Word Studies¶
Question¶
What are the strongest arguments each position faces, and how do they respond?
gadal - H1431¶
Original: גָּדַל Transliteration: gawdal Definition: To twist, to be/make large; advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, grow, increase, magnify, nourish, promote, proudly, tower. 152 occurrences, 115 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| great | 9 | 5.9% |
| grew | 6 | 3.9% |
| great things | 4 | 2.6% |
| be magnified | 4 | 2.6% |
| was grown | 3 | 2.0% |
| magnified | 2 | 1.3% |
| exceeded | 2 | 1.3% |
| greater | 2 | 1.3% |
| (111 total unique translations) |
Key Verses¶
Daniel gadal chain (critical for Against PRET #1): - Dan 8:4 — Ram "became great" (vattigdal, Qal wayyiqtol 3fs) — Medo-Persia's greatness baseline - Dan 8:8 — He-goat "waxed very great" (higdil, Hiphil perfect) — Greece surpasses Persia - Dan 8:9 — Little horn "waxed exceeding great" (vattigdal-yether, Qal + comparative adverb) — MUST surpass Greece - Dan 8:10 — Horn "waxed great" (vattigdal, Qal) unto the host of heaven — cosmic/religious scope - Dan 8:11 — Horn "magnified himself" (higdil, Hiphil) even to the Prince of the host — Hiphil reflexive = self-magnification - Dan 8:25 — "He shall magnify himself" (yagdil, Hiphil imperfect) in his heart - Dan 11:36 — "shall magnify himself" (yithgaddel, Hithpael) above every god — Hithpael = intensive self-exaltation - Dan 11:37 — "shall magnify himself" (yithgaddal, Hithpael) above all
The gadal/yether argument: The comparative adverb yether (H3499) in Dan 8:9 creates an ascending chain: ram (great) → he-goat (very great) → little horn (EXCEEDING great). If the ram = Medo-Persia (~5.5-8M km2) and the he-goat = Greece (~5.2M km2), the horn must surpass both. Antiochus IV controlled ~3M km2 — a REDUCTION, not an increase. PRET responds with three weak alternatives: (a) comparative to shrunken Diadochi only, (b) shift to religious/spiritual greatness, (c) proportional military impact. The PRET DB itself classifies all three as weak.
Other key occurrences: Gen 12:2 (God will make Abraham great); Gen 26:13 (Isaac grew great); Josh 4:14 (God magnified Joshua); 1 Chr 29:25 (God magnified Solomon); Joel 2:20-21 (the Lord has done great things).
Stem Progression in Daniel¶
| Reference | Stem | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan 8:4 | Qal | vattigdal | grew great (intransitive) |
| Dan 8:8 | Hiphil | higdil | became very great (causative) |
| Dan 8:9 | Qal+yether | vattigdal-yether | grew exceeding great (comparative) |
| Dan 8:10 | Qal | vattigdal | grew great (cosmic scope) |
| Dan 8:11 | Hiphil | higdil | magnified self (against Prince) |
| Dan 11:36 | Hithpael | yithgaddel | exalted self (intensive reflexive) |
chathak - H2852¶
Original: חָתַךְ Transliteration: khaw-thak Definition: Properly to cut off, i.e. figuratively to decree. HAPAX LEGOMENON — only 1 occurrence in the entire OT.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count |
|---|---|
| are determined | 1 (Dan 9:24) |
Key Verses¶
- Dan 9:24: "Seventy weeks are determined (nechtak, Niphal perfect) upon thy people" — the ONLY occurrence
- Root meaning: "CUT OFF" — Gesenius gives "to cut, to cut off" as primary meaning
- KJV, NRSV, NIV, NASB, ESV all render "determined/decreed" (figurative extension of cutting)
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
HIST argument: Primary meaning "cut off" supports the 70 weeks being "cut off" from the larger 2300-day period — a continuous block excised from its parent timeline. This links Dan 9:24 to Dan 8:14 as a unified chronological framework.
PRET counter: Translation consensus is "decreed," not "cut off from." If chathak simply means "decreed," the 70-weeks/2300 connection collapses and the 70 weeks stand as an independent unit.
FUT counter: If chathak ≠ "cut off FROM [something]," there is no textual basis for a shared starting point between the 490 and the 2300. The HIST reading requires an implied "from the 2300" that the text does not state.
gabar - H1396¶
Original: גָּבַר Transliteration: gaw-bar Definition: To be strong; prevail, act insolently; exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more strength, strengthen, be stronger, be valiant. 31 occurrences, 25 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| prevailed | 8 | 25.8% |
| prevail | 3 | 9.7% |
| And he shall confirm | 1 | 3.2% |
| And I will strengthen | 1 | 3.2% |
| they were stronger | 1 | 3.2% |
| strengtheneth himself | 1 | 3.2% |
| valiant | 1 | 3.2% |
| (21 total unique translations) |
Key Verses¶
- Dan 9:27: "And he shall confirm (vehigbir, Hiphil perfect) the covenant with many for one week" — the ONLY Daniel occurrence
- Gen 7:18-20: waters "prevailed" (gabar) upon the earth — used 3x in flood narrative
- Exo 17:11: "when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed (gavar)" — military victory
- 1 Chr 5:2: "Judah prevailed (gavar) above his brethren"
- Lam 1:16: "the enemy prevailed (gavar)"
- Zech 10:6,12: "I will strengthen (gabar) them"
The gabar vs. karath Distinction (Critical for Against FUT #4)¶
Dan 9:27 uses gabar (Hiphil = "cause to be strong/confirm") for the covenant, NOT karath (H3772, "cut a covenant"). This distinction is lexically significant: - gabar beriyth = strengthen/confirm an EXISTING covenant - karath beriyth = CUT (initiate) a NEW covenant
Standard covenant formula in OT is karath beriyth (Gen 15:18; Exod 24:8; Jer 31:31). Dan 9:27 deliberately uses gabar instead, indicating the subject STRENGTHENS a pre-existing covenant rather than making a new one. This fits Messiah strengthening the Abrahamic/Mosaic covenant, NOT an Antichrist signing a new peace treaty.
la-rabbim Parallel¶
Dan 9:27 la-rabbim ("for the many") echoes Isa 53:11 la-rabbim ("shall justify MANY") — Messianic language, not Antichrist language.
karath - H3772¶
Original: כָּרַת Transliteration: kaw-rath Definition: To cut off/down/asunder; destroy, consume; specifically to covenant (by cutting flesh and passing between pieces). 358 occurrences, 288 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count |
|---|---|
| cut off | dominant |
| cut down | frequent |
| made (covenant) | frequent |
Key Verses¶
- Gen 15:18: "The LORD made (karath) a covenant with Abram" — paradigmatic covenant-making
- Exod 24:8: "the covenant which the LORD hath made (karath)" — Sinai covenant
- Jer 31:31: "I will make (karath) a NEW covenant" — new covenant promise
- Dan 9:26: "shall Messiah be cut off (yikkareth, Niphal)" — Messiah's death, NOT covenant-making
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
NOT used in Dan 9:27 for the covenant. gabar (H1396) is used instead. This is the critical lexical evidence: the covenant in 9:27 is strengthened/confirmed, not newly cut. FUT's "seven-year peace treaty" reading requires a NEW covenant (karath), but the text uses gabar — the wrong verb for initiating a treaty.
beriyth - H1285¶
Original: בְּרִית Transliteration: ber-eeth Definition: A compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); covenant, league, confederacy. 284 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| of the covenant | 60 | 18.9% |
| my covenant | 45 | 14.2% |
| covenant | 40 | 12.6% |
| a covenant | 40 | 12.6% |
| the covenant | 27 | 8.5% |
| his covenant | 14 | 4.4% |
| a league | 11 | 3.5% |
Key Verses in Daniel¶
- Dan 9:4: "the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant"
- Dan 9:27: "he shall confirm (gabar) the covenant (beriyth) with many"
- Dan 11:22: "the prince of the covenant" — destroyed
- Dan 11:28: "his heart shall be against the holy covenant"
- Dan 11:30: "have indignation against the holy covenant"
- Dan 11:32: "such as do wickedly against the covenant"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
The beriyth in Dan 9:27 (strengthened by gabar) contrasts with the beriyth in Dan 11:28-32 (attacked). Dan 9:27 = Messiah confirming God's covenant. Dan 11:28-32 = the willful king opposing the holy covenant. The different verbs with beriyth mark different actors and different relationships to the covenant.
malku - H4437 (Aramaic)¶
Original: מַלְכוּ Transliteration: mal-koo Definition: (Aramaic) Royalty, reign, kingdom, dominion. 57 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| the kingdom | 9 | 13.8% |
| kingdom | 8 | 12.3% |
| in the kingdom | 7 | 10.8% |
| a kingdom | 3 | 4.6% |
| of the kingdom | 3 | 4.6% |
Key Verses (Against PRET #2 — Everlasting Kingdom)¶
- Dan 2:37: "Thou, O king... the God of heaven hath given thee a malku"
- Dan 2:44: "shall the God of heaven set up a malku which shall never be destroyed... it shall stand le-almayya (for ever)"
- Dan 7:14: "there was given him [Son of Man] dominion and glory and a malku... his malku shall not be destroyed" (malku appears TWICE)
- Dan 7:18: "the saints of the most High shall take the malku, and possess the malku for ever (ad alma), even for ever and ever (ad alam almayya)"
- Dan 7:22: "the time came that the saints possessed the malku"
- Dan 7:27: "the malku... shall be given to the people of the saints... whose malku is an everlasting malku (malkut alam)"
BDB Semantic Range¶
- Royal authority/kingship: Dan 4:26,31,36
- Organized world-kingdom: Dan 2:39-44; 7:23-27
- Territorial realm: Dan 4:18,36; 5:7,11,16; 6:1-3
- Of God: Dan 3:33; 4:3,34; 6:26; 7:27 — always with "everlasting" qualifier
- Of Messiah: Dan 7:14 — with "shall not be destroyed"
- Of saints: Dan 7:18,22,27 — with "for ever, even for ever and ever"
The triple/quadruple emphasis on everlasting (le-almayya, ad alam, ad alma ve-ad alam almayya, malkut alam) exceeds any temporal Maccabean kingdom by definition. The Hasmonean dynasty lasted ~77 years (164-63 BC).
malkuwth - H4438¶
Original: מַלְכוּת Transliteration: mal-kooth Definition: A rule; concretely, a dominion; kingdom, reign, royal. 91 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| his kingdom | 10 | 10.5% |
| of the reign | 9 | 9.5% |
| of the kingdom | 9 | 9.5% |
| royal | 8 | 8.4% |
| kingdom | 5 | 5.3% |
Key Verses¶
- Dan 8:22: "four malkuwth shall stand up out of the nation" — four successor kingdoms to Greece
- Dan 11:2-4: malkuwth used for successive historical kingdoms
- Dan 10:13: "prince of the malkuwth of Persia" — territorial/political sense
Note¶
malku (H4437, Aramaic) appears in the Aramaic sections (Dan 2-7) where the everlasting kingdom language occurs. malkuwth (H4438, Hebrew) appears in the Hebrew sections (Dan 8-12) for historical kingdoms. The everlasting kingdom emphasis is concentrated in the Aramaic malku passages.
alam - H5957 (Aramaic)¶
Original: עָלַם Transliteration: aw-lam Definition: (Aramaic) Perpetuity, antiquity; forever, everlasting. 20 BLB count.
Key Verses (Against PRET #2)¶
- Dan 2:44: kingdom "shall stand le-almayya" (forever and ever, plural emphatic)
- Dan 7:14: dominion "ad alam" (unto perpetuity) + "shall not pass away"
- Dan 7:18: saints possess kingdom "ad alma ve-ad alam almayya" (forever, even forever and ever)
- Dan 7:27: kingdom is "malkut alam" (everlasting kingdom) + "all dominions shall serve and obey"
Emphatic Forms¶
| Expression | Form | Emphasis Level |
|---|---|---|
| alam | basic | perpetuity |
| le-almayya | plural emphatic | forever and ever |
| ad alam | prepositional | unto perpetuity |
| ad alma ve-ad alam almayya | compound + plural emphatic | forever, even forever and ever |
| malkut alam | construct | everlasting kingdom |
The PRET response — that kingdom language is "forward-looking theological hope" rather than literal Maccabean fulfillment — is itself a concession that the text's everlasting language cannot be satisfied by a 77-year dynasty.
ad - H5703¶
Original: עַד Transliteration: ad Definition: A (peremptory) terminus; duration; perpetuity. 49 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| for ever | 25 | 49.0% |
| and ever | 14 | 27.5% |
| everlasting | 2 | 3.9% |
| eternity | 1 | 2.0% |
Key Verses¶
- Dan 12:3: "they that turn many to righteousness as the stars le-olam va-ad (for ever and ever)"
- Ps 45:7: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever (olam va-ad)"
- Isa 57:15: "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity (ad)"
- Hab 3:6: "His ways are everlasting (olam)" — parallel to ad
eth - H6256¶
Original: עֵת Transliteration: ayth Definition: Time; especially with preposition: now, when, season. 296 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| time | 91 | 24.1% |
| at | 39 | 10.3% |
| the time | 21 | 5.6% |
| in the time | 19 | 5.0% |
| times | 14 | 3.7% |
| a time | 14 | 3.7% |
Key Verses — "eth qets" Chain (Against PRET #9)¶
- Dan 8:17: "at the time of the end (le-eth-qets) shall be the vision" — Gabriel's initial statement
- Dan 11:35: "even to the time of the end (eth qets): because it is yet for a time appointed"
- Dan 11:40: "at the time of the end (be-eth qets) shall the king of the south push"
- Dan 12:4: "seal the book, even to the time of the end (eth qets)"
- Dan 12:9: "the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (eth qets)"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
PRET acknowledges the "eth qets double-use" as an "unresolved weakness." The same phrase is used for both the Antiochus era (8:17) and the clearly eschatological end (12:4,9). If eth qets in 8:17 = Antiochus, then the same phrase in 12:4,9 should also = Antiochus — but Dan 12:2-3 describes resurrection from the dead, which exceeds any Maccabean horizon.
tsadaq - H6663¶
Original: צָדַק Transliteration: tsaw-dak Definition: To be/make right in moral or forensic sense; cleanse, clear self, be/do just, justify, be/turn to righteous. 54 occurrences, 41 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| be justified | 4 | 7.4% |
| righteous | 2 | 3.7% |
| justify | 2 | 3.7% |
| just | 2 | 3.7% |
| be cleansed | 1 | 1.9% |
| to righteousness | 1 | 1.9% |
| (45 total unique translations) |
Key Verses¶
- Dan 8:14: "unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed (venitsdaq, Niphal perfect)" — THE anomalous KJV rendering
- Dan 12:3: "they that turn many to righteousness (matsdiqe, Hiphil participle)" — standard forensic usage
- Isa 53:11: "shall my righteous servant justify (yatsdiq, Hiphil) many" — forensic justification
- Job 4:17: "shall mortal man be more just (yitsdak, Qal) than God?"
- Ps 19:9: "the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous (tsadequ) altogether"
- Exo 23:7: "I will not justify (atsdiq, Hiphil) the wicked" — judicial verdict
The nitsdaq Problem (Against PRET #3, Key for HIST)¶
Dan 8:14 is the ONLY verse where KJV renders tsadaq as "cleansed." The normal word for ritual cleansing is taher (H2891), which occurs 94 times, predominantly in Levitical purification contexts. The Niphal of tsadaq (nitsdaq) means "be justified, be vindicated" — a FORENSIC/JUDICIAL concept, not a ritual one.
Translation pattern: tsadaq = forensic/judicial (justified, righteous, just) in 53 of 54 occurrences. Only Dan 8:14 = "cleansed." This anomalous rendering obscures the text's actual meaning: the sanctuary will be VINDICATED or JUSTIFIED — a judgment/court action consistent with the Dan 7:9-14 judgment scene, not merely a ritual purification like Antiochus's rededication of the temple (1 Macc 4:36-59).
tamiyd - H8548¶
Original: תָּמִיד Transliteration: taw-meed Definition: Continuance; constant, daily sacrifice; always, continual, daily, ever, perpetual. 105 occurrences, 104 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| continually | 53 | 50.5% |
| the continual | 17 | 16.2% |
| continual | 9 | 8.6% |
| the daily | 7 | 6.7% |
| always | 6 | 5.7% |
| alway | 4 | 3.8% |
| perpetual | 2 | 1.9% |
Key Verses — Daniel Occurrences¶
- Dan 8:11: "and by him the daily (hattamid) was taken away" — "sacrifice" supplied by translators
- Dan 8:12: "a host was given against the daily (hattamid)"
- Dan 8:13: "how long the vision concerning the daily (hattamid)"
- Dan 11:31: "they shall take away the daily (hattamid)"
- Dan 12:11: "from the time that the daily (hattamid) shall be taken away"
Verses Translated "the daily" (all in Daniel + Numbers)¶
- Num 4:16; 29:6 — Levitical daily offering context
- Dan 8:11,12,13; 11:31; 12:11 — all Daniel prophetic uses
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
The Hebrew has ONLY tamid = "the continual/continual thing." The word "sacrifice" is supplied by KJV translators in italics and is NOT in the Hebrew text. This is significant: if tamid refers to something broader than the literal daily sacrifice (e.g., Christ's continual priestly ministry), the HIST reading of Dan 8:11 as the obscuring of Christ's mediation gains lexical support.
Exod 29:38-42: tamid describes the PAIRED morning-evening sacrifice (two lambs per day). This supports reading erev-boqer in Dan 8:14 as a single unit (one complete day), not as half-day periods (which would yield 1150).
shamem - H8074¶
Original: שָׁמֵם Transliteration: shaw-mame Definition: To stun, devastate; make amazed, be astonished, make desolate, destroy, lay waste. 92 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| desolate | 14 | 13.6% |
| shall be astonished | 9 | 8.7% |
| shall be desolate | 4 | 3.9% |
| are desolate | 3 | 2.9% |
| that maketh desolate | 2 | 1.9% |
| desolations | 2 | 1.9% |
Key Verses — Daniel Occurrences¶
- Dan 8:13: hashomem (Qal participle) = "that maketh desolate"
- Dan 8:27: "I Daniel... was astonished (shamem) at the vision"
- Dan 9:18: "see our desolations (shomemoteynu)"
- Dan 9:26: "unto the end... desolations (shomemot) are determined"
- Dan 9:27: meshomem (Piel participle) = "that maketh desolate / causing desolation"
- Dan 11:31: shamem (desolation vocabulary in abomination context)
- Dan 12:11: shomem (Qal participle) = "that maketh desolate"
shiqquwts - H8251¶
Original: שִׁקּוּץ Transliteration: shik-koots Definition: Disgusting, filthy; especially idolatrous; concretely an idol; abominable filth, detestable thing. 28 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| the abomination | 7 | 24.1% |
| their abominations | 4 | 13.8% |
| the abominations | 3 | 10.3% |
| thine abominations | 2 | 6.9% |
| of their detestable things | 2 | 6.9% |
Key Verses — Daniel Occurrences¶
- Dan 9:27: shiqquwtsim meshomem = "abominations causing desolation" (PLURAL shiqquwtsim)
- Dan 11:31: shiqquwts shamem = "the abomination that maketh desolate"
- Dan 12:11: shiqquwts shomem = "the abomination that maketh desolate"
Combined Vocabulary: shiqquwts + shamem¶
The "abomination of desolation" combines: - shiqquwts (H8251) = the detestable/idolatrous THING - shamem/meshomem (H8074) = the DESOLATING action
Usage pattern for shiqquwts: almost exclusively for IDOLS and idolatrous worship practices (Deut 29:16; 1 Kgs 11:5; 2 Kgs 23:24; Jer 4:1; Ezek 5:11; 7:20; 11:18,20; 20:7-8). The abomination is fundamentally an IDOLATROUS entity.
NT equivalent: bdelygma (G946) in Matt 24:15, Mark 13:14. Mark's masculine participle (hestekota) for neuter bdelygma implies PERSONAL AGENCY — the abomination is not merely an object but a person.
dat - H1881¶
Original: דָּת Transliteration: dawth Definition: Of uncertain derivation; a royal edict or statute; commandment, commission, decree, law, manner. 23 occurrences, 22 BLB count.
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| and his decree | 4 | 17.4% |
| law | 2 | 8.7% |
| according to the law | 2 | 8.7% |
| for a commandment | 2 | 8.7% |
| decree | 1 | 4.3% |
| the decree | 1 | 4.3% |
| laws | 1 | 4.3% |
| commissions | 1 | 4.3% |
Key Verse¶
- Dan 7:25: "and think to change times and laws (vedat)" — ABSOLUTE form, no construct
Usage Pattern¶
Esther uses dat extensively for ROYAL DECREES: Est 1:8,13,15,19; 2:8,12; 3:8,14,15 (14+ occurrences) Daniel uses dat in both senses: Dan 2:9,13,15 (royal decree); Dan 6:6,9,13,16 (law of the Medes and Persians); Dan 7:25 (ambiguous)
Counter-Argument Relevance (Against PRET #13)¶
The question: does dat in Dan 7:25 mean DIVINE law (Torah) or merely royal edicts? If divine law, the horn's attempt to "change times and laws" is an assault on God's authority — too large for Antiochus's temporary desecration. If merely royal decrees, any political figure "changing laws" would qualify.
Key contrast: Dan 2:21 says GOD "changeth times (iddanayya) and seasons (zimnayya)" — divine prerogative. Dan 7:25 says the horn "intends (yisbar) to change times (zimnin) and law (dat)" — usurping God's prerogative. The deliberate parallel suggests dat = divine law, not merely human statute.
sbar (H5452): The verb yisbar = "intend/think" (Peal imperfect) — NOT an accomplished fact. The horn INTENDS to change, implying it cannot fully succeed. This contrasts with Dan 2:21 where God actually does change times.
aqar - H6132 (Aramaic)¶
Original: עֲקַר Transliteration: ak-ar Definition: (Aramaic) Corresponding to H6131; pluck up by the roots. 2 occurrences only.
All Occurrences¶
- Dan 7:8: "three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots (it'aqaru, Ethpeel perfect 3fp)" — before the little horn
- Dan 7:8: "there were (it'aqarah)" — second occurrence in same verse context
Counter-Argument Relevance (Against PRET #14)¶
The Ethpeel stem (reflexive/passive) indicates FORCIBLE, COMPLETE removal — not gentle displacement or natural succession. The three horns are UPROOTED, not merely absorbed. This violent imagery requires specific historical identification of three kingdoms permanently destroyed by the little horn's rise. For PRET (Antiochus), identifying which three of the ten Diadochi kingdoms were "uprooted" is problematic. For HIST (papacy), the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths identification is debated but historically attested.
iddan - H5732 (Aramaic)¶
Original: עִדָּן Transliteration: id-dawn Definition: (Aramaic) A set time; technically, a year. 15 occurrences, 13 BLB count.
Key Verses¶
- Dan 4:16,23,25,32 (Eng): "seven times (shiv'ah iddanin)" = universally understood as 7 literal years (Nebuchadnezzar's insanity)
- Dan 7:25: "iddan ve-iddanin u-felag iddan" = time + times + half a time = 3.5 units
Counter-Argument Relevance (FUT's Strongest Intra-Daniel Argument)¶
FUT argument: If iddan = literal year in Dan 4 (universally accepted), the same word should = literal year in Dan 7:25. Therefore time + times + half = 3.5 LITERAL years, not 1260 prophetic day-years.
HIST counter: Dan 4 is narrative history (literal animals, literal king, literal insanity). Dan 7 is symbolic apocalyptic (beasts ≠ literal animals, horns ≠ literal horns, so time may also be symbolic). Genre determines whether the unit is literal or symbolic.
BDB: "definite time = year" — citing Dan 4:13,20,22,29 explicitly as the year-meaning passages.
shabuwa - H7620¶
Original: שָׁבוּעַ Transliteration: shaw-boo-ah Definition: Passive participle of H7650 as denominative of H7651; literally sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years); seven, week. 24 occurrences, 20 BLB count.
Key Verses¶
- Dan 9:24-27: shabu'im shiv'im = "sevens seventy" = 70 x 7 units
- Dan 10:2-3: shabu'im YAMIM = "weeks of DAYS" — authorial clarification signal
- Gen 29:27-28: "Fulfil HER WEEK (shabuwa)" = 7-year period (Jacob's service for Rachel)
The yamim Distinction (Critical)¶
When Daniel means literal day-weeks, he ADDS the qualifier yamim ("days"): Dan 10:2 shabu'im yamim. In Dan 9:24, yamim is ABSENT. The authorial signal: shabu'im alone = year-weeks; shabu'im yamim = day-weeks.
Independent Year-Week Precedent¶
Gen 29:27-28 uses shabuwa for a seven-YEAR period (Jacob's bridal week). This provides an independent line of evidence (beyond Num 14:34 / Ezek 4:6) that shabuwa can naturally mean a seven-year unit.
apostasia - G646¶
Original: ἀποστασία Transliteration: ap-os-tas-ee-ah Definition: Defection from truth; apostasy, falling away. 2 NT occurrences only.
All Occurrences¶
- Acts 21:21: "thou teachest all the Jews... to FORSAKE (apostasia) Moses" — religious defection from Torah
- 2 Thess 2:3: "except there come a FALLING AWAY (apostasia) first" — religious apostasy precedes the man of sin
Counter-Argument Relevance (Against FUT Rapture Reading)¶
FUT argument (minority): apostasia = "departure" = the rapture (physical departure of the church). Refutation: BOTH NT uses = religious defection/departure from faith. Zero instances meaning physical departure or rapture. Paul's own word for the saints' physical gathering is episynagoge (G1997), which he uses in the immediately preceding verse (2 Thess 2:1). If Paul meant physical departure in 2:3, he would have used episynagoge again — instead he chose a DIFFERENT word (apostasia) with an exclusively religious-defection meaning.
parousia - G3952¶
Original: παρουσία Transliteration: par-oo-see-ah Definition: A being near, advent, coming. 19 occurrences.
Key Verses¶
- 1 Thess 4:15: "the coming (parousia) of the Lord"
- 2 Thess 2:1: "by the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ"
- 2 Thess 2:8: "destroy with the brightness of his coming (parousia)"
apokalypsis - G602¶
Original: ἀποκάλυψις Transliteration: ap-ok-al-oop-sis Definition: Disclosure, appearing, revelation. 18 occurrences.
Key Verses¶
- 2 Thess 1:7: "when the Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED (apokalypsis)"
- 1 Cor 1:7: "waiting for the coming (apokalypsis) of our Lord Jesus Christ"
epiphaneia - G2015¶
Original: ἐπιφάνεια Transliteration: ep-if-an-i-ah Definition: A manifestation; the advent of Christ. 6 occurrences.
Key Verses¶
- 2 Thess 2:8: "destroy with the BRIGHTNESS (epiphaneia) of his coming (parousia)"
- 1 Tim 6:14: "until the appearing (epiphaneia) of our Lord Jesus Christ"
- Tit 2:13: "the glorious appearing (epiphaneia) of the great God and our Saviour"
The Three "Coming" Words — One Event (Against FUT Two-Phase Return)¶
Paul uses parousia (G3952), apokalypsis (G602), and epiphaneia (G2015) interchangeably for the SAME event: - parousia = 1 Thess 4:15 (the "rapture" passage) - apokalypsis = 2 Thess 1:7 (visible revelation with judgment) - epiphaneia = 2 Thess 2:8 (destruction of the man of sin)
If these described two separate events (secret rapture + visible return), Paul could not use them interchangeably. The fact that parousia appears in the "catching up" passage AND epiphaneia/parousia together appear in the "man of sin destruction" passage proves ONE visible, public Second Coming.
episynagoge - G1997¶
Original: ἐπισυναγωγή Transliteration: ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay Definition: A complete collection; a Christian meeting/gathering. 2 occurrences.
All Occurrences¶
- 2 Thess 2:1: "by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our GATHERING TOGETHER (episynagoge) unto him"
- Heb 10:25: "not forsaking the assembling (episynagoge) of ourselves together"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
Paul's word for the saints' gathering at Christ's return is episynagoge (2 Thess 2:1). He then uses the DIFFERENT word apostasia (G646) in 2:3 for what must happen first. If Paul meant "the gathering/departure" in 2:3, he would have reused episynagoge — the word he just used one verse earlier.
ekklao - G1575¶
Original: ἐκκλάω Transliteration: ek-klah Definition: To break off. 3 occurrences — all in Romans 11.
All Occurrences¶
- Rom 11:17: "some of the branches were broken off (exeklasthesan)"
- Rom 11:19: "the branches were broken off (exeklasthesan)"
- Rom 11:20: "because of unbelief they were broken off (exeklasthesan)"
Counter-Argument Relevance (Against FUT #9)¶
All three uses describe natural branches (Israel) broken off from the olive tree. BUT: (1) only SOME branches, not all (11:17); (2) the reason is unbelief, not ethnic replacement (11:20); (3) God can graft them back in (11:23). The olive tree metaphor shows ONE tree with branches added and removed — not two separate trees (Israel and Church).
ametameletos - G278¶
Original: ἀμεταμέλητος Transliteration: am-et-am-el-ay-tos Definition: Irrevocable, without regret. 2 occurrences.
All Occurrences¶
- Rom 11:29: "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (ametameleta)" — irrevocable
- 2 Cor 7:10: "repentance to salvation not to be repented of (ametameleton)"
Counter-Argument Relevance (FUT Keystone Defense)¶
FUT argument: God's gifts and calling to Israel are IRREVOCABLE (Rom 11:29) — therefore national Israel retains a distinct eschatological program separate from the Church. HIST/PRET counter: Irrevocable does not require SEPARATE. God's calling to Abraham's seed is irrevocable — and fulfilled IN Christ to all who believe (Gal 3:29: "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise").
taher - H2891¶
Original: טָהֵר Transliteration: taw-hare Definition: To be bright; to be pure/clean; Levitically uncontaminated; morally innocent. 94 BLB count.
Translations¶
Predominantly "clean/cleansed/purified" — standard Levitical/ritual purification vocabulary.
Key Verses¶
Heavily concentrated in Leviticus 11-16 (50+ occurrences) — ritual purity law. - Lev 16:30: "on that day shall the priest make an atonement... that ye may be clean (taher)" - 2 Chr 29:15-16: priests "cleansed (taher) the house of the LORD" - Ezek 36:25,33: "I will cleanse (taher) you from all your filthiness" - Mal 3:3: "he shall purify (taher) the sons of Levi"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
taher is the STANDARD word for ritual/Levitical cleansing. It is NOT used in Dan 8:14. Instead, Daniel uses nitsdaq (Niphal of tsadaq, H6663) — forensic vindication. The KJV's rendering "shall the sanctuary be CLEANSED" in Dan 8:14 obscures this distinction by importing taher's ritual concept onto tsadaq's forensic concept.
mareh - H4758¶
Original: מַרְאֶה Transliteration: mar-eh Definition: A view, appearance; shape, vision. 107 occurrences, 103 BLB count.
Key Verses — biyn/mareh Chain (Against PRET #8)¶
- Dan 8:15: "when I Daniel, had seen the vision (hazon), and sought understanding (binah)"
- Dan 8:16: "Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision (mareh)" — COMMISSION
- Dan 8:26: "the vision (mareh) of the evening and morning is true" — which vision specified
- Dan 8:27: "I Daniel... was astonished at the vision (mareh), but none understood it" — FAILURE
- Dan 9:23: "understand the matter, and consider the VISION (mareh)" — RESUMPTION
- Dan 10:1: "he understood the thing, and had understanding (binah) of the vision (mareh)" — COMPLETION
The biyn Chain (Dan 8-9-10 Unity Argument)¶
- COMMISSION (8:16): Gabriel told to make Daniel "understand" (haben) the mareh
- FAILURE (8:27): Daniel "astonished at the mareh, but NONE UNDERSTOOD" — commission incomplete
- STUDY (9:2): Daniel studies Jeremiah's prophecy — triggered by the unresolved mareh
- RESUMPTION (9:22-23): Gabriel returns — "I am come... to give thee understanding (haskel); consider the VISION (mareh)"
- COMPLETION (10:1): "he understood the thing, and had understanding (binah) of the vision (mareh)"
This chain proves Dan 9 is the CONTINUATION of Dan 8's explanation, not an independent prophecy. The mareh/haben inclusio links the two chapters as one continuous revelation.
qets - H7093¶
Original: קֵץ Transliteration: kates Definition: An extremity; end, after, border, finite. 67 BLB count.
Key Verses — Daniel Chain¶
- Dan 8:17: "at the time of the end (le-eth-qets) shall be the vision"
- Dan 8:19: "at the last end (be-acharith) of the indignation... at the time appointed (mo'ed) the end (qets)"
- Dan 9:26: "and the end (qets) thereof shall be with a flood"
- Dan 11:6,13,27: historical qets — "end of years," "after certain years," "the end shall be"
- Dan 11:35: "even to the time of the end (eth qets): because it is yet for a time appointed (mo'ed)"
- Dan 11:40: "at the time of the end (be-eth qets) shall the king of the south push at him"
- Dan 11:45: "he shall come to his end (qitstsav), and none shall help him"
- Dan 12:4: "close up the book, even to the time of the end (eth qets)"
- Dan 12:6: "How long shall it be to the end (qets) of these wonders?"
- Dan 12:9: "the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (eth qets)"
- Dan 12:13: "thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end (qets) of the days"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
The "eth qets" (time of the end) chain creates a coherent eschatological framework spanning Dan 8-12. PRET's double-use problem: if eth qets in 8:17 = the Antiochus era (~167-164 BC), then eth qets in 12:4,9 should also = Antiochus era. But Dan 12:2-3 describes bodily resurrection and eternal reward/punishment — events that manifestly did not occur in 164 BC.
mur - H4171¶
Original: מוּר Transliteration: moor Definition: To alter; by implication to barter, exchange, remove. 14 BLB count.
Key Verses¶
- Ps 106:20: "They changed (himiru) their glory into the similitude of an ox"
- Jer 2:11: "Hath a nation changed (hemir) their gods?"
- Lev 27:10,33: laws about not changing (yamir) animal vows
Note¶
NOT used in Dan 7:25. Daniel uses the Aramaic hashnayah (from shenah = "be different/change") for "think to change times and laws." The conceptual parallel with mur is that both describe unauthorized alteration of what God has established.
zeman - H2165 (Aramaic)¶
Original: זְמָן Transliteration: zem-awn Definition: An appointed occasion; time, season. 4 BLB count.
Key Verses¶
- Dan 7:25: zimnin (plural) = "times/appointed times" — the horn intends to change these
- Dan 2:21: zimnayya = "seasons" — GOD changes times and seasons (divine prerogative)
- Eccl 3:1: "To every thing there is a season (zeman)"
Counter-Argument Relevance¶
The Dan 2:21 / 7:25 contrast is deliberate: God ACTUALLY changes times and seasons (2:21); the horn merely INTENDS (yisbar) to change them (7:25). The horn's presumption to change zeman (divinely appointed times) mirrors its presumption to change dat (divinely established law) — both are assaults on divine prerogative.
sega - H7680 (Aramaic)¶
Original: שְׂגָא Transliteration: seg-aw Definition: (Aramaic) To grow, increase, be multiplied. 3 BLB count.
All Occurrences¶
- Dan 3:31 (4:1 Eng): "your peace be multiplied (yisge)"
- Dan 6:26 (6:25 Eng): "peace be multiplied (yisge) unto you"
- Ezra 4:22: "why should damage grow (yisge) to the hurt of the kings?"
Note¶
sega is Aramaic growth vocabulary in Daniel context but is NOT used for the horn's growth. The horn's growth uses gadal (H1431) exclusively. sega occurs only in epistolary greetings and administrative contexts — not in apocalyptic vision material.