WG: Aramaic Time
Overview
The time concept in Daniel's Aramaic sections (Dan 2-7) involves 6 Aramaic words working together to express duration, divine sovereignty over epochs, and prophetic time formulas.
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| H5732 |
עִדָּן |
ʻiddân |
noun |
15 |
The time-period (set time, year) |
A5732 |
| H2166 |
זְמָן |
zᵉmân |
noun |
11 |
The appointed occasion (season, time) |
A2166 |
| H8133 |
שְׁנָא |
shᵉnâʼ |
What happens to times (change, alter) |
A8133-shna |
|
|
| H2499 |
חֲלַף |
chălaph |
verb |
4 |
How time advances (pass over) |
TODO(need H2499 study) |
| H7655 |
שִׁבְעָה |
shibʻâh |
noun |
6 |
Time quantifier (seven) |
TODO(need H7655 study) |
| H5943 |
עִלַּי |
ʻillay |
adj |
10 |
The sovereign over time (Most High) |
TODO(need H5943 study) |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- H5732 ʻiddân — from root corresponding to H5708 עֵד (set period)
- H2166 zᵉmân — Aramaic; related to Hebrew H2165 זְמָן (appointed time)
- H8133 shᵉnâʼ — Aramaic; corresponds to Hebrew H8132 שָׁנָא (change)
- H2499 chălaph — Aramaic; corresponds to Hebrew H2498 חָלַף (pass on)
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| ʻiddân (H5732) |
shᵉnâʼ (H8133) |
4x |
"he changeth the times" (Dan 2:21); "till the time be changed" (Dan 2:9) |
| ʻiddân (H5732) |
chălaph (H2499) |
4x |
"seven times pass over him" (Dan 4:16, 23, 25, 32) |
| ʻiddân (H5732) |
shibʻâh (H7655) |
4x |
"seven times" — Nebuchadnezzar's punishment period |
| ʻiddân (H5732) |
zᵉmân (H2166) |
3x |
"times and seasons" paired (Dan 2:21; 7:12, 25) |
| ʻiddân (H5732) |
ʻillay (H5943) |
3x |
"the Most High ruleth" — purpose of time-bound discipline |
| chălaph (H2499) |
shibʻâh (H7655) |
4x |
Always together: "seven times pass over" |
| shibʻâh (H7655) |
ʻillay (H5943) |
2x |
Seven times teaches Most High's sovereignty |
| shᵉnâʼ (H8133) |
zᵉmân (H2166) |
2x |
God changes times and seasons |
| chălaph (H2499) |
ʻillay (H5943) |
2x |
Time passing proves Most High rules |
LXX Overlaps
| Aramaic Words |
Shared Greek |
Notes |
| ʻiddân + zᵉmân |
both → καιρός (G2540) in some contexts |
LXX sometimes conflates the two Aramaic time words |
Roles in the Concept
- Time-Period: ʻiddân (עִדָּן) — the set time or year; the primary duration word
- Appointed Occasion: zᵉmân (זְמָן) — the scheduled moment or season; complements ʻiddân
- Temporal Action: shᵉnâʼ (שְׁנָא) — God changes times; times are changed
- Temporal Motion: chălaph (חֲלַף) — times "pass over" someone (marking elapsed duration)
- Quantifier: shibʻâh (שִׁבְעָה) — "seven" times; the definite count
- Sovereign Agent: ʻillay (עִלַּי) — the Most High who rules over time
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Dan 2:21 — ʻiddân + zᵉmân + shᵉnâʼ: "He changeth the times (ʻiddânayâʼ) and the seasons (zimnayâʼ)" — the fullest statement of divine temporal sovereignty
- Dan 4:25 — ʻiddân + shibʻâh + chălaph + ʻillay: "Seven times (shibʻâh ʻiddânîn) shall pass over (yachlᵉphûn) thee, till thou know that the Most High (ʻillay) ruleth"
- Dan 7:25 — ʻiddân (3x) + shᵉnâʼ + zᵉmân: "think to change (shᵉnâʼ) times (zimnîn)... until a time and times and the dividing of time (ʻiddân)"
Generated from: search_strongs.py, co-occurrence queries
Last updated: 2026-03-31