אִדַּר
ample, i.e. a threshing-floor
Definition
אִדַּר is an Aramaic noun meaning a threshing-floor, specifically one that is ample or spacious. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 2:35, it describes the vast area where the wind carries away the chaff of the shattered statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, leaving no trace. The term emphasizes not just a functional agricultural site, but a broad, open space suitable for the complete dispersal of debris. This imagery underscores the thorough and irreversible nature of the judgment depicted in the prophecy.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:35). It appears in the context of interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, specifically describing the fate of the crushed components of the great statue. The usage is metaphorical, employing the familiar agricultural image of a threshing-floor to convey the concept of total removal and destruction by divine agency.
Etymology
Derived from Aramaic, אִדַּר is an intensive form related to the Hebrew root אָדַר (H142), which carries the sense of being wide, great, or magnificent. This etymological connection highlights the core meaning of 'ample' or 'spacious,' directly describing the characteristic of a large, open threshing-floor. The word is a specific Aramaic counterpart to the more common Hebrew word for threshing-floor, גֹּרֶן (goren, H1637).
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes significantly to the theology of divine judgment and sovereignty in Daniel. The image of the 'ample threshing-floor' portrays God's action as utterly comprehensive and final—the kingdoms of man are not merely defeated but are swept away without a trace, like chaff in the wind. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Daniel 2 by emphasizing the completeness of God's victory and the establishment of His eternal kingdom, which will never be destroyed.
In the ancient Near East, a threshing-floor was a vital, communal agricultural space—a flat, open area often on elevated ground where grain was separated from chaff. Its 'ample' size was necessary for the process of threshing and winnowing. This cultural reality makes the metaphor in Daniel 2:35 powerfully understandable: just as wind cleanses a threshing-floor, God's judgment will completely remove earthly powers. The modern reader might miss the connotations of finality and purification inherent in this agricultural image.
גֹּרֶן (goren, H1637) — The standard Hebrew word for a threshing-floor, used in many literal and symbolic contexts (e.g., Ruth 3, 2 Samuel 24). אִדַּר is its Aramaic, intensive counterpart emphasizing spaciousness.
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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