אֲדַרְכֹּן
𐤀𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤍
ʼădarkôn
H150 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A gold coin, specifically a daric of Persian origin—a monetary unit used in the Persian Empire, referenced in post-exilic biblical texts. The word primarily refers to a standard gold coin used for significant payments or offerings, such as those for the temple.
Semantic Range
Persian daric, gold coin, high-value monetary unit, financial offering in temple context
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Old Persian, related to the Persian gold coin 'daric.' Not derived from a native Hebrew root, but a loanword introduced during the period of Persian administration over Yehud (the post-exilic province of Judah).
Historical & Contextual Notes
'אֲדַרְכֹּן' (ʼădarkôn) occurs in post-exilic biblical texts such as Ezra and Nehemiah, where it refers to a high-value Persian gold coin (the daric), reflecting the economic realities and administrative language of the Persian Empire. Its usage signals the integration of Persian currency and fiscal organization in Yehud. The term does not appear in earlier periods of Israelite history, reflecting its post-exilic, Persian context. English translations often render it as 'daric' or sometimes 'drachma' or 'dram,' but the equivalence is closer to the Persian daric, a standard gold piece bearing royal insignia. Unlike more general Hebrew terms for money or silver (כֶּסֶף kesef), ʼădarkôn is specifically tied to a gold coin of high value and foreign origin, and is best understood as a technical financial term of Persian provenance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Persian origin; a daric or Persian coin; dram.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H150-01 |
לַ/אֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים | laadarekhonim | HR/Ncmpa |
for darics | for Persian gold coins | for darics | 1 |
H150-02 |
וַ/אֲדַרְכֹנִ֣ים | vaadarekhonim | HC/Ncmpa |
and darics | and Persian gold coins | and darics | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H150-01 |
Ezra 8:27 | לַ/אֲדַרְכֹנִ֖ים | laadarekhonim | HR/Ncmpa |
for darics | for Persian gold coins | for darics |
H150-02 |
1 Chronicles 29:7 | וַ/אֲדַרְכֹנִ֣ים | vaadarekhonim | HC/Ncmpa |
and darics | and Persian gold coins | and darics |