Lexical Summary Dareyavesh: Darius Original Word: דֱּרְיָוֵשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Darius Of Persian origin; Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings -- Darius. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition the name of several Pers. kings NASB Translation Darius (10). Brown-Driver-Briggs דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ proper name, masculine Darius (Old Persian Dârayaua'ush compare SpiegAPK 81) — 1 Darius Hystaspis, 522-485 Ezra 4:5; Haggai 1:1,15; Haggai 2:10; Zechariah 1:1,7; Zechariah 7:1. 2 Darius Codomannus, 336-332 Nehemiah 12:22. 3 'Darius the Mede,' Daniel 9:1; Daniel 11:1, compare BevDan. p. 19. דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ15 proper name, masculine (Biblical Hebrew id.; Egyptian Aramaic דריוהוש RŠS361 S-CH 1+); — 1 Darius Hystaspis Ezra 4:24 8t. Ezra. 2 'Darius the Mede' Daniel 6:1; Daniel 6:2; Daniel 6:7; Daniel 6:10; Daniel 6:26; Daniel 6:29. Topical Lexicon Historical Profiles of the Three Biblical DaruisesDarius the Mede In Daniel 9:1 and Daniel 11:1 the name points to the ruler who received the kingdom “in the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent)” (Daniel 9:1). Coming to power immediately after the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, he reorganized the realm into satrapies (Daniel 6) and, though manipulated by his officials, publicly acknowledged the God of Daniel (Daniel 6:25-27). His brief reign provided the setting in which Daniel grasped Jeremiah’s prophecy of the seventy years’ exile and prayed for national restoration (Daniel 9:2-19). Scripture presents him as an instrument in God’s sovereign hand to transfer imperial authority and to advance His redemptive timetable. Darius I Hystaspes The occurrences in Ezra 4:5; Haggai 1:1, 15; 2:10; Zechariah 1:1, 7; and 7:1 relate to the brilliant Persian monarch who ruled from 522-486 BC. Early in his reign he confirmed Cyrus’s decree, enabling the returned exiles to resume work on the Second Temple (Ezra 5–6). Haggai and Zechariah date their prophecies by his regnal years, urging the people to rebuild and to renew covenant fidelity. Under his patronage the Temple was completed in 516 BC, exactly seventy years after its destruction, thus demonstrating the precision of Jeremiah’s prophecy and God’s faithfulness to His word. Darius II Nothus Nehemiah 12:22 refers to a Darius in whose days the line of high priests extended “until the reign of Darius the Persian.” The context places this mention after the ministries of Ezra and Nehemiah (mid-fifth century), pointing to Darius II (423-404 BC). By that time the restored community had been established for almost a century, and the citation functions mainly as a chronological anchor within the priestly genealogy. Contribution to Israel’s Restoration 1. Political Authorization Prophetic and Eschatological Significance Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Daniel sought understanding “in the first year of Darius” (Daniel 9:1-2). The answer he received delineated the seventy-sevens (Daniel 9:24-27), a framework that reaches to Messiah’s atoning work and future consummation. Thus Darius the Mede’s first year becomes a pivotal terminus a quo for the prophetic calendar. Foreshadowing Universal Rule The Persian policy of limited autonomy under a benevolent empire prefigures the eventual reign of Christ, under whom nations will serve willingly (Psalm 72:11). The cooperation between the throne of Persia and the prophets of Judah anticipates the ultimate harmony between secular authority and divine kingdom in the age to come. Theological Themes Sovereignty of God over Kings Proverbs 21:1 finds concrete illustration: each Darius, whether Mede or Persian, fulfills divine intent—toppling Babylon, supporting reconstruction, or stabilizing post-exilic worship. Reliability of Scripture Historical synchronisms between the prophetic books and Persian records confirm the veracity of the biblical narrative. The precise dating formulas (“in the second year of King Darius,” Haggai 1:1) invite confidence in all that Scripture affirms. Perseverance of the Covenant Community Opposition (Ezra 4), bureaucratic delays, and internal discouragement threatened the fledgling returnees, yet God raised up Darius I and two prophets to carry the work to completion. The pattern encourages believers to trust that divine purpose overrules every hindrance. Practical Implications for Faith and Ministry • Pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). God can turn imperial decrees into instruments of gospel advance, just as He used Darius to secure the rebuilding of His house. Key References Ezra 4:5; Nehemiah 12:22; Daniel 9:1; Daniel 11:1; Haggai 1:1, 15; Haggai 2:10; Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 1:7; Zechariah 7:1 Forms and Transliterations דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ דריוש לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ לְדָרְיָ֖וֶשׁ לְדָרְיָ֛וֶשׁ לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ לדריוש dā·rə·yā·weš dareYavesh dārəyāweš lə·ḏā·rə·yā·weš ledareYavesh ləḏārəyāwešLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:5 HEB: וְעַד־ מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־ פָּרָֽס׃ NAS: the reign of Darius king KJV: even until the reign of Darius king INT: until the reign of Darius king of Persia Nehemiah 12:22 Daniel 9:1 Daniel 11:1 Haggai 1:1 Haggai 1:15 Haggai 2:10 Zechariah 1:1 Zechariah 1:7 Zechariah 7:1 10 Occurrences |
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