Lexical Summary tal: dew Original Word: טַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dew (Aramaic) the same as tal -- dew. see HEBREW tal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tal Definition dew NASB Translation dew (5). Topical Lexicon Topical Overviewטַל (Strong’s Hebrew 2920) appears uniquely within the Aramaic sections of Daniel, always rendered “dew” and linked to the humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar. Dew, in Scripture, is both a life-giving gift and a humbling element, falling silently and indiscriminately from heaven. In Daniel, its use underscores the LORD’s sovereign rule over kings and kingdoms (Daniel 4:17). Occurrences in Daniel 1. Daniel 4:15 – In the dream, the felled tree’s stump is “left in the ground… and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven.” Historical and Cultural Background Mesopotamian agriculture depended more on rivers than rain. Night-time dew, while secondary as moisture, was essential for sustaining vegetation during arid seasons. Thus, to be “drenched with dew” signified exposure, homelessness and dependence on divine provision—conditions degrading for an emperor accustomed to luxury. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty: Dew becomes a tangible sign that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wishes” (Daniel 4:25). Intertextual Connections Although טַל 2920 is limited to Daniel, its thematic resonance echoes broader biblical usage of dew (Hebrew טַּל 2919). Examples include: These links frame the Aramaic passages as part of a unified biblical testimony: dew pictures both God’s gentle blessing and His humbling discipline. Christological Implications Psalm 110:3 speaks of the Messiah’s “young men… like dew,” indicating a people willingly gathered to Him. The humbling motif in Daniel foreshadows the Incarnate King who, though possessing all authority, “humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8). The dew that humbled Nebuchadnezzar thus indirectly points to the greater humility of Christ, by which true dominion is secured (Philippians 2:9-11). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Humility before God: Believers are cautioned to “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:6), lest discipline fall. Conclusion טַל in Daniel portrays divine sovereignty breaking human pride through the gentle yet inexorable agent of dew. The same element that revives parched land can abase a proud king, reminding every generation that blessing and discipline alike proceed from the unchanging LORD who “does as He pleases with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth” (Daniel 4:35). Forms and Transliterations וּבְטַ֤ל וּבְטַ֧ל וּמִטַּ֤ל וּמִטַּ֥ל ובטל ומטל ū·ḇə·ṭal ū·miṭ·ṭal ūḇəṭal umitTal ūmiṭṭal uveTalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:15 HEB: דִּ֣י בָרָ֑א וּבְטַ֤ל שְׁמַיָּא֙ יִצְטַבַּ֔ע NAS: And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, KJV: and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, INT: forasmuch of the field the dew of heaven him be drenched Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:33 Daniel 5:21 5 Occurrences |