מְלַל
to speak
Definition
The Aramaic verb מְלַל (mᵉlal) means 'to speak' or 'to say.' In the Book of Daniel, it is used to describe the act of verbal communication, often in the context of divine or royal pronouncements. In Daniel 6:21, it refers to King Darius speaking to Daniel, while in the visions of Daniel 7, it describes the arrogant speech of the 'little horn' against God (Daniel 7:8, 7:11, 7:20, 7:25). This latter usage carries a specific nuance of defiant or blasphemous speech directed toward the Most High.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel (chapters 2-7). Its usage follows two primary patterns: first, for ordinary human speech, as when a king addresses a subject (Daniel 6:21). Second, and more prominently, it describes the boastful and blasphemous speech of a tyrannical power (symbolized by a horn) in apocalyptic visions, speaking 'great things' against God (Daniel 7:8, 7:11, 7:20, 7:25).
Etymology
מְלַל (mᵉlal) is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew verb מָלַל (malal, H4448), which also means 'to speak.' It represents a common linguistic root shared between the two closely related Semitic languages, showing the parallel development of basic vocabulary for speech.
Semantic Range
In its most significant usage in Daniel 7, מְלַל is central to the theme of cosmic rebellion. The 'little horn's' speech (mᵉlal) represents human or demonic authority arrogantly opposing divine sovereignty. This sets the stage for God's ultimate judgment, where such blasphemous speech is silenced forever (Daniel 7:11). Understanding this term highlights the biblical conflict between the kingdom of God and the boastful, destructive claims of earthly powers.
In the ancient Near East, a king's word was law, and public speech was closely tied to authority and power. The 'great things' spoken by the horn in Daniel's vision would be understood as royal proclamations or decrees that challenge higher authority. The vision uses this cultural understanding of speech-as-power to depict a ruler who oversteps his bounds by speaking against the divine order itself.
אָמַר (amar, H559) — The most common Hebrew verb for 'to say,' used for general speaking. מְלַל is its Aramaic counterpart with a more specialized contextual use in Daniel.
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 →