תְּקֹף
power
Definition
The Hebrew word תְּקֹף (tᵉqôph) is an Aramaic noun meaning 'power' or 'strength,' specifically denoting the might and authority of a ruler. In Daniel 2:37, it describes the supreme power and dominion granted by God to King Nebuchadnezzar over all peoples. In Daniel 4:30, it refers to the king's own boastful declaration of the power he built for his royal glory, highlighting a human claim to autonomous strength. The word consistently conveys a sense of formidable, often sovereign, capability.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel, both times in the context of King Nebuchadnezzar's reign. It is used to describe divinely bestowed royal authority (Daniel 2:37) and, in contrast, self-aggrandizing human power (Daniel 4:30). The usage pattern illustrates the tension between God-given dominion and human pride.
Etymology
תְּקֹף (tᵉqôph) is an Aramaic word corresponding directly to the Hebrew תֹּקֶף (tōqeph, H8633), which also means 'power' or 'strength.' Both derive from a root meaning to be or become strong. Its presence in Daniel reflects the Aramaic language used in the court narratives of the Babylonian empire.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it contrasts divine sovereignty with human arrogance. In Daniel 2:37, power is a gift from God to a ruler, while in Daniel 4:30, the same word is used in a boast that leads to divine judgment. It underscores the biblical theme that all earthly power is derivative and accountable to God, enriching the reading of Daniel's narratives on pride and humility.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's 'power' (tᵉqôph) was not just military might but encompassed his authority, prestige, and ability to command. Nebuchadnezzar's boast in Daniel 4:30 reflects a common royal ideology where monumental building projects demonstrated a ruler's strength and legacy, a concept directly challenged by the biblical narrative.
חַיִל (ḥayil, H2428) — often denotes strength, wealth, or military force; more broad than royal authority. כֹּחַ (kōaḥ, H3581) — physical or innate strength, power to do something. עֹז (ʿōz, H5797) — might, often used of God's protective strength. גְּבוּרָה (gᵉbûrâ, H1369) — valor, heroic power or might.
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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