Lexical Summary
lela: night
Original Word:לֵילְיָא
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:leylya'
Pronunciation:LAY-lah
Phonetic Spelling:(lay-leh-yaw')
NASB:night
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH3815 (לָאֵל - Lael)]
1. night
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
night
(Aramaic) corresponding toLa'el -- night.
see HEBREWLa'el
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
layilDefinitionnight
NASB Translationnight (5).
Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in DanielThe Aramaic noun לֵילְיָא appears five times, all in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:19; 5:30; 7:2; 7:7; 7:13). Each setting is pivotal, marking moments of revelation, judgment, or eschatological preview.
The Night as a Setting for Divine Revelation
InDaniel 2:19 “the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night”. When human wisdom had failed the Babylonian sages, God disclosed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream during the hours of darkness. The verse testifies that night is no barrier to the God who “knows what lies in darkness” (Daniel 2:22). It underscores the continuity of God’s revelatory pattern—Abraham’s star-lit covenant (Genesis 15:5-18), Jacob’s nocturnal ladder (Genesis 28:10-15), and Joseph’s dream cycle (Genesis 37:5-10).
A Night of Judgment and Regime Change
Daniel 5:30 records that “That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain”. The same span that witnessed the hand writing on the wall culminated in the fall of Babylon. The phrase shows how swiftly divine verdicts move from pronouncement to execution, reminding readers that “when they are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ destruction will come upon them suddenly” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Night Imagery in Apocalyptic Vision
Three appearances occur inDaniel 7, each tied to night visions:
•Daniel 7:2 – “I was watching in my vision at night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.”
•Daniel 7:7 – “After this, in my vision at night I saw a fourth beast…”
•Daniel 7:13 – “In my vision at night I continued to watch, and I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.”
The setting accentuates the otherworldly nature of the visions. Darkness serves as the backdrop against which God unveils unfolding world empires and the ultimate dominion of the Messiah. The climactic appearance of “One like a Son of Man” anticipates the New Testament identification of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:64;Revelation 1:13).
Theological Threads
1. Revelation proceeds on God’s timetable. The night scenes teach that divine disclosure is sovereign, not subject to earthly schedules.
2. Judgment often arrives unexpectedly. Babylon fell “that very night,” echoing the Passover pattern (Exodus 12:29-30) and foreshadowing the sudden return of Christ “like a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10).
3. Hope shines brightest in darkness. Daniel’s visions move from chaotic beasts to the enthronement of the Son of Man, illustrating the promise that “the night is nearly over; the day has drawn near” (Romans 13:12).
Ministry Application
• Prayer and worship need not wait for daylight. Daniel’s night-time praise (Daniel 2:20-23) encourages believers to seek God during seasons of obscurity.
• Pastors may draw comfort that cultural darkness cannot stifle God’s prophetic voice. Like Daniel, the church is called to interpret the times and herald the coming kingdom.
• The sudden downfall of Belshazzar warns leaders against complacency and presumption; faithful stewardship demands vigilance.
• The assured victory of the Son of Man equips believers to persevere, knowing that present darkness gives way to everlasting light (Revelation 22:5).
Summary
לֵילְיָא in Daniel portrays night not merely as a time of physical darkness but as a stage for God’s sovereign activity—revealing mysteries, toppling kingdoms, and unveiling the future reign of Messiah. The motif invites every generation to trust the God who works “both day and night” for His redemptive purposes.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א בליליא לֵֽילְיָ֑א לֵֽילְיָ֔א לֵֽילְיָ֗א לֵילְיָ֖א ליליא bə·lê·lə·yā beLeileYa bəlêləyā lê·lə·yā leilYa lêləyā
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