דְּרַע
an arm
Definition
The Aramaic noun דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) refers to the arm, specifically the upper limb from shoulder to hand. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 2:32, it describes the 'arms of silver' in King Nebuchadnezzar's statue, representing the second kingdom in the prophetic vision. While its basic anatomical meaning is straightforward, the arm in Semitic thought often symbolizes strength, power, and the capacity for action. This Aramaic term corresponds directly to the Hebrew word זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ, H2220), which carries these extended metaphorical meanings throughout the Old Testament.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the entire Bible, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It is used in Daniel 2:32 within the description of the massive statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, specifically identifying the statue's 'arms of silver.' The context is prophetic and symbolic, where the different materials of the statue's body parts represent successive world empires. The usage is purely descriptive of a physical part of the visionary image.
Etymology
דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ) is an Aramaic noun. It is the direct linguistic counterpart to the Biblical Hebrew word זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ, H2220), which also means 'arm.' Both words derive from a common Semitic root (*drʻ or *zrʻ) conveying the concept of the arm and, by extension, strength. The Aramaic form is used in the sections of Daniel written in that language, reflecting the historical context of the Jewish exile in Babylon.
Semantic Range
Although דְּרַע itself is used only descriptively, its Hebrew equivalent זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ) is profoundly theological. The 'arm of the LORD' is a major metaphor for God's saving power, might, and redemptive action (e.g., Exodus 6:6, Isaiah 53:1). Understanding that דְּרַע is the Aramaic form of this concept connects Daniel's vision to this broader biblical theme of divine sovereignty and intervention in human history, as seen in the rise and fall of empires.
In the ancient Near East, the arm was a common symbol for military and political power. A statue's arm made of silver, as in Daniel 2:32, would immediately communicate to the original audience the idea of a kingdom or empire—specifically one strong but inferior to the gold head (Babylon). The metallic imagery follows a pattern of declining value, symbolizing decreasing glory or stability in the successive regimes.
זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ, H2220) — The direct Hebrew synonym, used extensively with both literal and metaphorical meanings (e.g., strength, power). יָד (yāḏ, H3027) — Often translated 'hand,' but can refer to the whole arm; focuses more on action, possession, or authority.
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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