דַּרְכְּמוֹן
𐤃𐤓𐤊𐤌𐤅𐤍
darkᵉmôwn
H1871 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A Persian coin of considerable value, generally equivalent to the Greek drachma, used as a unit of currency in the Persian Empire and referenced in post-exilic biblical texts. The term denotes a specific silver coin in reports of offerings or monetary amounts, and is closely tied to the Persian economic system.
Semantic Range
Persian silver coin, drachma, monetary unit, standard coin of the Persian period
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Old Persian 'dárikam' or similar forms, itself derived from the name of the Persian king Darius. The root meaning relates to currency or coinage, with דַּרְכְּמוֹן representing a noun denoting the coin itself rather than the act of exchanging money. The Hebrew form is a direct loanword adapted to Hebrew phonology.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דַּרְכְּמוֹן appears only in post-exilic biblical texts (e.g., Ezra and Nehemiah), reflecting the Persian administrative and monetary influences after the Babylonian exile. Its usage coincides with the time when Judean society operated within the Persian imperial system, indicating integration with imperial economic practices. It stands in contrast to earlier Israelite monetary references, which involve weights of silver/gold rather than coined money. In later tradition and translations (e.g., the Septuagint, KJV), 'drams' or 'drachmas' are used, but these may not have precisely matched the ancient Persian value. The term does not carry any religious or ethnic identity meaning, being purely monetary. It should not be confused with the Greek δραχμή (drachma), although functionally similar. The occurrence of coined money in the text marks a significant shift in economic life in the Judean province under Persian rule.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Persian origin; a 'drachma', or coin; dram.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דרכמן (d-r-k-m-n) — to coin, to stamp, to assign value
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1871-01 |
דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים֙ | darekemonim | HNcmpa |
darics | Persian silver coins | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1871-01 |
Ezra 2:69 | דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים֙ | darekemonim | HNcmpa |
darics | Persian silver coins |
H1871-01 |
Nehemiah 7:69 | דַּרְכְּמֹנִ֥ים | darekemonim | HNcmpa |
darics | Persian silver coins |
H1871-01 |
Nehemiah 7:70 | דַּרְכְּמוֹנִ֖ים | darekemonim | HNcmpa |
drachmas | Persian silver coins |
H1871-01 |
Nehemiah 7:71 | דַּרְכְּמוֹנִים֙ | darekemonim | HNcmpa |
darics | Persian silver coins |