אֶדְרָע
an arm, i.e. (figuratively) power
Definition
אֶדְרָע is an Aramaic noun meaning 'arm,' specifically referring to the physical limb. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used figuratively to denote power, force, or coercive authority. This figurative sense aligns with a common biblical metaphor where the arm symbolizes strength and the capacity for action, especially in contexts of judgment or enforcement. The word appears only in Ezra 4:23, where it describes the royal power used to compel the Jews to stop rebuilding Jerusalem.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Ezra. It occurs in Ezra 4:23, within the context of a royal decree from King Artaxerxes. The Persian officials, Rehum and Shimshai, use the 'force' (אֶדְרָע) of the king to stop the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls by the returned Jewish exiles. The usage is entirely figurative, representing the coercive power and authority of the state to enforce its will.
Etymology
אֶדְרָע is an Aramaic word, an orthographical variation of the more common Aramaic noun דְּרַע (dᵉraʻ, H1872), which also means 'arm.' Both words share a common Semitic root with the Hebrew word זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ, H2220), meaning 'arm' or 'strength.' The development from the literal meaning of a physical limb to a metaphor for power and might is consistent across these related languages.
Semantic Range
While used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over human power. In Ezra 4:23, the 'force' of the Persian king temporarily halts God's work, a common pattern in Scripture where human authority opposes divine plans. This sets the stage for God's later intervention through prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, reminding readers that human 'arms' of power are ultimately subject to the 'outstretched arm' of the Lord (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15). Understanding this metaphor enriches the reading of Ezra by highlighting the contrast between earthly and divine strength.
In the ancient Near East, the arm was a universal symbol of strength, military might, and executive authority. A king's 'arm' represented his power to command, conquer, and enforce laws. The use of this term in an official Aramaic document (Ezra 4:23) reflects the standard diplomatic language of the Persian Empire, where decrees were backed by the sovereign's coercive power. This cultural understanding makes the metaphor immediately clear to the original audience.
זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôaʻ, H2220) — The primary Hebrew word for 'arm,' used both literally and very frequently as a metaphor for God's saving power and judgment. יָד (yāḏ, H3027) — 'Hand,' another common limb metaphor for power, authority, or possession, often with a slightly different nuance of agency or control.
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.
Full methodology & sources →