אֲדַרְכֹּן

אֲדַרְכֹּן

a daric or Persian coin

Definition

The Hebrew word אֲדַרְכֹּן (ʼădarkôn) refers to a specific gold coin used in the Persian Empire, known as a daric. It was a standard unit of currency, likely named after the Persian king Darius I, and was used for both commerce and tribute. In the Bible, it appears only in contexts of royal contributions to the temple, specifically in 1 Chronicles 29:7 and Ezra 8:27, where it measures substantial offerings of gold. The term is consistently translated as a valuable coin, with no variation in meaning across its occurrences.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in two post-exilic books, 1 Chronicles and Ezra, both times in the context of generous donations for the temple in Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 29:7, it quantifies the gold given by the leaders of Israel for the construction of the temple under David's direction. In Ezra 8:27, it measures the gold and silver articles dedicated for the temple service after the return from exile. The usage highlights the word's association with royal or communal wealth offered for sacred purposes.

Etymology

The word is a direct loanword from Old Persian, derived from 'daric,' the name of a gold coin issued by the Persian Empire, particularly under King Darius I (522–486 BCE). It entered Biblical Hebrew through contact with Persian administration after the exile. The transliteration into Hebrew reflects its foreign origin, and it has no known Semitic root, functioning solely as a technical term for currency.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a mundane term for currency, its biblical usage carries theological significance. It appears in contexts of voluntary, joyful giving for God's temple (1 Chronicles 29:7-9) and the careful handling of consecrated wealth for worship (Ezra 8:27-30). Understanding it as a specific, valuable coin underscores the magnitude of the people's devotion and the tangible nature of their contributions to restoring proper worship, reflecting themes of stewardship, sacrifice, and the honoring of God with material resources. The daric was a well-known gold coin in the Persian Empire, weighing approximately 8.4 grams. Its use in the Bible reflects the economic and political reality of the Persian period, when Judah was a province under Persian rule. The coin's mention indicates that the community operated within the imperial monetary system, and such wealth represented significant economic power. For modern readers, it emphasizes that the biblical narratives are set in a specific historical context with its own currency, different from earlier Israelite shekels. כֶּסֶף (keseph, H3701) — a general term for silver or money, often used for shekels, whereas אֲדַרְכֹּן specifies a Persian gold coin. זָהָב (zahab, H2091) — means 'gold' as a material, not a minted coin.

Word Details