Lexical Summary antah: To answer, respond Original Word: אַנְתָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as for thee, thou (Aramaic) corresponding to 'attah; thou -- as for thee, thou. see HEBREW 'attah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to attah Definition you (sing.). Brown-Driver-Briggs אנתה Kt14 (i.e. אַנְתָּה, peculiar to Biblical Aramaic; Qr אַנְתְּ) pronoun 2 masculine singular thou (Biblical Hebrew אַתָּה; Cappadocian and Egyptian Aramaic אנת (LabEph. 1. 67; S-CA 11 +, feminine אנתי ib. D9, 11, 26+), Nerab את (Cooke186. 190), Palmyrene אנת (ib. 308); ᵑ7Onk את, ᵑ7J אנת (§ 16. 1); Syriac Topical Lexicon Literary Functionאַנְתָּה appears only in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, always as the emphatic masculine singular pronoun “you.” It functions to single out the one being addressed, often in formal court language, legal decrees, and prophetic interpretations. The term carries no theological weight in itself, yet the inspired writers employ it strategically to confront rulers with the word and will of God. Occurrences in Royal Court Dialogues 1. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2; 3; 4) 2. Belshazzar (Daniel 5) 3. Darius (Daniel 6) 4. Ezra’s Commission (Ezra 7:25) Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty versus Human Authority Each time אַנְתָּה targets a ruler, the narrative pivots from their apparent power to God’s greater rule. The repetition of “you” serves as a rhetorical fulcrum: earthly kings receive authority, lose it, or are judged, but “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” (Daniel 4:17). 2. Personal Accountability The pronoun strips away courtly titles to lay responsibility at a single doorstep. Whether king (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius) or scribe (Ezra), every leader must answer to revelation. Daniel 5:22 epitomizes this: “But you… have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this.” 3. Prophetic Confrontation Daniel’s employment of אַנְתָּה models prophetic ministry that is respectful yet unflinching. Modern proclamation likewise must couple courtesy with clarity, addressing hearers personally while magnifying God’s authority. Historical Significance The concentration of אַנְתָּה in sixth–fifth-century Babylonian and Persian settings attests to the authenticity of the Aramaic milieu. Court records and edicts of that era frequently used emphatic pronouns for direct address; Scripture mirrors this cultural pattern while advancing redemptive history. Ministry Application • Preachers and teachers can learn from Daniel’s boldness: speak directly, but always as ambassadors of a higher King. Summary Though merely the Aramaic word for “you,” אַנְתָּה punctuates pivotal moments where heaven confronts earth. Its usage in Ezra and Daniel crystallizes the Bible’s message that the Most High addresses individuals—especially those in power—and holds them answerable to His eternal decree. Forms and Transliterations אַ֖נְתְּ אַ֣נְתְּ אַ֤נְתְּ אַנְתְּ־ אנת אנת־ ה֔וּא ה֣וּא ה֤וּא הוא וְאַ֣נְתְּ וְאַ֣נְתְּ וְאַ֤נְתְּ וְאַ֨נְתְּ ואנת ’ant ’ant- Ant Hu hū veAnt wə’ant wə·’antLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 7:25 HEB: וְאַ֣נְתְּ עֶזְרָ֗א כְּחָכְמַ֨ת KJV: And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom INT: and thou Ezra to the wisdom Daniel 2:29 Daniel 2:31 Daniel 2:37 Daniel 2:38 Daniel 2:38 Daniel 3:10 Daniel 4:18 Daniel 4:18 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 5:13 Daniel 5:13 Daniel 5:18 Daniel 5:22 Daniel 5:23 Daniel 6:16 Daniel 6:20 18 Occurrences |
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); — thou,