Lexical Summary
Illay: Most High
Original Word:עִלַּי
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:`illay
Pronunciation:il-lah'ee
Phonetic Spelling:(il-lah'-ee)
KJV: (most) high
NASB:most high
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH5942 (עִלִּי - upper)]
1. supreme (i.e. God)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
most high
(Aramaic) corresponding toilliy; supreme (i.e. God) -- (most) high.
see HEBREWilliy
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
illiDefinition"highest," a name of God
NASB Translationmost high (10).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[ K
§ 59 l) e)] ; — always emphatic Kt, Qr,
the Most High God:
Daniel 3:26;
Daniel 3:32;
Daniel 5:18,21; alone,
the Most High,
Daniel 4:14;
Daniel 4:21;
Daniel 4:22;
Daniel 4:29;
Daniel 4:31;
Daniel 7:25 (compare Nabataean proper name Lzb
341 SAC
91).
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageעִלַּי occurs ten times in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Daniel 3:26; 4:2, 17, 24, 25, 32, 34; 5:18, 21; 7:25). In every instance it forms part of the divine title “the Most High” or “the Most High God,” underscoring God’s supreme exaltation above all earthly powers. The word is never applied to anyone else; it is reserved exclusively for the God who rules human history.
Divine Sovereignty and Kingship
Daniel repeatedly stresses that “the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wishes” (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32). Whether addressing Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, or the end-time little horn (Daniel 7:25), the text centers on the unassailable authority of God. Earthly monarchs receive their thrones by His permission and lose them at His decree. The title therefore functions as a direct challenge to human pretension and as a comfort to the faithful who recognize a higher throne than any visible empire.
Humbling of the Proud
Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall and restoration pivot on his recognition of עִלַּי. After seven years of humiliation he confesses, “I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him who lives forever” (Daniel 4:34). Likewise, Belshazzar’s judgment is sealed because he “did not glorify the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways” (Daniel 5:23), even though he knew how the Most High had disciplined his grandfather (Daniel 5:18-21). The word thus frames a theology of pride and repentance: acknowledgment of the Most High brings restoration; refusal brings ruin.
Worship and Confession
The fiery-furnace narrative introduces the expression on the lips of a pagan king: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God” (Daniel 3:26). Deliverance leads to public testimony, and a Gentile monarch becomes an unexpected herald of true worship. The pattern anticipates New-Testament scenes in which outsiders—such as the centurion at the cross—confess God’s supremacy, illustrating that revelation of the Most High transcends ethnic boundaries.
Eschatological Significance
Daniel 7:25 projects the title into the future conflict between the little horn and “the saints of the Most High.” Even the fiercest eschatological antagonist cannot overthrow God’s authority; the saints ultimately “will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18). The juxtaposition of persecution and victory assures believers that final dominion rests with the Most High, anchoring Christian hope amid tribulation.
Theological Connections
1. Continuity withGenesis 14:19-22,Psalm 47:2, and other Hebrew passages where “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן) identifies God as Creator and universal King. The Aramaic עִלַּי in Daniel bridges to a Gentile context without altering the underlying theology.
2. Trinitarian implication: in New-Testament revelation the Son shares the Father’s exalted status (Hebrews 1:3), affirming that the Most High’s reign is ultimately Christ’s (Philippians 2:9-11).
3. Missional thrust: Daniel’s setting in exile models witness within pluralistic societies, showing that proclamation of the Most High transforms both individuals and empires.
Pastoral and Practical Applications
• Assurance: God’s supremacy steadies believers facing political upheaval.
• Humility: leaders and congregants alike must recognize that authority is delegated, not inherent.
• Worship: corporate praise should echo Nebuchadnezzar’s doxology, celebrating a kingdom that “endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34).
• Evangelism: testimonies like those in Daniel encourage boldness; even the most hardened skeptic may confess the Most High when confronted with His works.
Summary
עִלַּי concentrates the book of Daniel’s message into one title: God is the Most High. History, present experience, and future prophecy all submit to His rule. For the church today, the word calls to steadfast faith, humble obedience, and confident proclamation of the God who reigns above every power.
Forms and Transliterations
וּלְעִלָּאָה֙ ולעלאה עִלָּאָ֑ה עִלָּאָ֔ה עִלָּאָ֖ה עִלָּאָ֜ה עִלָּאָה֙ עלאה ‘il·lā·’āh ‘illā’āh illaAh ū·lə·‘il·lā·’āh ūlə‘illā’āh uleillaAh
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