תְּלִיתַי
third
Definition
The Aramaic word תְּלִיתַי (tᵉlîythay) is an ordinal number meaning 'third'. It functions identically to its Hebrew counterpart, specifying position in a sequence. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the third in a series of kingdoms (Daniel 2:39) and the third highest ruler in the Babylonian empire (Daniel 5:7). No distinct semantic variations exist between these uses; the word consistently denotes numerical order.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. In Daniel 2:39, it describes the 'third kingdom' of bronze in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, following the kingdoms of gold and silver. In Daniel 5:7, King Belshazzar promises to make the person who can interpret the writing on the wall the 'third ruler' in the kingdom, likely indicating a position of high authority beneath the king and perhaps a co-regent. Both uses are in royal, prophetic contexts concerning the succession of empires and the interpretation of divine signs.
Etymology
Derived from the Aramaic cardinal number תְּלָת (tᵉlāth, H8532), meaning 'three'. The ordinal form תְּלִיתַי is constructed with a common Aramaic suffix (-ay) used to form ordinals, paralleling the Hebrew ordinal suffix (-î). It is a cognate of the Hebrew word for 'third', שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshî, H7992).
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple ordinal, its use in Daniel is theologically significant. In Daniel 2, it is part of God's revelation of successive world empires, culminating in His eternal kingdom. The 'third kingdom' (Medo-Persia) is part of this divine timeline of sovereignty. In Daniel 5, the offer to become the 'third ruler' highlights the desperation and limited power of a human king contrasted with the ultimate authority of God, who is removing Belshazzar's kingdom. Thus, the term is embedded in passages about God's control over history and human authority.
In the context of Daniel 5:7, the promise to be the 'third ruler' reflects the hierarchical structure of the Neo-Babylonian empire. Being 'third' likely meant being among the highest officials, possibly just below the king and a crown prince or coregent. This clarifies the magnitude of Belshazzar's offer. The cultural understanding of sequential kingdoms in Daniel 2 aligns with ancient Near Eastern historical perspectives and prophetic symbolism.
שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshî, H7992) — The standard Hebrew ordinal for 'third', used throughout the Hebrew Old Testament, whereas תְּלִיתַי is its Aramaic equivalent.
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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