מִכְמַן
treasure (as hidden)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִכְמַן (mikman) refers specifically to hidden treasure or stored wealth. It denotes valuables that have been deliberately concealed, often for safekeeping or to protect them from plunder. The term carries the inherent idea of secrecy and intentional hiding, distinguishing it from more general words for wealth. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Daniel 11:43, where it describes the treasures that a conquering king will seize.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the prophetic context of Daniel 11:43. Here, it describes the 'hidden treasures' of Egypt that a future king will plunder. The usage fits a context of warfare and conquest, where a victor seizes the carefully guarded wealth of a nation. The singular occurrence suggests it is a specialized term for concealed riches, not general wealth.
Etymology
מִכְמַן (mikman) is derived from the root כמן (k-m-n), which carries the core meaning 'to hide, to store up.' It is linguistically related to the noun כַּמֹּן (kammon, H3646), meaning 'cummin'—a small seed that was likely stored away. The word's formation emphasizes the state or result of hiding, hence 'a hidden thing' or 'treasure.'
Semantic Range
Though used only once, the word contributes to the theme of God's sovereignty over human wealth and power in Daniel 11. The prophecy details how earthly kings will plunder 'hidden treasures,' yet all such conquests unfold under God's ultimate control. The term highlights the futility of hoarding wealth against divine judgment and the transient nature of even the most securely hidden earthly riches when confronted with God's prophetic plan.
In the ancient Near East, treasures (of gold, silver, and precious goods) were often hidden in secure locations like temple treasuries, royal storehouses, or buried caches to protect them from invaders during wartime. The concept of 'hidden treasure' in Daniel 11:43 reflects this common practice. A conqueror's ability to discover and seize such hidden wealth symbolized total domination and the failure of the defeated nation's protective measures.
אוֹצָר (otsar, H214) — a more general term for treasure, storehouse, or treasury, without the necessary connotation of being hidden. כֶּסֶף (keseph, H3701) — specifically 'silver' or money, a common component of treasure but not synonymous with the concept of hidden wealth. סְגֻלָּה (segullah, H5459) — a special possession or treasure, often used of Israel as God's treasured people (Exodus 19:5).
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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