אֲחִידָה
𐤀𐤇𐤉𐤃𐤄
ʼăchîydâh
H280 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A riddle, enigma, or obscure utterance designed to conceal, test, or invite interpretation. In rabbinic and biblical usage, refers to a cryptic saying or statement requiring discernment or wisdom to understand; sometimes extended to mean a complex, difficult problem or question.
Semantic Range
riddle, enigma, perplexing saying, obscure utterance, hard question, cryptic sentence
Root / Etymology
An Aramaic noun corresponding etymologically to the Hebrew חִידָה (ḥîdāh), a derivative of the root חדשׁ, though with uncertain morphological formation. The Hebrew root חָדָה is associated with the idea of 'to propound a riddle, to pose an enigmatic saying.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
This word is an Aramaic term, found in portions of the Hebrew Bible written in Aramaic (e.g., Daniel). In Daniel 5:12, ʼăchîydâh is used in the context of Daniel's ability to interpret puzzles, difficult questions, or enigmatic sentences. The term reflects the Near Eastern wisdom tradition in which riddles or obscure sayings were used as a mark of wisdom or as a test of sagacity. Unlike its Hebrew counterpart חִידָה (ḥîdāh), which appears in poetic and wisdom literature (e.g., Judges 14; Proverbs 1), the Aramaic form is primarily attested in imperial and later periods, reflecting the administrative and literary style of the Achaemenid and Hellenistic eras. English translations generally render the term as 'enigma' or 'hard question,' but such renderings can obscure its function as a communicative device requiring interpretive skill. The word's meaning did not substantially shift over time but was closely associated with the courtly and scholarly culture of late biblical Aramaic texts. In later Jewish Aramaic, similar terms continued to denote riddles or interpretive challenges.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to חִידָה,; an enigma; hard sentence.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חדה (ḥ-d-h) — to propound a riddle, pose an enigma, speak in obscure sayings
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2302 | חָדָה | you cause him to rejoice |
| H2304 | חֶדְוָה | joy-of |
| H2305 | חֶדְוָה | in glad rejoicing |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H280-01 |
אֲחִידָ֜ן | achidan | ANcmpa |
enigmas | riddles | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H280-01 |
Daniel 5:12 | אֲחִידָ֜ן | achidan | ANcmpa |
enigmas | riddles |