בָּעוּ
a request
Definition
The Hebrew noun בָּעוּ (bâʻûw) refers to a formal request or petition, typically made to a person in authority. It is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel to describe a legal or royal decree that cannot be altered. In Daniel 6:7, the term denotes the irrevocable 'petition' the satraps and governors propose to King Darius, which becomes a trap for Daniel. In Daniel 6:13, it is used again when Daniel's accusers remind the king of this same binding 'decree'.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Daniel 6:7, 6:13). It appears in a specific political and legal context, describing a formal, written petition to a king that, by the law of the Medes and Persians, becomes an unchangeable statute once issued. The usage highlights the absolute and binding nature of the request.
Etymology
בָּעוּ (bâʻûw) is an Aramaic noun derived from the root בְּעָא (bᵉʻâ, H1156), meaning 'to ask, seek, or request.' It is a cognate of the Hebrew verb בָּעָה (bāʻâ, H1158), which carries a similar sense of seeking or inquiring. The Aramaic form specifically developed to denote the formal, legal concept of a petition within the context of imperial administration.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance in Daniel 6. The irrevocable 'petition' of man becomes the instrument that tests Daniel's faith and ultimately showcases God's supreme authority over human laws and kingdoms. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel 6 by highlighting the contrast between the inflexible decrees of earthly rulers and the sovereign power of God to save His faithful servants.
In its original Aramaic and Persian cultural setting, a בָּעוּ was not a simple request but a formal, written petition to the king that, once sealed, became an unalterable law according to the legal custom of the Medes and Persians (Daniel 6:8, 6:15). This concept of immutable royal decrees is central to the plot of Daniel 6 and differs from modern understandings of petitions as appeals that can be reconsidered.
תְּחִנָּה (tᵉḥinnâ, H8467) — a more general Hebrew term for supplication or earnest prayer, often directed to God. שְׁאֵלָה (shᵉʼēlâ, H7596) — a Hebrew word for a request or thing asked for, used in various contexts, not specifically legal.
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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