Lexical Summary
illen: These, those
Original Word:אִלֵּין
Part of Speech:demonstrative pronoun plural
Transliteration:illeyn
Pronunciation:il-len'
Phonetic Spelling:(il-lane')
KJV: the, these
NASB:these
Word Origin:[prolonged fromH41 (אֲבִינָדָב - Abinadab)2]
1. these
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
the, these
(Aramaic) or shorter oillen {il-lane'}; prolonged from'el; these -- the, these.
see HEBREW'el
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) prol. from
elDefinitionthese
NASB Translationthese (5).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
Daniel 2:44;
Daniel 6:7) (plural of , q. v.: Palmyrene (Lzb
264Eph. i. 343, 345 Cooke
26); ; Mandean (Nö
M 89 f.); Talmud (with emphatic hâ prefixed, W
CG:109) : see further below Biblical Hebrew , and add Egyptian Aramaic Cooke
26); —
these, only Daniel:
Daniel 2:40 , ,
Daniel 2:44 ,
Daniel 6:3 (so
Daniel 6:7),
Daniel 7:17 .
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Occurrencesאִלֵּין appears five times, all within the Aramaic portion of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:40; 2:44; 6:2; 6:6; 7:17). In every instance the term functions as a demonstrative that singles out a specific, identifiable group—kingdoms, officials, or beasts—to which divine revelation, judgment, or action is directed.
Literary and Historical Setting
Daniel 2–7 was composed in Aramaic to address a Gentile audience living under imperial power. The recurring “these” pinpoints earthly powers situated within real history: Babylon, Medo-Persia, the satrapal bureaucracy of Darius, and the successive empires symbolized by the beasts of chapter 7. By marking off “these” entities, Scripture highlights their finitude in contrast with the eternal kingdom of God.
Theological Themes Highlighted by אִלֵּין
1. Specificity of Divine Sovereignty
•Daniel 2:44: “It will shatter and consume all these kingdoms, but will itself endure forever.” The demonstrative underscores that God’s coming kingdom does not overthrow an abstract evil but particular, named regimes.
•Daniel 7:17: “These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.” Prophecy is anchored in concrete geopolitical realities, affirming that history is the stage upon which God acts.
2. Transience of Human Authority
•Daniel 2:40 refers to iron that “will crush and break all these,” reminding readers that even the most formidable empire belongs to the catalogue of “these”—a discrete, time-bound entity destined to fall.
•Daniel 6:2, 6 positions “these satraps” and “these administrators” under the scrutiny of an earthly monarch, yet the broader narrative shows them ultimately subject to God’s greater court (Daniel 6:22).
3. Consistency of Covenant Faithfulness
By narrowing attention to “these” kings or officials, the text frames God’s covenant people against definitive adversaries: the golden image’s sponsors (chapter 2), the bureaucrats who scheme against Daniel (chapter 6), and the imperial beasts (chapter 7). Each instance becomes an occasion to reveal the steadfast faithfulness of the LORD toward His servants.
Ministry Significance
• Preaching Christ’s Kingdom
The annihilation of “these kingdoms” (Daniel 2:44) anticipates the unshakeable reign of Jesus Christ, encouraging believers to anchor hope in a kingdom “that will never be destroyed.”
• Encouragement under Opposition
The plotting of “these administrators and satraps” (Daniel 6:6) mirrors pressures faced by Christians under hostile systems. Daniel’s deliverance assures the church that loyalty to God transcends decrees of “these” earthly authorities.
• Discernment in Eschatology
Identifying “these beasts” (Daniel 7:17) calls the faithful to discern the character of contemporary powers without fear, confident that God has numbered and limited them.
Practical Teaching Points
1. God names and knows every power that threatens His people; none escape His decree.
2. The word draws a line between what is temporary (“these”) and what is eternal (God’s kingdom).
3. Like Daniel, believers navigate real structures—jobs, governments, cultures—yet remain citizens of a higher realm that will outlast “these” worldly systems.
Summary
אִלֵּין functions as more than a grammatical pointer; it is a theological spotlight directing attention to specific historical agents whom God will judge, use, or overturn. Each occurrence in Daniel reinforces the message that while “these” kingdoms rise and fall, the Most High rules forever and vindicates those who trust Him.
Forms and Transliterations
אִלֵּ֔ן אִלֵּ֖ין אִלֵּ֗ין אִלֵּ֣ין אִלֵּין֙ אלין אלן ’il·lên ’illên ilLein ilLen
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