נְטַל
to raise
Definition
The Aramaic verb נְטַל (nᵉṭal) means 'to lift up' or 'to raise.' In its two biblical occurrences in Daniel, it describes a physical lifting. In Daniel 4:34 (Aramaic 4:31), it refers to Nebuchadnezzar lifting his eyes to heaven after his period of madness, signifying a restoration of his reason and a turning of his attention toward God. In Daniel 7:4, it describes the first beast, like a lion, being 'lifted up' to stand on two feet like a man and being given a human heart, depicting a transformation in its posture and nature.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. Both uses describe a significant change in state or posture. In Daniel 4:34, the 'lifting' of the eyes is an act of acknowledgment and repentance. In Daniel 7:4, the 'lifting' of the beast is a supernatural act that alters its fundamental character, making it more human-like. The context is always one of divine sovereignty orchestrating a change in a king or kingdom.
Etymology
נְטַל is an Aramaic verb, corresponding to the Hebrew verb נָטַל (nāṭal, H5190), which also means 'to lift' or 'to bear.' It shares a common Semitic root (N-Ṭ-L) with the basic sense of lifting or raising. The Aramaic form is used in the biblical texts that were originally written in that language.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears in key passages about God's sovereignty over human rulers and empires. In Daniel 4:34, Nebuchadnezzar's ability to 'lift' his eyes symbolizes the end of God's judgment and the king's humbled recognition of divine authority. In Daniel 7:4, the 'lifting' of the beast is part of a divine vision concerning the rise and transformation of kingdoms. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Daniel by highlighting that these transformations—whether of a person's heart or a nation's destiny—are ultimately acts permitted or directed by God.
In the ancient Near East, lifting the eyes or head was a common gesture indicating a shift in focus, often toward a deity or a superior. For a king like Nebuchadnezzar to 'lift his eyes to heaven' was a profound public act of submission, acknowledging a power greater than his own. The imagery in Daniel 7:4 of a beast being lifted to a human posture would resonate with audiences familiar with symbolic representations of kingdoms as composite creatures, with the 'lifting' indicating a change in its ruling character or destiny.
נָטַל (nāṭal, H5190) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, meaning to lift, bear, or take up. רוּם (rûm, H7311) — A more common Hebrew verb for 'to be high' or 'exalted,' often used for lifting in a figurative or majestic sense. נָשָׂא (nāśā’, H5375) — A very common Hebrew verb meaning to lift, carry, or bear, with a wide range of physical and metaphorical uses.
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 →