Lexical Summary kenash: Gather, assemble Original Word: כָּנַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gather together (Aramaic) corresponding to kanac; to assemble -- gather together. see HEBREW kanac NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to kanas Definition to gather NASB Translation assemble (1), assembled (1), gathered around (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [כְּנַשׁ] verb gather (ᵑ7 id.; Old Aramaic Palmyrene בנש Lzb298; Syriac  ; see also Biblical Hebrew [כָּנַס); — Pe`al Infinitive, לְמִכְנַשׁ, followed by ל accusative of person Daniel 3:2. Hithpa. Participle plural מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין (were) assembled Daniel 3:3,27. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 3673 conveys the idea of bringing persons together for a single purpose. Its three appearances cluster in Daniel 3, anchoring the narrative of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image within the wider biblical motif of “gathering”—a theme that stretches from the patriarchs to the consummation of all things. Occurrences in Scripture • Daniel 3:2–3 – Nebuchadnezzar “summoned” or “assembled” the hierarchy of officials to dedicate his image. Historical Backdrop in Daniel Babylonian monarchs wielded public assemblies as instruments of loyalty. Daniel 3 demonstrates how compulsory gatherings could pressure God’s people toward idolatry. Yet the narrative turns the king’s rally into a stage for divine vindication: the same leaders who earlier bowed to the image later crowd around the faithful exiles, confessing that “no other god is able to save in this way” (Daniel 3:29). Spiritual-Theological Observations: Divine Gathering versus Human Gathering 1. Human coercion. Nebuchadnezzar’s summons exemplifies political power marshaling crowds for self-glory. Scripture repeatedly contrasts such coerced unity with the voluntary covenant assembly Yahweh forms (Exodus 12:16; Nehemiah 8:1). Canonical Connections • Torah: The Lord “gathers” Israel from Egypt into covenant community (Deuteronomy 32:10). The limited use of כָּנַשׁ in Daniel thus nests within a tapestry where God consistently assembles a people for His glory. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones Daniel 3 foreshadows the Messiah’s triumph over oppressive gatherings. As Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace fails to consume, so death cannot consume Christ, and the nations will one day rally not around a golden statue but around the risen Lamb (Philippians 2:10–11). Every forced assembly under earthly empires pales beside the voluntary, Spirit-wrought congregation of the redeemed. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Worship Integrity. Believers may face cultural convocations that demand compromise. Daniel’s friends model steadfastness, reminding churches to prioritize allegiance to God over societal conformity. Conclusion Though appearing only three times, כָּנַשׁ accents a grand biblical storyline: God sovereignly overrules human gatherings, transforming them into stages for redemption and previews of the ultimate assembly in His presence. Forms and Transliterations וּ֠מִֽתְכַּנְּשִׁין ומתכנשין לְמִכְנַ֣שׁ ׀ למכנש מִֽתְכַּנְּשִׁ֡ין מתכנשין lə·miḵ·naš lemichNash ləmiḵnaš miṯ·kan·nə·šîn mitkanneShin miṯkannəšîn ū·miṯ·kan·nə·šîn Umitkanneshin ūmiṯkannəšînLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:2 HEB: מַלְכָּ֡א שְׁלַ֡ח לְמִכְנַ֣שׁ ׀ לַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֡א סִגְנַיָּ֣א NAS: sent [word] to assemble the satraps, KJV: sent to gather together the princes, INT: the king sent assemble the satraps the prefects Daniel 3:3 Daniel 3:27 3 Occurrences |
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