אָת
a portent
Definition
The Hebrew word אָת (ʼâth) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'sign' or 'portent.' It refers to a miraculous or extraordinary event that serves as a divine indicator, often pointing to God's power, sovereignty, or a coming judgment. In the Book of Daniel, it specifically describes the 'signs and wonders' performed by God, such as in Daniel 4:2-3, where King Nebuchadnezzar proclaims the 'signs' God has shown him, and in Daniel 6:27, where God's deliverance of Daniel is declared a 'sign' of His eternal kingdom. Unlike a simple marker, an אָת carries weight as a supernatural testimony to God's active involvement in human affairs.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel, used three times in royal proclamations. It appears in contexts where a king publicly acknowledges God's supreme power through dramatic, supernatural interventions. In Daniel 4:2-3, Nebuchadnezzar uses it to describe the 'signs and wonders' the Most High God performed for him. In Daniel 6:27, King Darius decrees that God's rescue of Daniel from the lions is a 'sign' that demonstrates God's living and enduring dominion. The pattern shows it is a formal term for a public, divine attestation in a pagan court setting.
Etymology
אָת is an Aramaic word, not classical Hebrew, borrowed into the biblical text in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. It corresponds directly to the Hebrew noun אוֹת (ʼôth, H226), which also means 'sign,' 'mark,' or 'token.' Both words share a common Semitic root and convey the concept of a distinguishing, often miraculous, indicator. In the context of Daniel, the Aramaic term is used naturally within the court language of the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's sovereignty over pagan nations and kings. The 'signs' (אָת) in Daniel are public demonstrations that the God of Israel is the true, living God who controls history and reveals Himself even to gentile rulers. Understanding this term enriches reading by showing how divine miracles serve not just as rescues for individuals like Daniel, but as authoritative testimonies meant to lead entire empires toward acknowledgment of Yahweh's kingdom, as seen in the decrees of Nebuchadnezzar and Darius.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings often attributed their successes to their own gods or divine favor. The use of אָת in the Book of Daniel subverts this: gentile monarchs are compelled to recognize and proclaim the 'signs' of the Hebrew God. A 'portent' or 'sign' in this culture was understood as a clear, public event with divine origin, meant to convey a message or confirm authority. The term would resonate in a setting where omens and prophecies were taken seriously by royal courts.
אוֹת (ʼôth, H226) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used broadly for signs, including covenants (e.g., rainbow), miracles, and memorials. מוֹפֵת (môphēth, H4159) — Often translated 'wonder' or 'miracle,' frequently paired with אוֹת to emphasize the miraculous nature of a sign (e.g., Exodus 7:3).
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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