עֲשִׁת
to purpose
Definition
The Hebrew verb עֲשִׁת (ʻăshith) means 'to purpose' or 'to think,' specifically in the sense of forming a deliberate intention or plan. In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 6:3, it describes King Darius's intention to set Daniel over his entire kingdom. The word conveys a sense of determined, sovereign decision-making, often by a person in authority. As an Aramaic loanword used in the biblical Aramaic portions of Daniel, it carries a nuance of royal decree or settled resolve.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic section of the book of Daniel. It is used in Daniel 6:3 (6:4 in some English versions) to express King Darius's purposeful intention to elevate Daniel to a position of supreme authority. The context is a royal administrative decision, highlighting the king's deliberate and favorable plan before political intrigue intervenes.
Etymology
The word עֲשִׁת is an Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew root עָשַׁת (ʻāshath, H6245), which also means 'to think' or 'to purpose.' It entered the biblical text in the Aramaic passages of Daniel, reflecting the linguistic context of the Babylonian exile. The root relates to the concept of forming a mental plan or intention.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word highlights the theme of divine sovereignty working through human intentions. King Darius's purpose to honor Daniel ultimately serves God's greater plan to preserve His prophet and demonstrate His power (Daniel 6:26-27). It reminds readers that even the plans of powerful rulers are under God's providential guidance, a key theme in Daniel.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's 'purpose' or decree was absolute and unchangeable, as seen in the later unalterable law in the same chapter (Daniel 6:8, 12). The use of this Aramaic term in a royal setting reflects the administrative language of the Persian Empire, where deliberate, official intentions carried the weight of law.
חָשַׁב (chāshav, H2803) — a more common Hebrew verb for 'to think' or 'to plan,' with a broader range of mental activity. יָעַץ (yāʻats, H3289) — 'to counsel' or 'to advise,' often involving consultation. זָמַם (zāmam, H2161) — 'to devise,' sometimes with a negative connotation of plotting.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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