Lexical Summary dekar: Ten Original Word: דְּכַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ram (Aramaic) corresponding to zakar; properly, a male, i.e. Of sheep -- ram. see HEBREW zakar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to zakar Definition a ram NASB Translation rams (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [דְּכַר] noun masculine ram (ᵑ7 דִּכְרָא, Syriac ![]() Topical Lexicon OverviewThe Aramaic term translated “male” is found exclusively in the imperial correspondence preserved in Ezra 6 and Ezra 7. Each occurrence concerns the provision of sacrificial animals for the Second Temple, underscoring both the continuity of Mosaic worship after the exile and God’s sovereign use of foreign rulers to sustain His people’s devotion. Occurrences in Scripture • Ezra 6:9 – Darius’s decree orders that “young bulls, rams, and lambs” be supplied daily “for burnt offerings to the God of heaven.” In each text the underlying Aramaic word specifies that the animals are male, matching the consistent Pentateuchal requirement for burnt and sin offerings to be unblemished males (for example, Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 4:23). Historical Context After seventy years of exile, Judah’s remnant returned under the auspices of Persian kings. Chapters 4 through 6 of Ezra reproduce official Aramaic memoranda, while Ezra 7 records Artaxerxes’ rescript commissioning Ezra. The appearance of an Aramaic term for “male” within these edicts reflects the administrative language of the empire and authenticates the historical setting. Simultaneously, it demonstrates that the worship regulations given at Sinai remained normative even under foreign oversight. Sacrificial Significance 1. Burnt Offerings: Male animals wholly consumed on the altar expressed total consecration to the LORD (Leviticus 1). The mandate for males highlighted perfection, strength, and representative headship. Intertextual Connections • Exodus 12:5 – Passover required a “male without blemish,” providing the foundational pattern echoed in Ezra’s offerings. Ministry Implications 1. Fidelity to God’s Word – The exiles obeyed the precise sacrificial prescriptions despite cultural displacement, modeling doctrinal and practical faithfulness for today’s church. Conclusion Though appearing only three times, the Aramaic term for “male” in Ezra anchors the post-exilic community to the covenantal standards of earlier revelation and directs readers to the consummate male Lamb, Jesus Christ. The word thus serves both historical authenticity and redemptive-historical proclamation. Forms and Transliterations דִּכְרִ֣ין דִּכְרִין֙ דכרין וְדִכְרִ֣ין ודכרין dichRin diḵ·rîn diḵrîn vedichRin wə·ḏiḵ·rîn wəḏiḵrînLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:9 HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י תוֹרִ֣ין וְדִכְרִ֣ין וְאִמְּרִ֣ין ׀ לַעֲלָוָ֣ן ׀ NAS: bulls, rams, and lambs KJV: bullocks, and rams, and lambs, INT: young bulls rams and lambs A burnt Ezra 6:17 Ezra 7:17 3 Occurrences |