דָנִיֵּאל
Daniel or Danijel, the name of two Israelites
Definition
The Hebrew name דָּנִיֵּאל (Dânîyêʼl) is a proper noun meaning 'God is my judge.' It refers primarily to the prophet Daniel, the central figure of the Book of Daniel, who served in the Babylonian and Persian courts (Daniel 1:6). A second, less prominent Daniel is mentioned as a son of David (1 Chronicles 3:1) and as a priestly figure in the post-exilic community (Ezra 8:2, Nehemiah 10:6). In Ezekiel 14:14, 20 and 28:3, the prophet Ezekiel references a 'Daniel' noted for his righteousness and wisdom; this is likely a reference to the legendary Danel known from Ugaritic texts, though Jewish tradition often associates it with the biblical prophet.
Biblical Usage
The name is used 28 times in the Old Testament. Its primary usage is for the exiled prophet in the Book of Daniel, where it denotes a figure of unwavering faith, divine wisdom, and apocalyptic vision (Daniel 1-12). It appears in historical books for other individuals (1 Chronicles 3:1, Ezra 8:2). In Ezekiel, it is used in a proverbial context, listing Daniel alongside Noah and Job as paragons of righteousness whose intercession would be futile for a condemned people (Ezekiel 14:14).
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: דָּן (dān, H1835), meaning 'he judged' or 'judge,' and אֵל (ʼēl, H410), the common word for 'God.' Thus, it translates directly to 'God is my judge' or 'judge of God.' This etymology is reflected in the prophet's character, as his life and visions consistently affirm God's ultimate judgment over human kingdoms.
Semantic Range
The name Daniel is profoundly theological, encapsulating a core theme of the biblical narrative: God's sovereign judgment and justice. The prophet's life demonstrates that faithfulness to God's law is the true standard by which one is judged, even in a pagan empire. His apocalyptic visions (Daniel 2, 7) reveal God's judgment on world history and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Understanding the name's meaning ('God is my judge') enriches the reading of his story, highlighting that his courage stemmed from accountability to a higher court than Babylon's.
In the ancient Near East, theophoric names (names containing a divine element, like 'El' for God) were common, expressing devotion or a parent's hope. The specific form 'Daniel' ('God is my judge') suggests a familial commitment to Yahweh's covenant law as the arbiter of life. The reference in Ezekiel to a wise 'Daniel' likely draws on a pre-Israelite Canaanite heroic figure, Danel, known from Ugaritic literature, showing how biblical authors could repurpose cultural archetypes to make a theological point about wisdom and righteousness.
מִשְׁפָּט (mishpāṭ, H4941) — The Hebrew word for 'judgment' or 'justice,' the concept embodied by Daniel's name and his prophetic message. גְּבַרְיָה (Gəḇaryâ, H1401) — A name meaning 'mighty one of Yahweh,' another theophoric name emphasizing God's power, contrasting with Daniel's focus on God's judicial role.
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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