Lexical Summary ara: Earth, land Original Word: אֲרַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance earth, interior (Aramaic) corresponding to 'erets; the earth; by implication (figuratively) low -- earth, interior. see HEBREW 'erets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to erets Definition the earth NASB Translation earth (15), ground (3), inferior (1), land (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֲרַע]21 noun [feminine] earth (so ᵑ7 Syriac; = Biblical Hebrew אֶרֶץ, q. v.); — emphatic אַרְעָא Daniel 2:35,39 16t. Daniel; Ezra 5:11; Jeremiah 10:11b; אַ֫רְעָא (D§§ 9, 5 a; 44, 1 n) = אֲרַע + ָ֯ of direction, earthward, i.e. downward, אַרְעָא מִנָּח Daniel 2:39 Kt lower than thou, i.e. inferior to thee Qr אֲרַע (compare ᵑ7 אֲרַע מִן Ruth 4:4); — Jeremiah 10:11a see [ אֲרַק]. [אֲרַק] noun [feminine] earth (= [אֲרַע]; ארקא Egyptian Aramaic S-CPap. B 15 + often (sometimes also ארעא, as ib.16), Nineveh and Babylonian Aramaic Cooke192, also Mandean NöM§ 66, Zinjirli, Lzb227 Cooke166 (compare 183); עק֑, as Zinjirli מוצאמ֑וקא, רצהר֑קי, Cooke166, 185; compare K§ 7, 2 and anm. i and references, Cooke185 NöZMG xivii (1893), 100; M § 66 GunkSchöpf. 18 LzbEph. I. 223 SACJQ, 1903-4, 273); — emphatic אַרְקָא Jeremiah 10:11a. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Distribution אֲרַע designates the physical earth, inhabited land, or the world in its entirety. All twenty-one occurrences lie in the Aramaic sections of Scripture (Ezra 4–7; Jeremiah 10:11; Daniel 2–7). The term therefore bridges exilic and post-exilic contexts in which Israel’s faith encountered imperial powers that claimed global reach. Historical Setting of Aramaic Usage Aramaic functioned as the lingua franca of the Babylonian and Persian empires. By choosing אֲרַע in documents and narratives addressed to multi-ethnic audiences, the biblical writers affirmed that the God of Israel speaks into the affairs of every land, not merely within Judah’s borders. Ezra’s temple correspondence, Jeremiah’s lone Aramaic verse to idolatrous nations, and Daniel’s court tales all present revelation intended for “peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth” (Daniel 6:25). God of Heaven and Earth The first occurrence, Ezra 5:11, identifies the returning exiles as “servants of the God of heaven and earth.” The phrase presents Yahweh as unrivaled Creator and Owner of the total sphere denoted by אֲרַע. Jeremiah 10:11 contrasts this living God with counterfeit deities destined to “perish from the earth,” highlighting divine supremacy. Earthly Kingdoms versus the Reign of God In Daniel 2 the metallic statue symbolizes successive world empires. Nebuchadnezzar’s golden head claims dominance, yet Daniel’s interpretation ends with a stone that “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35). The sweep of אֲרַע underscores that every geopolitical system is provisional; ultimate sovereignty belongs to the coming kingdom of God. Daniel 2:39 and 7:23 describe global rule (“shall rule over the whole earth,” “shall be a fourth kingdom on the earth”), yet each empire collapses before divine judgment. Human Frailty on the Earth Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the colossal tree located “in the midst of the earth” (Daniel 4:10–11) pictures the reach of human authority. Its felling exposes creaturely dependence: “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing” (Daniel 4:35). The stump left “with its roots in the ground” (Daniel 4:15) signals both chastisement and mercy—God humbles to restore. Universal Evangelistic Vision Both pagan kings who witness deliverance—Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:1) and Darius (Daniel 6:25–27)—issue proclamations to the entire אֲרַע. The court narratives thus anticipate the Great Commission, declaring God’s wondrous acts to every ethnicity and tongue. Salvation history moves from localized covenant to worldwide gospel. Eschatological Perspective Daniel 7 views the rise of beasts “from the earth” (Daniel 7:17) and the final kingdom “on the earth” (Daniel 7:23). The earthly source of these powers contrasts with the heavenly origin of the Son of Man’s dominion. The text assures believers that cosmic conflict remains under God’s fixed timetable, ending with the saints inheriting the kingdom. Ministry Reflections 1. Proclamation: Like Ezra’s builders, modern servants identify themselves by allegiance to “the God of heaven and earth,” asserting Christ’s lordship over every culture. Thus אֲרַע, though linguistically Aramaic, functions theologically to magnify the universal dominion of God and to summon His people to global, God-centered service. Forms and Transliterations אֲרַ֣עא אַרְעָ֑א אַרְעָ֔א אַרְעָ֖א אַרְעָ֗א אַרְעָֽא׃ אַרְעָא֙ ארעא ארעא׃ בְּאַרְעָ֣א בְאַרְעָ֔א בארעא וְאַרְעָ֗א וּבְאַרְעָ֑א וארעא ובארעא מֵֽאַרְעָ֛א מארעא ’ă·ra·‘ ’ar‘ā ’ar·‘ā ’ăra‘ arA bə’ar‘ā ḇə’ar‘ā bə·’ar·‘ā ḇə·’ar·‘ā bearA mê’ar‘ā mê·’ar·‘ā mearA ū·ḇə·’ar·‘ā ūḇə’ar‘ā uvearA vearA wə’ar‘ā wə·’ar·‘āLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:11 HEB: אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֜א וְאַרְעָ֗א וּבָנַ֤יִן בַּיְתָא֙ NAS: of heaven and earth and are rebuilding KJV: of heaven and earth, and build INT: of the God of heaven and earth rebuilding the temple Jeremiah 10:11 Daniel 2:35 Daniel 2:39 Daniel 2:39 Daniel 4:1 Daniel 4:10 Daniel 4:11 Daniel 4:15 Daniel 4:15 Daniel 4:20 Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:35 Daniel 4:35 Daniel 6:25 Daniel 6:27 Daniel 7:4 Daniel 7:17 Daniel 7:23 Daniel 7:23 21 Occurrences |
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