Lexical Summary terad: driven away Original Word: טְרַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drive (Aramaic) corresponding to tarad; to expel -- drive. see HEBREW tarad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tarad Definition to chase away NASB Translation driven away (4). Topical Lexicon Placement in the Canonטְרַד appears only in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Daniel 2–7), twice in the king’s first-person testimony (Daniel 4), once in the narrator’s confirmation (Daniel 4:33), and once in Daniel’s address to Belshazzar (Daniel 5:21). The tight clustering gives the word a sharply defined narrative function that centers on the divine humbling of proud monarchs. Narrative Function Each occurrence is tied to the sentence, execution, and historical recollection of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness. “You will be driven away from mankind and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field” (Daniel 4:25). The repetition—prediction, fulfillment, and later citation—creates a literary bracket that highlights God’s absolute sovereignty over the Gentile powers that dominate Judah during the exile. Historical Background Nebuchadnezzar II, the architect of Babylon’s imperial glory, had subjugated Jerusalem (2 Kings 24–25) and deported its elite. In public memory he would have appeared invincible. Yet Scripture records that in approximately the thirty-third year of his reign he succumbed to a divinely imposed psychosis, probably spanning seven literal years (“seven times”). The humiliation involved banishment from the palace precincts into the wild, where he lived as an untamed animal. Archaeological silence on this episode ironically corroborates Daniel: ancient monarchs never preserved official records of disgrace. Theological Themes 1. Divine Kingship: The verb underscores the fact that God alone “removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). The most powerful throne on earth can be vacated in an instant when the heavenly court issues its decree. Liturgical and Prophetic Resonance Jewish liturgy that developed during and after the exile drew on Daniel’s testimony to encourage faith in God’s ultimate vindication of His people. Christian proclamation sees a prophetic foreshadowing of the eschatological judgment of the nations (Revelation 18), where every Babylon—ancient or future—is subject to being “driven” from its seat of power by the same Sovereign Lord. Pastoral Application • Pride invites divine opposition. Believers called to positions of influence must heed the warning embedded in טְרַד. Inter-Testamental Echoes Second Temple literature often recalled Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling as a paradigm for Gentile rulers (e.g., 1 Maccabees 2:62–63). Early Christian writers, including Tertullian and Chrysostom, cited Daniel 4 to admonish Roman emperors, showing that טְרַד’s theme of forced displacement retained homiletical power well into the church age. Canonical Connections The motif aligns with Psalms (“Surely the wrath of man shall praise You,” Psalm 76:10) and Proverbs (“Pride goes before destruction,” Proverbs 16:18). In the New Testament, Mary’s Magnificat celebrates the same principle: “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has exalted the humble” (Luke 1:52). Summary טְרַד in Daniel encapsulates God’s prerogative to drive out the proud and enthrone the humble. Its concentrated usage creates a vivid, cautionary portrait of divine discipline applied to world leaders, reinforcing the confession that “His dominion is an everlasting dominion” (Daniel 4:34). Forms and Transliterations טְרִ֔יד טְרִ֜יד טָֽרְדִ֜ין טָֽרְדִ֣ין טרדין טריד ṭā·rə·ḏîn tareDin ṭārəḏîn ṭə·rîḏ teRid ṭərîḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:25 HEB: וְלָ֣ךְ טָֽרְדִ֣ין מִן־ אֲנָשָׁ֡א NAS: that you be driven away from mankind KJV: That they shall drive thee from men, INT: you be driven from mankind Daniel 4:32 Daniel 4:33 Daniel 5:21 4 Occurrences |
    |