קְרַץ
chew him up (figuratively) by slander
Definition
The Aramaic noun קְרַץ (qᵉrats) refers to a 'morsel' or 'bit' of food. In its two biblical occurrences in Daniel, it is used figuratively in the idiom 'to eat the morsels of someone,' which means to slander or accuse them maliciously, with the intent to 'chew them up' and destroy their reputation. In Daniel 3:8, certain Chaldeans 'accused' (ate the morsels of) the Jews to King Nebuchadnezzar. Similarly, in Daniel 6:24, the satraps and governors 'accused' Daniel before King Darius, leading to his punishment in the lions' den. The word captures the idea of consuming someone piece by piece through false or damaging speech.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, specifically in narratives about court intrigue in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires. It appears in the context of officials bringing formal legal accusations against individuals to the king, with severe consequences intended. The pattern is consistent: a group 'eats the morsels of' (qᵉrats) a person, leading to a royal decree for punishment (Daniel 3:8, 6:24).
Etymology
This is an Aramaic word corresponding to the Hebrew root קרץ (qārats), which can mean to nip, pinch, or bite off a piece. The Aramaic noun קְרַץ developed the sense of a small piece or morsel of food. The idiomatic expression 'to eat the morsels of' someone derives from this concrete meaning, picturing slander as tearing someone apart bit by bit.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the biblical theme of false accusation and the destructive power of the tongue, especially when wielded by those in power. The narratives in Daniel show God's faithful servants being targeted by slander, yet ultimately vindicated and protected by God. Understanding this idiom enriches the reading of Daniel by revealing the malicious intent behind the legal accusations, framing them as a form of spiritual warfare against God's people.
In the ancient Near Eastern court setting of Daniel, legal accusations were a deadly serious matter, often driven by professional jealousy and political rivalry. The idiom 'to eat the morsels of' someone paints a vivid picture of destruction through speech, likely reflecting a proverbial expression of the time. Slander was not merely gossip; it was a weapon used to eliminate rivals, making the stakes for Daniel and his friends a matter of life and death.
שָׂטַן (śāṭan, H7853) — to accuse, act as an adversary (a more general legal/spiritual term); רָגַל (rāgal, H7270) — to slander, spy out (often involves gathering information for an accusation).
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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