Lexical Summary
di: that, which, who, because, for, when
Original Word:דִּי
Part of Speech:particle of relation; mark of Genitive; conjunction; mark of the Genitive; conjunction; particle
Transliteration:diy
Pronunciation:dee
Phonetic Spelling:(dee)
KJV: X as, but, for(-asmuch +), + now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, + what (-soever), when, which, whom, whose
NASB:which, who, whom, so, whose, whomever, when
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) apparently forH166 (אָהַל - has brightness)8]
1. (relative conjunction) that
2. (especially, with a preposition) used in adverbial phrases
3. (also) as preposition of
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
as, but, forasmuch, now, of, seeing, than, that,
(Aramaic) apparently forda'; that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of -- X as, but, for(-asmuch +), + now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, + what (-soever), when, which, whom, whose.
see HEBREWda'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) a prim. particle
Definitionwho, which, that, because
NASB Translationafter* (1), against (1), because (1), because* (5), before* (1), even (1), forasmuch* (1), inasmuch* (9), since (2), so (6), soon (1), soon* (1), surely* (1), than* (1), until* (11), what (1), what* (1), whatever* (2), when (3), where (1), where* (1), wherever* (1), which (46), who (34), whom (12), whom* (1), whomever (4), whomever* (3), whose (6).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, , used also as
and
(Aramaic of Nineveh, Babylonian, Zinjirli, Nerab, Cilicia, Têma, Egypt, (Lzb267. 446 RES361 S-CPap. A 2 +); Nabataean, Palmyrene ; (except in compounds, asmine,his); Samaritan
; Syriac
; Ethiopic
za: of same origin as Arabic
possessor of [compare below Biblical Hebrew ]. Properly a demonstrativethat [compare ; in Ethiopicze is 'this',za 'which']; but this being referred by usage to something preceding becomes equivalent to the relativewho, which, used, however, more widely than Hebrew ); — aswho, which (construed like ): a.Jeremiah 10:11;Daniel 2:11whose dwelling,Daniel 2:24whom the king had appointed,Daniel 2:26whose name was B.,Daniel 4:5;Daniel 5:12,23, etc.; =that whichDaniel 2:23; =him thatEzra 7:25;Ezra 6:15;Daniel 7:17which are four (see ). Following pronoun of 2 person (compare ),Daniel 2:37 thou, O king ...,to whom... hath given,Daniel 4:19;Daniel 4:6as to whom I know, etc. (compareend). Sq. =whereEzra 6:1, so aloneEzra 6:3;Daniel 2:38; of time, at the timewhen, etc.,Daniel 3:5,15. With the predicate an infinitive with ,Daniel 6:9whichis not to be changed,Ezra 6:8; a place- or other determination,Daniel 3:20 valiant menthat were in his army,Daniel 5:2 ,Daniel 7:20;Ezra 4:24;Ezra 5:6;Ezra 6:2,6; compareDaniel 2:25;Daniel 5:13;Daniel 7:7;Ezra 7:23. =without,Ezra 6:9;Ezra 7:22 (soGenesis 15:2;Exodus 21:11); compareDaniel 2:34,45. , (compare in late Hebrew ,b)whoever, whatever, soDaniel 3:6,11whoever does not fall down,Daniel 4:14 towhomsoever he willeth,Daniel 4:22;Daniel 4:29;Daniel 5:21;whatever (or simplywhat),Daniel 2:28 what will be,Daniel 2:29;Daniel 2:29;Daniel 2:45;Ezra 6:8;Ezra 7:18. — compare K§ 103. as
,Daniel 2:15 properly the captain,that of the king =the king's captain (a Genuine Aramaic idiom: so , Syriac
constantly),Daniel 2:19;Daniel 2:25;Daniel 2:49 #NAME?Ezra 4:15;Ezra 5:2, etc., or in the absolute state (undetermined),Daniel 5:5;Daniel 7:4,9,10 ; or it may have a pleonastic suffix,Daniel 2:20 literally his name,that of God =God's name,Daniel 2:44;Daniel 3:8,25,26;Daniel 4:23, etc. (so also Syriac). To circumscribe an adjective, especially in specification of thematerial:Daniel 2:38 thou art the head of gold,Daniel 2:39;Daniel 3:1;Daniel 5:7,16;Ezra 5:14;Ezra 6:4 +; as predicateDaniel 2:32 his head (was)of fine gold,Daniel 2:33;Daniel 7:19; with a pronounDaniel 2:20 wisdom and might arehis; compareDaniel 6:27 his kingdom (is one) which shall not be destroyed,Daniel 7:14. — See further K§ 81. as
(compare ):
that (quod), after verbs of knowing,Daniel 2:8,9, seeingDaniel 2:45;Daniel 3:27, hearingDaniel 5:14, etc.; introducing the subject of a sentence,Daniel 3:18;Ezra 4:13;Daniel 2:47 True is itthat . . . (compareJob 12:2).
=in that, inasmuch as, whereas:Daniel 2:41 andwhereas () thou sawest, etc. . . . it shall be adivided kingdom,Daniel 2:43;Daniel 4:20;Daniel 4:23; as a connecting link$ =seeing that, because, for (compare )Daniel 2:9,20b;Daniel 2:23b;Daniel 2:47b;Daniel 4:15;Daniel 6:24b.
that (ut), after verbs of askingDaniel 2:16, commandingDaniel 3:10,29, expressing a purposeDaniel 4:3;Daniel 5:15;Ezra 4:15;Ezra 6:10 +;that not (ne)Daniel 2:18;Daniel 3:28;Daniel 6:18 (onlestEzra 7:23, see ).
(like , and sometimes , andrecitativum),Daniel 2:25 and said thus unto him (that) I have found, etc.,Daniel 5:7;Daniel 6:6;Daniel 6:14.
(like Hebrew ; so Egyptian Aramaic , Palmyrene, Nabataean , Lzb293 SACG1 62, 63 Cooke369b RES:361; , Syriac
);a according as,Daniel 2:43;b. so soon as, when,Daniel 3:7;Daniel 5:20;Daniel 6:11;Daniel 6:15.
:a. because that,Daniel 3:22;Ezra 5:12 (compareIsaiah 43:4);b. from (the time)that, after (ex quo),Daniel 4:23;Ezra 4:23.
until,Daniel 2:9,34;Daniel 4:30;Daniel 7:22; =ere thatDaniel 6:25.
Daniel 3:19 is not a conjunction, but meansabove that which ...
for and see [ ] and .
(Biblical Hebrew , q. v.); —like, asDaniel 2:40 ,Daniel 4:5;Daniel 4:32;Daniel 5:1 +;according toDaniel 4:32 andaccording to his will he doeth,Ezra 6:9,18 +;about (as Biblical Hebrew compare Zinjirli Lzb444 [] ),Daniel 4:16 ,Daniel 6:1; with infinitive (Biblical Hebrew ),Daniel 6:21 andas he drew near, etc. Cpds.: — and , see and ; ;together, see (sub ).
Topical Lexicon
Linguistic Function and Semantic Rangeדִּי operates in Biblical Aramaic as the indispensable connective that links clauses, specifies relationships, marks possessive or causal ideas, and, when required, stands in for the definite article. Its versatility lets the sacred authors shape nuanced statements about God’s sovereignty, covenant faithfulness, and historical detail without losing clarity in the court-language of the ancient Near East.
Distribution in the Canon
Approximate occurrences: 346.
•Daniel 2:4 b–7:28 – the bulk of instances, underpinning narratives, visions, prayers, and royal edicts.
•Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26 – scattered through correspondence between Persian officials and Jerusalem, the temple-restoration decree, and Artaxerxes’ letter.
•Jeremiah 10:11 – the lone Aramaic verse in the book, a polemic against idolatry spoken to a polytheistic world.
This concentration in the exilic and post-exilic literature highlights God’s self-revelation in the international tongue of the time, ensuring His word reached both Jews and Gentiles under imperial rule.
Historical Context of the Aramaic Portions
Aramaic functioned as the diplomatic lingua franca from the Assyrian period through the Persian era. By weaving דִּי into court records and kingly decrees, Scripture authenticates its own historicity: it mirrors real administrative practice. Daniel confidently cites edicts (“The command that the wise men be executed” –Daniel 2:13) and dreams before pagan monarchs using the very legal and diplomatic phraseology they understood. Ezra records temple-funding legislation with the same precision, showing the Lord directing global politics so that “the house of God may be rebuilt” (Ezra 6:3).
Key Theological Motifs Illustrated through דִּי
1. Divine Sovereignty over Empires
Daniel 2:28 – “But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” The clause built on דִּי roots the revelation squarely in God’s initiative, not Daniel’s wisdom.
2. Exclusive Monotheism
Jeremiah 10:11 – “The gods who did not make the heavens or the earth will perish…” The relative construction sets a sharp contrast between the living Creator and impotent idols.
3. Covenant Preservation in Exile
Ezra 7:23 – “Whatever the God of heaven has required, let it be done diligently for the house of the God of heaven.” By embedding covenant language in imperial correspondence, the text showcases Yahweh’s faithful provision even through foreign authority.
4. Eschatological Hope
Daniel 7:13 – “I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven…” The prophetic vision unfolds in Aramaic so that nations hear of the coming universal kingdom.
Christological and Prophetic Implications
The Aramaic sections that feature דִּי contain some of the clearest Old Testament foreshadowings of Messiah’s kingdom (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14). The relative clauses knit historical events to future promises, highlighting continuity between present exile and coming redemption. Jesus’ self-designation “Son of Man” (Matthew 26:64) deliberately draws on the very Aramaic vision where דִּי facilitates the description of His everlasting dominion.
Sample Passages
•Daniel 3:28 – “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him.”
•Ezra 5:17 – “Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives in Babylon to determine whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus…”
In each, דִּי introduces the defining information—who God has delivered, what decree is sought—providing the narrative hinge.
Ministry and Discipleship Significance
1. Cross-Cultural Witness: Just as Daniel and Ezra spoke God’s truth in the empire’s language, believers today carry Scripture’s unchanging message into every linguistic context.
2. Confidence in Scripture’s Reliability: The authentic Aramaic legal style, signaled repeatedly by דִּי, affirms the historical trustworthiness of the biblical record.
3. Hope amid Opposition: Exilic saints heard heavenly promises phrased in the very tongue used to enforce their captivity; likewise, God still speaks hope within hostile cultures.
Connections to New Testament Revelation
The narrative and legal frameworks shaped by דִּי anticipate the New Testament’s proclamation that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). The linguistic bridge from Aramaic to Greek underscores Scripture’s unified testimony: one God orchestrating redemptive history, one Messiah reigning, one gospel proclaimed to all nations.
Conclusion
דִּי may be a small Aramaic particle, yet through it the Spirit breathed out decisive clauses that declare God’s sovereignty, accomplish His purposes in exile, and point forward to the universal reign of Christ. Its pervasive presence binds together decrees, visions, and testimonies, reminding readers that every word of Scripture—down to connective particles—is ordained to convey the eternal counsel of God.
Forms and Transliterations
דִ֥י דִּ֖י דִּ֗י דִּ֚י דִּ֛י דִּ֞י דִּ֠י דִּ֡י דִּ֣י דִּ֣י ׀ דִּ֤י דִּ֥י דִּ֧י דִּ֨י דִּֽי־ דִּי֩ דִּי־ דִֽי־ דִי֩ דִי־ דֵּ֥י דֶּהָיֵ֖א דהיא די די־ וְדִ֛י וְדִ֣י וְדִ֧י וְדִֽי־ וְדִי֙ וּכְדִי֙ ודי ודי־ וכדי כְּדִ֣י כְּדִ֧י כְּדִ֨י כְדִ֣י כדי cheDi dê de·hā·yê dehaYe dehāyê dei di dî ḏî dî- ḏî- kə·ḏî ḵə·ḏî keDi kəḏî ḵəḏî ū·ḵə·ḏî ucheDi ūḵəḏî veDi wə·ḏî wə·ḏî- wəḏî wəḏî-
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