דִּין
Definition
The Hebrew noun דִּין (dîyn) primarily means 'judgment' or 'legal verdict.' In its biblical usage, it refers to the formal act of deciding a case, often in a judicial or royal context. In Ezra 7:26, it denotes the legal authority or decree of the king, while in Daniel 7:10 and 7:22, it describes the divine courtroom scene where God, the Ancient of Days, sits in judgment. In Daniel 7:26, the word specifically refers to the judicial sentence passed against a hostile king, emphasizing a final, authoritative decision.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament (Ezra and Daniel). It consistently appears in contexts of royal or divine authority. In Ezra 7:26, it is part of a Persian king's legal decree. In Daniel, it is central to visions of God's sovereign judgment over kingdoms (Daniel 4:37, 7:10, 7:22, 7:26), portraying a cosmic courtroom where divine justice is administered.
Etymology
This is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew root דִּין (H1779), meaning 'to judge' or 'to contend.' It shares a common Semitic root with words for 'law' and 'justice.' The Aramaic form דִּין corresponds directly to its Hebrew cognate, maintaining the core concept of rendering a legal decision or verdict.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it portrays God as the supreme Judge whose decrees are final and sovereign. In Daniel's visions, it underscores the doctrine of divine justice, assuring that God will ultimately judge all earthly powers and establish His kingdom. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of apocalyptic literature by highlighting the certainty and authority of God's judicial rule over history.
In its original Aramaic setting, דִּין was a legal term familiar in the administrative language of the Persian Empire. Its use in the Bible reflects a context where Jewish communities lived under foreign rule, yet it was appropriated to affirm that ultimate judgment belongs not to human kings but to God. This contrasts with modern, often secular, understandings of judgment by emphasizing its divine source and cosmic scope.
מִשְׁפָּט (mishpāṭ, H4941) — The more common Hebrew term for judgment, often with a broader sense of justice, custom, or ordinance. שָׁפַט (shāphaṭ, H8199) — The primary verb meaning 'to judge' or 'to govern.'
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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