Lexical Summary neqe: Innocent, blameless Original Word: נְקֵא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pure (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to naqah; clean -- pure. see HEBREW naqah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to naqi Definition clean, pure NASB Translation pure (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נְקֵא adjective clean, pure (see Biblical Hebrew נקה); — ׳כַּעֲמַר נ Daniel 7:9 like pure wool. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Contextנְקֵא (neqeʼ) appears once, in Daniel 7:9, inside Daniel’s Aramaic vision of the four beasts. The prophet “watched until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool” (Daniel 7:9). The word describes the wool’s “purity,” emphasizing the spotless, undefiled nature of the One seated upon the throne. Its single placement heightens its exegetical weight: the sovereign God is visually declared morally flawless before judgment is rendered on the nations. Theological Themes 1. Divine Holiness Purity in Scripture is never merely cosmetic. The word evokes God’s intrinsic, unapproachable holiness (Exodus 15:11; Habakkuk 1:13). Daniel’s vision reminds the exiles that ultimate authority belongs to a God whose judgments are grounded in perfect righteousness. 2. Judgment According to Perfect Standards The Ancient of Days presides over a fiery throne; purity underscores that His verdicts are untainted by bias or corruption (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 9:8). The single term in Daniel thus anchors the entire courtroom scene in moral certainty. 3. Purity and Covenant Hope Israel’s prophets link God’s holiness with His resolve to purify His people (Isaiah 6:5–7; Ezekiel 36:25). By portraying God in dazzling purity, Daniel anticipates the cleansing and vindication of the saints (Daniel 7:18, 27). Intertextual Echoes • Isaiah 1:18 — “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” The same color imagery magnifies grace: the Judge offers cleansing. Historical and Cultural Background In Near-Eastern courts, a magistrate’s attire communicated rank and legitimacy. By describing the Ancient of Days in garments of absolute whiteness—and hair like pure wool—Daniel reverses earthly expectations: even Babylon’s splendor pales before the transcendent Judge. For exiles under pagan rule, this vision reconfirmed that their covenant God remained unrivaled. Christological and Eschatological Connections Daniel 7 unites messianic expectation with divine purity. The “Son of Man” receives everlasting dominion from the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13–14). Revelation identifies Jesus both as Son of Man and as possessor of the Ancient’s attributes (Revelation 1:12–18). Thus נְקֵא becomes a thread tying the Old-Testament vision of the Father’s holiness to the New-Testament revelation of the Son’s co-equal purity. At Christ’s return, the same standard of holiness will judge the living and the dead (Acts 17:31). Ministry and Devotional Applications • Worship: The church approaches God “in the splendor of holiness” (Psalm 96:9). Daniel 7:9 fuels reverence by unveiling God’s spotless majesty. Summary נְקֵא serves as a brilliant flash of light in Daniel’s apocalyptic canvas, declaring that the God who judges history is utterly pure. Its lone appearance invites readers to meditate on divine holiness, the unfailing justice that flows from it, and the gracious promise of cleansing offered through the Messiah. Forms and Transliterations נְקֵ֔א נקא nə·qê neKe nəqêLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 7:9 HEB: רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ כַּעֲמַ֣ר נְקֵ֔א כָּרְסְיֵהּ֙ שְׁבִיבִ֣ין NAS: of His head like pure wool. KJV: of his head like the pure wool: INT: of his head wool pure his throne ablaze |
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