.
* **Historical Precision:** By tying the rebuilding of the temple to specific regnal **years** of Persian kings like Cyrus and Darius, the text emphasizes that God's plan unfolds within real, recorded history ([[Ezra 4:24]], [[Ezra 6:3]]).
* **Prophetic Framework:** In Daniel, dating a vision to a specific **year** of a king's reign situates God's revelation within a clear timeline. The vision in the first **year** of Belshazzar is not a timeless fable but a message given at a precise moment [[Daniel 7:1]].
* **Chronology of Redemption:** The usage of **shᵉnâh** helps chronicle the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel concerning their return from exile and the restoration of worship in Jerusalem, marking the progress and pauses in His redemptive work [[Ezra 6:15]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8140}}` **shᵉnâh** functions as a vital structural element in the Aramaic portions of Scripture. While its meaning as **year** is straightforward, its application provides a framework that connects divine decrees and prophetic visions to the concrete timeline of human history. Its use in Ezra and Daniel demonstrates that God's actions are deliberate, ordered, and precisely timed, reinforcing His sovereignty over the ages.
TRV