עִזְקָא
a signet-ring (as engraved)
Definition
A signet-ring, a small engraved ring used to press a distinctive seal into clay or wax to authenticate documents and decrees. In the ancient Near East, a signet-ring represented the authority and identity of its owner, often a king or high official. The sole biblical occurrence is in Daniel 6:17, where King Darius seals the den of lions with his own signet-ring and the rings of his nobles, making the decree irrevocable and demonstrating its royal authority.
Biblical Usage
This Aramaic noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 6:17. It appears in a royal, legal context where a king's decree is being formally sealed and authenticated. The usage underscores the absolute and unchangeable nature of a law sealed with the royal signet, a concept central to the plot of Daniel 6.
Etymology
Derived from an Aramaic root corresponding to the Hebrew root עָזַק (ʿāzaq, H5823), which means 'to surround' or 'to encircle.' This relates to the circular shape of the ring. It is a cognate of the Hebrew word for signet-ring, חוֹתָם (ḥôtām, H2368).
Semantic Range
The signet-ring symbolizes irrevocable authority and ownership. In Daniel 6:17, its use highlights the conflict between the unchangeable law of the Medes and Persians and the higher, saving power of God. Theologically, it points to God's ultimate authority over human decrees and His ability to deliver His faithful servants. The concept also connects to broader biblical imagery where a signet represents God's chosen people (Haggai 2:23) or His authority delegated to a king.
In the ancient Persian empire, a signet-ring was a personal seal representing the king's full authority. A decree sealed with the king's signet could not be repealed, even by the king himself, as seen in Esther 8:8. This cultural practice of using seals made the act in Daniel 6:17 a grave and formal legal action, emphasizing the finality of Daniel's sentence from a human perspective.
חוֹתָם (ḥôtām, H2368) — The more common Hebrew term for a seal or signet-ring, used in various contexts (e.g., Genesis 38:18, Esther 8:8). טַבַּעַת (ṭabbaʿat, H2885) — A general term for a ring, which could be a signet-ring or other ornamental ring (e.g., Genesis 41:42, Esther 3:10).
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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