1799. dikrown
Lexical Summary
dikrown: Thorn, prickle

Original Word: דִּכְרוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: dikrown
Pronunciation: dik-rown'
Phonetic Spelling: (dik-rone')
KJV: record
Word Origin: [corresponding to H2146 (זִכרוֹן - memorial)]

1. a register

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
record

(Aramaic) or dokran {dok-rawn'} (Aramaic); corresponding to zikrown; a register -- record.

see HEBREW zikrown

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[דִּכְרוֺן] noun [masculine] memorandum, record (Biblical Hebrew זִכָּרוֺן, √ זָכַר; compare Nabataean, Palmyrene דבר(ו)ן Lzb268 SAC40 Cooke234 +); — emphatic דִּכְרוֺנָה Ezra 6:2.

[דָּכְרָן]

noun [masculine] id.; — plural emphatic סְפַר דָּכְרָנַיָּא Ezra 4:15 (twice in verse).

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Cultural Setting

דִּכְרוֹן identifies a written memorandum placed in an official archive. In the Persian period such memoranda preserved royal decrees, tax exemptions, and historical narratives for consultation by subsequent monarchs. The word therefore speaks of a secure governmental record rather than a casual note, an idea reinforced by the formidable locations mentioned in Ezra—imperial capitals fortified for both military and administrative reasons.

Occurrences in Scripture

Ezra 4:15 (twice) – Enemies of the returned exiles petition Artaxerxes: “that a search may be made in the archives of your fathers. In these archives you will discover and realize that this city is a rebellious city…”.
Ezra 6:2 – Under Darius: “And a scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and in it was written as follows: ‘Memorandum:’”.

Historical Background: The Persian Archive System

Persia (539–331 BC) maintained regional treasuries and record-houses (Ezra 5:17) where clay tablets, leather scrolls, and parchment rolls were catalogued. Ecbatana—the Median summer capital—housed duplicate copies of edicts issued in Babylon and Susa. Modern discoveries at Persepolis corroborate the biblical picture of meticulous bureaucratic record-keeping. דִּכְרוֹן thus fits seamlessly into known Persian practice and lends historical credibility to the Ezra narrative.

Purpose within the Restoration Narrative

1. Verification of Covenant Favor. The scroll located in Ezra 6 substantiates Cyrus’ decree that authorized temple reconstruction, protecting the returned community from regional opposition.
2. Judicial Appeal. Ezra 4:15 models rightful recourse to lawful authority without abandoning trust in God. The Judeans do not forge documents; they rely on authentic evidence God had already placed in the king’s vaults.
3. Fulfillment of Prophecy. Isaiah 44:28 and 45:13 foretold Cyrus’ role in rebuilding Jerusalem. The “memorandum” uncovered in Darius’ reign becomes the administrative mechanism by which God’s earlier word is honored.

Theological Themes: Divine Remembrance and Sovereign Providence

• Remembrance. While דִּכְרוֹן is human and secular, it echoes the divine “book of remembrance” in Malachi 3:16 and the heavenly “books” opened in Daniel 7:10. Earthly kings keep archives, yet their content ultimately serves the purposes of the King of kings.
• Providence. The unearthing of a particular scroll hundreds of miles from Jerusalem demonstrates that God rules over archives, clerks, and geopolitical capitals. What appears to be bureaucratic chance is actually covenant faithfulness in motion (Ezra 6:22).
• Continuity of Revelation. The accuracy of these Persian records underscores the trustworthiness of Scripture’s historical claims, reinforcing confidence in the whole canon (Luke 16:10).

Implications for Ministry and Discipleship

1. Encourage meticulous record-keeping in church and mission work, knowing that God can use written testimonies decades later for vindication and guidance.
2. Model lawful engagement with civil authorities, balancing respect for due process with unwavering commitment to the Lord’s mission.
3. Teach believers to rest in God’s hidden preparations; long-forgotten “scrolls” may surface at pivotal moments to advance His kingdom.

Related Biblical Motifs

Esther 6:1–3 – Another Persian “book of the chronicles” brings Mordecai to royal attention, illustrating the recurring motif of providential records.
Nehemiah 7:5 – Genealogical lists safeguard covenant identity.
Revelation 20:12 – Final judgment based on opened books completes the biblical arc from earthly scrolls to eternal registers.

In each instance דִּכְרוֹן reminds readers that nothing committed to writing—or to the memory of God—is ever beyond His reach when He moves to protect, direct, or reward His people.

Forms and Transliterations
דִּכְרוֹנָֽה׃ דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א דָּכְרָנַיָּא֮ דכרונה׃ דכרניא dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā dacheRanaiYa dāḵərānayyā dichroNah diḵ·rō·w·nāh diḵrōwnāh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:15
HEB: יְבַקַּר֩ בִּֽסְפַר־ דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜א דִּ֣י אֲבָהָתָ֗ךְ
NAS: may be made in the record books
KJV: may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers:
INT: A search books the record so of your fathers

Ezra 4:15
HEB: וּ֠תְהַשְׁכַּח בִּסְפַ֣ר דָּכְרָנַיָּא֮ וְתִנְדַּע֒ דִּי֩
NAS: And you will discover in the record books
KJV: in the book of the records, and know
INT: will discover books the record and learn so

Ezra 6:2
HEB: כְּתִ֥יב בְּגַוַּ֖הּ דִּכְרוֹנָֽה׃ פ
NAS: in it as follows: Memorandum--
KJV: and therein [was] a record thus
INT: written and therein Memorandum

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1799
3 Occurrences


dā·ḵə·rā·nay·yā — 2 Occ.
diḵ·rō·w·nāh — 1 Occ.

1798
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