Lexical Summary qayyam: Enduring, lasting, established Original Word: קַיָּם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance steadfast, sure (Aramaic) from quwm; permanent (as rising firmly) -- stedfast, sure. see HEBREW quwm NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from qum Definition enduring NASB Translation assured (1), enduring (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קַיָּם adjective enduring (compare Nabataean קים (Cooke217 Lzb קָיֵם; SAC, privately, probably קַיָּם)); — absolute ׳ק Daniel 6:27 (of God, so often ᵑ7, Late Hebrew, compare Dr); feminine singular קַיָּמָה Daniel 4:23 (of kingdom). Topical Lexicon OverviewThe word קַיָּם appears twice, both in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. It carries the sense of continuing, lasting, or enduring, and each passage highlights the unassailable permanence of whatever God chooses to establish. Occurrences 1. Daniel 4:26 – Spoken to Nebuchadnezzar: “Your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.” The verb “will be restored” rests on the assurance that the kingdom will remain קַיָּם—secure—because God has decreed its preservation for His purposes. 2. Daniel 6:26 – Darius’ decree: “For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and His dominion will endure to the end.” Here קַיָּם points to the eternality of God Himself and, by extension, the unending nature of His kingdom. Historical Setting Both uses arise in royal proclamations set against the backdrop of Babylonian and Medo-Persian dominance. Pagan kings, confronted by divine intervention, confess that only what God sustains can truly remain. The term קַיָּם thus stands as a polemic against transient human empires. Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty: קַיָּם underscores that God alone grants durability—whether to a monarch’s reign (Daniel 4) or to His own eternal dominion (Daniel 6). • Covenant Continuity: The concept links to God’s self-designation in Exodus 3:14 and to promises such as 2 Samuel 7:16, where an everlasting kingdom is pledged to David, anticipating the Messiah. • Contrast with Mortal Frailty: Every human authority is provisional unless upheld by God. Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:14 echo this theme, portraying an everlasting kingdom independent of earthly succession. Christological Connection Jesus Christ embodies and inaugurates the everlasting kingdom prophesied in Daniel. Revelation 11:15 proclaims, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever,” reflecting the קַיָּם nature of His rule. Ministry Applications • Preaching: Emphasize that believers are citizens of an unshakable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28). Earthly instability invites proclamation of the Gospel’s enduring hope. • Discipleship: Encourage trust in God’s unchanging character; spiritual resilience flows from aligning with what is קַיָּם. • Worship: Incorporate songs and prayers that celebrate God’s eternal reign, answering Darius’ call to “tremble in fear before the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). Biblical Theology From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture contrasts fading grass with God’s abiding word (Isaiah 40:8) and climaxes in the New Jerusalem where “His servants will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). קַיָּם threads through this story, affirming that whatever is rooted in God’s will shares His permanence. Summary קַיָּם crystallizes a fundamental biblical conviction: only that which God ordains endures. Its twofold appearance in Daniel echoes across redemptive history, directing hearts to the living God whose kingdom cannot be shaken and whose promises stand forever. Forms and Transliterations וְקַיָּם֙ וקים קַיָּמָ֑ה קימה kaiyaMah qay·yā·māh qayyāmāh vekaiYam wə·qay·yām wəqayyāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:26 HEB: מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ לָ֣ךְ קַיָּמָ֑ה מִן־ דִּ֣י NAS: your kingdom will be assured to you after KJV: thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after INT: of the tree your kingdom will be assured after forasmuch Daniel 6:26 2 Occurrences |
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