Lexical Summary atsab: troubled Original Word: עֲצַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lamentable (Aramaic) corresponding to atsab; to afflict -- lamentable. see HEBREW atsab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to atsab Definition to pain, grieve NASB Translation troubled (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עֲצַב] verb pain, grieve (ᵑ7 (rare); see Biblical Hebrew I. עצב); — Pe`al Passive participle, as adjective : בְּקָל עֲצִיב Daniel 6:21 a pained voice (compare ᵑ7 Esther 4:1, ᵑ7J Exodus 12:31). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew word עֲצַב appears only once in the Old Testament, at Daniel 6:20, where it conveys the piercing inner pain that forces a cry from King Darius as he approaches the lions’ den. Though solitary in occurrence, the term captures a depth of sorrow that resonates across the entire biblical narrative of sin, judgment, and redemption. Canonical Context Daniel 6 records the clash between earthly decree and divine sovereignty. The satraps’ plot, the unalterable Persian edict, and Daniel’s unwavering prayer life culminate in a night among lions. Into that tension the single Hebrew word introduces the king’s deep distress. His anguished voice underscores the human helplessness that sets the stage for God’s deliverance. The word thus serves as an audible marker of the moment when human power recognizes its limits and looks, however imperfectly, toward heaven. Historical Setting Darius, ruling the Medo-Persian realm, had hoped to elevate Daniel, yet became trapped by his own law. Persian kings were celebrated for irrevocable edicts; here the same legal pride turns to torment. The public spectacle of royal grief highlights the subversive power of faith in exile. Jews reading or hearing this narrative in later centuries would recall that even foreign monarchs can be brought to desperate sorrow when they oppose the living God. Theological Significance 1. Sorrow Reveals the Tyranny of Sin. The king’s lament exposes how political intrigue and self-aggrandizement breed misery, not only for victims but also for perpetrators and enablers. Intertextual Connections While this precise word is unique to Daniel, Scripture frequently portrays grief in vocabulary drawn from the same verbal family. Together these passages reveal that God is neither indifferent to grief nor defeated by it; instead He enters it, bears it, and overturns it. Christological Foreshadowing Darius’ agonized call anticipates the greater scene at Calvary, where onlookers cried out while the true Servant of the living God descended into a far darker pit. Just as Daniel emerged unscathed, so Christ rose triumphant, yet with the added dimension of bearing sin’s penalty for His people (Hebrews 2:14-15). Practical Ministry Application • Pastoral Care: The term reminds caregivers that audible anguish is not faithlessness but honest acknowledgment of crisis. Encourage sufferers to voice pain while holding fast to God’s faithfulness. Summary עֲצַב in Daniel 6:20 crystallizes the moment human anguish confronts divine rescue. Though a single word, it draws the entire sweep of Scripture into focus: sorrow born of sin, a cry for help, and the mighty salvation of the living God who shuts lions’ mouths and opens graves. Forms and Transliterations עֲצִ֖יב עציב ‘ă·ṣîḇ ‘ăṣîḇ aTzivLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:20 HEB: לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל בְּקָ֥ל עֲצִ֖יב זְעִ֑ק עָנֵ֨ה NAS: he cried out with a troubled voice. KJV: he cried with a lamentable voice INT: to Daniel voice A troubled cried spoke |
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