Bible Word Study
דְּלַק
dᵉlaq · null
דְּלַק
Definition
The Aramaic noun דְּלַק (dᵉlaq) means 'burning' or 'flame.' It appears only once in the Bible, in Daniel 7:9, where it describes the fiery nature of God's throne: 'His throne was fiery flames (דְּלַק), its wheels were burning fire.' The word specifically denotes an intense, fiery blaze, emphasizing the overwhelming and purifying presence of the divine in this apocalyptic vision. As an Aramaic term, it carries the same core meaning as its Hebrew counterpart, focusing on the state or result of burning.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Daniel 7:9, within the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. It appears in a prophetic vision context, describing the celestial and terrifying appearance of the Ancient of Days on His judgment throne. The usage is singular and highly symbolic, directly associated with the imagery of divine judgment and majesty.
Etymology
דְּלַק is an Aramaic noun directly corresponding to the Hebrew root דָּלַק (dālaq, H1814), which means 'to burn, kindle, or flame.' The root conveys the idea of burning intensely. In Aramaic, the noun form דְּלַק specifically denotes the 'burning' or 'flame' itself, representing the state or result of the verbal action.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, דְּלַק is theologically significant as it contributes to the powerful imagery of God's throne in Daniel's vision. The 'fiery flames' symbolize God's purity, holiness, and judgment (Daniel 7:9-10). This visual reinforces God as a consuming fire (cf. Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29) who judges empires and establishes His eternal kingdom. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Daniel 7 by connecting its apocalyptic fire directly to the broader biblical theme of God's fiery presence in judgment and revelation. In the ancient Near Eastern context, fire was a common symbol for divinity, judgment, and purification. Thrones depicted with fire, as in Daniel 7:9, would communicate absolute power and awe-inspiring majesty to the original audience. This imagery contrasted with earthly, human kingship, presenting the God of Israel as the supreme, unapproachable sovereign over all nations. אֵשׁ (ʾēš, H784) — The common Hebrew word for 'fire,' used in a wide range of literal and symbolic contexts. דְּלַק in Daniel 7:9 is a more specific Aramaic term for the flaming state itself within this vision.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]