Lexical Summary qadmay: Former, ancient, eastern Original Word: קַדְמַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance first (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to qadam; first -- first. see HEBREW qadam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to qadmoni Definition former, first NASB Translation first (2), previous ones (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קַדְמָי] adjective former, first (so Nabataean, Palmyrene, ᵑ7, Syriac); — feminine singular emphatic קַדְמָֽיְתָא the first Daniel 7:4, feminine plural emphatic קַרְנַיָּא קַדְמָיָתָא the former horms Daniel 7:8, masculine plural emphatic קַדְמָיֵא Daniel 7:24. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrencesקַדְמַי appears only in the Aramaic narrative of Daniel 7:4, 7:8, and 7:24, each time translated “first” or “former”. The context is the prophet’s night vision of the four beasts and the ten horns. In every instance the word marks what comes before, fixing a clear, divinely ordered sequence of world powers and rulers. Prophetic Setting in Daniel 7 1. Daniel 7:4 – “The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle…”. קַדְמַי identifies the lion-beast as the first in a series of four empires. Chronological Emphasis and Divine Sovereignty By repeating קַדְמַי, Scripture stresses that history unfolds in an exact order set by God. Each “former” entity yields to the next at the appointed time. The same theme runs throughout Daniel (Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:17) and culminates in the declaration that “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind” (Daniel 4:17). Thus the word underscores God’s meticulous supervision of political transitions, assuring the faithful that no regime—however fierce—escapes His timetable. Historical and Eschatological Perspectives Conservative interpreters have long identified the four beasts as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. קַדְמַי marks Babylon as the initial empire and locates the later “little horn” within the Roman-type fourth beast, foreshadowing the Antichrist described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 13:5-7. The expression “three of the first horns” anticipates a future confederation of kings subdued by that final ruler. Thus קַדְמַי anchors the prophetic framework that bridges Daniel’s vision with New Testament eschatology. Doctrinal and Ministry Implications 1. Confidence in Prophecy: The precision of “first/former” invites believers to trust that God’s prophetic word is exact, not approximate (Isaiah 46:9-10). In short, קַדְמַי, though a small adjective, functions as a theological hinge in Daniel’s vision—highlighting temporal sequence, affirming divine sovereignty, and strengthening the church’s anticipation of the final, unshakable kingdom of Christ. Forms and Transliterations קַדְמָ֣יָתָ֔א קַדְמָיְתָ֣א קַדְמָיֵ֔א קדמיא קדמיתא kadMayaTa kadmaYe kadmayeTa qaḏ·mā·yā·ṯā qaḏ·mā·yê qaḏ·mā·yə·ṯā qaḏmāyāṯā qaḏmāyê qaḏmāyəṯāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 7:4 HEB: קַדְמָיְתָ֣א כְאַרְיֵ֔ה וְגַפִּ֥ין NAS: The first [was] like a lion KJV: The first [was] like a lion, INT: the first A lion and had wings Daniel 7:8 Daniel 7:24 3 Occurrences |
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