דִּי
that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of
Definition
The Aramaic conjunction דִּי (dîy) functions primarily as a relative pronoun meaning 'that,' 'which,' or 'who,' introducing dependent clauses. It is also used to form adverbial phrases when combined with prepositions, such as 'because of' or 'on account of.' In some contexts, it can act as a causal conjunction meaning 'for' or 'since,' as seen in Ezra 4:14, where officials write to the king 'because (dîy) we have eaten the salt of the palace.' Its usage is almost exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, particularly in Ezra and Daniel.
Biblical Usage
This word appears 185 times, almost entirely within the Aramaic sections of Ezra (Ezra 4:10-17; 5:3-17; 6:1-15) and Daniel (Daniel 2:20-47; 3:4-29; 4:1-37; 5:7-29; 6:6-28; 7:1-28). It is a fundamental grammatical particle in Biblical Aramaic, used to construct relative clauses (e.g., 'the God whose dwelling is in heaven' in Ezra 5:12), causal statements, and prepositional phrases. Its high frequency underscores its role as a key connective in official documents, narratives, and visions within these books.
Etymology
Derived from Aramaic, דִּי (dîy) is cognate with the Hebrew relative particle אֲשֶׁר (ʾăšer, H834). It appears to be the Aramaic functional equivalent, though its exact root is debated. Some lexicons link it to the demonstrative pronoun דָּא (dāʾ, H1668), suggesting a development from a pointing or demonstrative function ('this/that') to a relative one ('which/who').
Semantic Range
As a key grammatical word in Biblical Aramaic, דִּי is theologically significant because it structures critical revelations and decrees in the exilic and post-exilic periods. It appears in the decrees of Persian kings concerning God's temple (Ezra 5-6) and in the divine revelations given to Daniel regarding God's sovereign kingdom (Daniel 2, 7). Understanding its function clarifies the logical and causal connections in these texts, highlighting God's orchestration of history and the certainty of His prophetic word even under foreign dominion.
In its original setting, דִּי was the standard relative conjunction in Imperial Aramaic, the lingua franca of the Persian Empire. Its use in biblical texts reflects the official, administrative language of the time. For Jewish readers in the exile, its presence in scripture signified that God's communication and the decrees affecting His people were now mediated through the language of imperial power, yet still conveying divine truth.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾăšer, H834) — The primary Hebrew relative pronoun, used with similar grammatical functions but in Hebrew texts. כִּי (kî, H3588) — A common Hebrew conjunction meaning 'for,' 'because,' or 'that,' often used for causal clauses where Aramaic might use דִּי in a prepositional phrase.
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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