Lexical Summary zaku: To be pure, clean, clear Original Word: זָכוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance innocence (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to zakah; purity -- innocency. see HEBREW zakah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to zakah Definition purity, innocence NASB Translation innocent (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs זָכוּ (K§ 61, 4) noun feminine purity, innocence (compare Biblical Hebrew זָכָה, also ᵑ7 דְּכָא, Syriac  be clean (Arabic  is be bright (of fire), acute (of mind), etc.), or Arabic  . be pure, good, ᵑ7 זְכָא, Syriac  be pure, innocent; are these forms with ז secondary? or ancient "" ?); — absolute ׳ז Daniel 6:13 innocence in God's sight. Topical Lexicon Definition and Core Concept The term under consideration denotes moral purity or innocence. In Daniel it is the declaration of a clean standing before God that results in divine protection and public vindication. Canonical Context Daniel 6:22 is the sole occurrence: “My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions; they have not harmed me, because I was found innocent before Him, and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” The word functions as the pivot of Daniel’s defense, summarizing his life of integrity amid an idolatrous empire. Historical Setting in Daniel Daniel, an exile serving under Persian rule, faced a law crafted to ensnare him through his piety. His faithfulness led to the lions’ den, a venue chosen to demonstrate his guilt. Instead, the miracle attested to his innocence. In Persian jurisprudence, divine signs were taken seriously; the untouched prophet convinced King Darius that the God of Israel overrules imperial decrees. Theological Themes 1. Divine Vindication: Scripture repeatedly shows the Lord defending the righteous (Psalm 34:15–22; 1 Peter 3:12). Daniel’s deliverance is a paradigm of that principle. Practical Ministry Implications • Ethical Consistency: Believers in hostile environments draw encouragement to maintain purity, trusting God with outcomes. Christological Perspective The motif of an innocent sufferer rescued by God culminates in Jesus Christ. Pilate declared, “I find no basis for a charge against Him” (John 18:38), yet the cross became the ultimate lions’ den. The resurrection validated His utter innocence and secures justification for all who are found in Him (Romans 4:25). Related Biblical Concepts • Righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 1:17) In Scripture the single Aramaic term forms a luminous thread: true innocence is recognized by God, defended by God, and displayed by God for the blessing of nations and the glory of His Name. Forms and Transliterations זָכוּ֙ זכו zā·ḵū zaChu zāḵūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:22 HEB: דִּ֤י קָֽדָמ֙וֹהִי֙ זָכוּ֙ הִשְׁתְּכַ֣חַת לִ֔י NAS: as I was found innocent before KJV: before him innocency was found INT: forasmuch before innocent was found and also |
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