Lexical Summary geram: bones Original Word: גֶּרֶם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bone (Aramaic) corresponding to gerem; a bone -- bone. see HEBREW gerem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to gerem Definition a bone NASB Translation bones (1). Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrence Daniel 6:24 provides the lone appearance of גֶּרֶם in the Old Testament: “Before they had reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones”. The word stands at the climax of the narrative, underscoring complete and irreversible judgment on those who plotted Daniel’s death. Narrative Setting • Timeframe: Early reign of Darius the Mede, shortly after the conquest of Babylon (circa 539 BC). Justice and Divine Retribution The crushed bones attest that God vindicates His faithful even within pagan administrations. The swift, total judgment prefigures principles later articulated in Romans 12:19 and Revelation 19:2—God avenges without partiality, demonstrating both His mercy toward those who trust Him and His holiness against unrepentant evil. Symbolic Value of Bones Throughout Scripture bones convey: 1. Life’s structure (Genesis 2:23). Daniel 6:24, by contrast, depicts bones as objects of shattering judgment. The contrast between preserved and crushed bones sharpens the Bible’s moral polarity: covenant fidelity leads to preservation; rebellion to destruction. Prophetic and Christological Echoes Daniel’s near-death experience foreshadows Christ’s burial and resurrection: The crushed bones thus function as a shadow of the ultimate vindication found in the risen Messiah. Pastoral and Discipleship Insights 1. Perseverance in prayer can provoke opposition, yet it positions the believer for public vindication (Matthew 6:6; 1 Peter 5:6). Homiletical Considerations • Title ideas: “When Bones Break—The Cost of Plotting against the Righteous”; “From Den to Dominion: God’s Vindication in Daniel 6”. Related Passages for Study Psalm 34:20; Psalm 22:14-17; Micah 3:2-3; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Matthew 10:28; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 11:33-34; 1 Peter 2:23. Summary Gerem appears once, yet its crushing in Daniel 6:24 encapsulates the Bible’s recurring theme: God preserves the righteous and dismantles the schemes of the wicked. The broken bones in the lions’ den echo through redemptive history as a warning against rebellion and a promise of steadfast protection for those who entrust themselves to the Almighty. Forms and Transliterations גַּרְמֵיה֖וֹן גרמיהון gar·mê·hō·wn garmêhōwn garmeiHonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:24 HEB: אַרְיָ֣וָתָ֔א וְכָל־ גַּרְמֵיה֖וֹן הַדִּֽקוּ׃ NAS: them and crushed all their bones. KJV: all their bones in pieces INT: the lions all their bones and crushed 1 Occurrence |
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