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דָּת

𐤃𐤕

dâth

H1882 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A formal regulation, edict, decree, or law—typically an official statute or mandate issued by an authority, especially a royal or governmental command. The term broadly refers to any binding rule or custom, particularly official legal or court orders established within a state's or community's legal framework. In Aramaic contexts of the Hebrew Bible, דָּת encompasses the notion of written and unwritten legal precepts, prescriptions, or customs that are recognized as having controlling force.

Semantic Range

royal edict, official law, statutory regulation, command, established custom, imperial decree, legal precept, administrative order

Root / Etymology

The word דָּת (dâth) is used primarily in Biblical Aramaic and has an uncertain etymology. It is likely a loanword of Persian origin, possibly derived from Old Persian *dāta- meaning 'law' or 'edict.' It does not appear to derive from a native Hebrew root, and does not have a regular Semitic formation. Cognates are found in several ancient Near Eastern languages, reflecting the broad use of the concept of law or edict in imperial administration.

Historical & Contextual Notes

דָּת is used in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Ezra, Daniel, and especially Esther. It commonly refers to statutes, decrees, or regulations promulgated by a royal or state authority (for example, Persian law), but may also denote local customs or community norms. In the book of Esther, דָּת frequently refers specifically to the legal edicts of the Persian empire, differentiating imperial law from other kinds of rules or religious prescriptions. Its range can include both civil laws and ceremonial decrees. Unlike the Hebrew תּוֹרָה (torah), which denotes divine instruction, teaching, or law, דָּת focuses on positive law as issued by human authorities. In later rabbinic and post-biblical usage, דָּת comes to refer also to religion or religious law generically, but this is not the primary biblical nuance. English translations variously render דָּת as 'law,' 'decree,' 'edict,' or 'statute,' often depending on context. Where KJV and older translations sometimes introduce 'Jew' or 'Jewish' in phraseology ('law of the Jews'), the biblical term does not specify ethnic or religious identity and simply refers to the pertinent legal edict or custom, whether Persian or Israelite in context. The term's use sharply contrasts with native Israelite legal vocabulary and reflects the linguistic and administrative influence of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to דָּת; {a royal edict or statute}; decree, law.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain law, decree, edict, statute
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1882-03 דָתָ֛/א data ANcfsd/Td law-the the official decree the law 4
H1882-01 בְּ/דָ֥ת bedat AR/Ncfsc according to the law in official decree in the law 2
H1882-06 כְּ/דָת kedat AR/Ncfsc according to law according to decree according to decree 2
H1882-08 וְ/דָתָ֣/א vedata AC/Ncfsd/Td and-the-decree and the decree and the decree 2
H1882-02 דָת֙ dat ANcfsa law official decree official decree 1
H1882-04 דָֽתְ/כ֗וֹן datekhon ANcfsc/Sp2mp decree for you your law your decree 1
H1882-05 דָּתֵ֣י datey ANcfpc the laws decrees of the laws 1
H1882-07 וְ/דָ֔ת vedat AC/Ncfsa and law formal decree and formal decree 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1882-04 Daniel 2:9 דָֽתְ/כ֗וֹן datekhon ANcfsc/Sp2mp decree for you your law your decree
H1882-08 Daniel 2:13 וְ/דָתָ֣/א vedata AC/Ncfsd/Td and-the-decree and the decree and the decree
H1882-03 Daniel 2:15 דָתָ֛/א data ANcfsd/Td the decree the official decree the official decree
H1882-01 Daniel 6:6 בְּ/דָ֥ת bedat AR/Ncfsc in law in official decree in law
H1882-06 Daniel 6:9 כְּ/דָת kedat AR/Ncfsc according to the law according to decree according to decree
H1882-06 Daniel 6:13 כְּ/דָת kedat AR/Ncfsc according to law according to decree according to law
H1882-02 Daniel 6:16 דָת֙ dat ANcfsa law official decree official decree
H1882-07 Daniel 7:25 וְ/דָ֔ת vedat AC/Ncfsa and law formal decree and formal decree
H1882-03 Ezra 7:12 דָּתָ֜/א data ANcfsd/Td of-the-law the official decree of the law
H1882-01 Ezra 7:14 בְּ/דָ֥ת bedat AR/Ncfsc according to the law in official decree in the law
H1882-03 Ezra 7:21 דָּתָ/א֙ data ANcfsd/Td law-the the official decree the law
H1882-05 Ezra 7:25 דָּתֵ֣י datey ANcfpc the laws decrees of the laws
H1882-03 Ezra 7:26 דָּתָ֣/א data ANcfsd/Td the law the official decree the law
H1882-08 Ezra 7:26 וְ/דָתָ/א֙ vedata AC/Ncfsd/Td and the law and the decree and the law
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