דָּא
this
Definition
The Aramaic pronoun דָּא (dâʼ) means 'this' and functions as a demonstrative pronoun, pointing to a specific person, object, or situation. It is used to draw attention to something immediately present or under discussion, such as King Nebuchadnezzar's boast about 'this great Babylon' (Daniel 4:30). In Daniel's visions, it can also refer to specific symbolic figures, like 'this horn' that speaks boastfully (Daniel 7:8). Its usage is consistent in marking a clear, proximate reference within the narrative.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It is used in both narrative and visionary contexts. In narrative, it identifies concrete objects or declarations, as in Daniel 4:30 and Daniel 5:6. In apocalyptic visions (Daniel 7:3, 7:8), it points to specific symbolic elements, such as beasts and horns, helping to distinguish them within the sequence of the prophecy.
Etymology
דָּא (dâʼ) is an Aramaic word, not Hebrew, corresponding to the Hebrew demonstrative pronoun זֶה (zeh, H2088), which also means 'this.' It belongs to the common Semitic stock of demonstratives. Its presence in Daniel reflects the language shift in the text and shows the functional equivalence between Aramaic and Hebrew for basic deictic (pointing) words.
Semantic Range
While a basic pronoun, דָּא gains theological significance through its context in Daniel. It precisely identifies the subjects of divine judgment and revelation. In Daniel 4:30, it highlights human pride ('this great Babylon') that God humbles. In the visions, it specifies the oppressive kingdoms and the 'little horn' (Daniel 7:8) that oppose God's people, thereby focusing the reader's attention on the entities central to God's prophetic message of sovereignty and coming kingdom.
As an Aramaic term in a Hebrew scripture, דָּא reflects the historical context of the Jewish exile in Babylon, where Aramaic was the lingua franca. Its use signifies the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the Jewish people while maintaining the theological continuity of their scriptures. The demonstrative function is straightforward, with no significant cultural difference from modern understanding of 'this.'
זֶה (zeh, H2088) — The direct Hebrew equivalent meaning 'this,' used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament. זֹאת (zōʼṯ, H2063) — The Hebrew feminine singular demonstrative 'this.'
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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