קְנָא
to purchase
Definition
The Aramaic verb קְנָא (qᵉnâʼ) means to acquire or purchase something, typically through a financial transaction. It corresponds directly to the Hebrew verb קָנָה (qānâ, H7069), which carries the same core meaning. In its single biblical occurrence, it refers to the specific procurement of animals for sacrifice. This word encompasses the act of obtaining possession, whether of goods, property, or livestock.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezra 7:17. In this context, King Artaxerxes commands Ezra to use royal funds to 'buy' bulls, rams, lambs, and grain offerings for the temple service in Jerusalem. The usage is purely transactional and administrative, fitting the document's formal, imperial decree style. It appears in the Aramaic portions of the book of Ezra.
Etymology
קְנָא is the Aramaic cognate of the common Hebrew verb קָנָה (qānâ, H7069), meaning 'to acquire, get, or buy.' Both words share a Semitic root (q-n-y) related to possession and creation. In Aramaic, it functions identically to its Hebrew counterpart, representing the standard term for commercial acquisition. Its meaning remained stable across these related languages.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is transactional, its single use in Ezra 7:17 connects to the theological theme of God's provision for proper worship. The Persian king's decree and funding to 'buy' sacrifices demonstrates God's sovereignty in using even foreign rulers to restore temple worship and fulfill His covenant promises. It highlights that the resources for true worship come from God's provision.
In the ancient Near East, purchasing animals for sacrifice was a common religious and economic activity. The specific list in Ezra 7:17 (bulls, rams, lambs) reflects the standard sacrificial system as prescribed in the Mosaic law. The use of imperial treasury funds underscores the Persian administration's policy of supporting local cults to maintain stability in their empire, a practice documented in other historical sources.
קָנָה (qānâ, H7069) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used hundreds of times for acquiring possessions, property, or even a wife (e.g., Ruth 4:5).
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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