Lexical Summary qerats: To nip, pinch, or bite Original Word: קְרַץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance accuse (Aramaic) corresponding to qerets in the sense of a bit (to "eat the morsels of" any one, i.e. Chew him up (figuratively) by slander) -- + accuse. see HEBREW qerets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to qerets Definition a piece NASB Translation charges (1), maliciously accused* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קְרַץ] noun [masculine] piece (ᵑ7; see Biblical Hebrew קרץ); — plural suffix קַרְצ֫וֺהִי Daniel 6:25, צֵיהוֺן- Daniel 3:8, both in phrase ׳אֲכַ֫לוּ ק, i.e. accuse maliciously (so ᵑ7 Syriac PS3756 (compare Old Aramaic ׳אמר כרצי פ Lzb299 SAC66 Cooke205f.; כרץ also Mandean), probably borrowed from Assyrian karƒe akâlu, malign, slander (often; also Tel Amarna); compare also u‡tarrizu HammLaw 161; further Arabic  id., and kindred phrase; Ethiopic  Di489). Topical Lexicon Summary of Usage Strong’s Hebrew 7170 appears only twice, both in the Aramaic chapters of Daniel, where it describes malicious or hostile accusation leveled against God’s faithful servants. In each narrative the malicious act is contrasted with divine vindication, reinforcing the biblical pattern that false witnesses will be exposed while the righteous are rescued. Context in Daniel 3:8 “At this time some Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.” (Daniel 3:8) The accusation follows Nebuchadnezzar’s decree to worship the golden image. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse, prompting jealous officials to charge them with disloyalty. The verb underscores a calculated slander, not a neutral report. The hostility is intensified by ethnic resentment (“the Jews”) and by the court politics of Babylon. God’s immediate deliverance from the furnace demonstrates that no accusation can thwart His covenant faithfulness. Context in Daniel 6:24 “Then the king gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions…” (Daniel 6:24) Here the plotters exploit Persian law to trap Daniel, knowing his unwavering prayer life. Their scheme, clothed in civic duty, is unmasked as malice when God shuts the lions’ mouths and the accusers receive their own penalty. The narrative explicitly ties their fate to their accusation, stressing divine retributive justice. Historical Background Both scenes arise in foreign imperial courts—first Babylonian, then Medo-Persian—during the exile. In such contexts Jews held high office yet remained cultural outsiders, inviting envy. Court life was volatile; accusations could be fatal. The verb thus evokes a setting where slander functioned as a political weapon. Daniel’s book records these events to encourage exiles that God remains sovereign despite hostile powers. Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty: False charges do not escape God’s notice; He orchestrates outcomes for His glory. Related Biblical Themes • False Witness (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 6:19) Christological Foreshadowing Jesus Christ was likewise betrayed by malicious accusers (Mark 14:55-59). The innocent Son underwent wrongful judgment yet was vindicated in resurrection, fulfilling the pattern prefigured in Daniel. Both accounts in Daniel anticipate the ultimate triumph of the Righteous One over slander and death. Practical and Ministry Applications • Expectation: Believers who refuse idolatry or compromise may face false charges. Conclusion Strong’s Hebrew 7170 highlights a recurring biblical tension: the world’s hostility toward those loyal to God. In Daniel, malicious accusations become catalysts for divine intervention and testimony. The faithful are preserved, the slanderers are judged, and the glory of God is magnified before kings and peoples—a timeless encouragement to stand firm amid any unjust charge. Forms and Transliterations קַרְצ֙וֹהִי֙ קַרְצֵיה֖וֹן קרצוהי קרציהון kartzeiHon karTzohi qar·ṣê·hō·wn qar·ṣō·w·hî qarṣêhōwn qarṣōwhîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:8 HEB: כַּשְׂדָּאִ֑ין וַאֲכַ֥לוּ קַרְצֵיה֖וֹן דִּ֥י יְהוּדָיֵֽא׃ NAS: and brought charges against INT: Chaldeans and brought charges against the Jews Daniel 6:24 2 Occurrences |
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