עַתִּיק
removed, i.e. weaned; also antique
Definition
The Hebrew word עַתִּיק (ʻattîyq) carries two primary meanings in the Old Testament. Its core sense is 'removed' or 'taken away,' specifically describing a child who has been weaned from its mother (1 Chronicles 4:22). A secondary, more prominent meaning is 'ancient' or 'antique,' referring to something old, venerable, and removed in time. This sense is used in Isaiah 28:9, where the prophet is mockingly asked if he is trying to teach knowledge to those who are 'weaned from the milk' and 'drawn from the breasts,' using the word's dual imagery to imply teaching deep, ancient truths to spiritual infants.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament. In 1 Chronicles 4:22, it appears in a genealogical list, likely referring to people or a settlement named for being 'removed' or established apart. In Isaiah 28:9, it is used in a rhetorical question from drunkards mocking Isaiah's prophetic teaching, employing the 'weaned' sense metaphorically to question who he thinks he is teaching. The usage pattern shows it is a rare, poetic word used for specific rhetorical or descriptive effect.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָתַק (ʻātaq, H6275), meaning 'to move,' 'to proceed,' or 'to be removed.' This root conveys the idea of displacement or advancement from one state to another. From this, עַתִּיק developed the concrete meaning of a child removed from dependency on milk and the abstract meaning of something removed into the distant past, hence 'ancient.'
Semantic Range
Though rare, this word is theologically significant as the direct linguistic ancestor of the Aramaic title 'Ancient of Days' (עַתִּיק יוֹמִין, ʻattîq yôwmîn) in Daniel 7. This connection enriches the biblical concept of God's eternal, venerable nature. Understanding its Hebrew root meaning of 'removed' adds depth to the title, portraying God as utterly distinct, set apart from time itself, and the source from which all things proceed.
In its 'weaned' sense, the word reflects a significant cultural milestone. Weaning a child (typically around age 3) marked its transition from infancy to childhood, a moment of celebration and establishment of a new, more independent identity (Genesis 21:8). The metaphorical use in Isaiah 28:9 relies on the audience recognizing this as a marker of maturity and readiness for solid instruction, which the prophet's listeners ironically lack.
קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — emphasizes ancientness in terms of prior time or the east. זָקֵן (zāqēn, H2205) — emphasizes old age, seniority, or eldership, often of people.
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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