Lexical Summary tevah: Ark, Basket Original Word: תָּוַהּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to grieve(Aramaic) corresponding to tamahh or perhaps to sha'ah through the idea of sweeping to ruin (compare tavah); to amaze, i.e. (reflex. By implication) take alarm -- be astonied. see HEBREW tamahh see HEBREW sha'ah see HEBREW tavah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to tamah Definition to be startled or alarmed NASB Translation astounded (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תְּוַהּ verb be startled, alarmed (ᵑ7 id., Syriac  ); — Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳ת Daniel 3:24. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Narrative Setting This verb appears a single time in the canonical text at Daniel 3:24. It captures King Nebuchadnezzar’s sudden shock when he sees Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking unharmed in the fiery furnace together with a mysterious fourth figure. “Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?’ ‘Yes, O king,’ they replied” (Daniel 3:24). Astonishment as Recognition of Divine Intervention The king’s reaction is not mere surprise; it is the involuntary acknowledgment that a power greater than Babylon’s has acted. His court magicians could explain dreams (Daniel 2) only after divine revelation; here even explanation fails him, and wonder breaks through. Scripture frequently records similar human responses when confronted with God’s works: Luke 5:26, “They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have seen remarkable things today,’” and Mark 2:12, “They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’” Historical and Cultural Background In Babylonian royal ideology, the king embodied cosmic order and absolute authority. Public executions demonstrated that authority, warning nations subjugated under Babylon’s rule. The furnace scene flips that script: the sovereign is rendered speechless, the condemned are liberated, and the only thing consumed by the fire is the ropes of oppression (Daniel 3:25). Thus the verb underscores the clash between earthly empire and the kingdom of God. Theological Significance 1. Vindication of Covenant Faithfulness. The astonishment validates the faith of those who refused idolatry, illustrating Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” Christological Foreshadowing The furnace episode—and the amazement it provokes—foreshadows the incarnation and resurrection. Just as Nebuchadnezzar marvels at deliverance from certain death, the New Testament reports comparable astonishment at the empty tomb: “They went out and fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered” (Mark 16:8). The same Lord who walked among the flames would later conquer death itself. Ministry and Discipleship Application 1. Expectant Faith. Believers today may face cultural “furnaces” that seem overwhelming. The passage encourages steadfast obedience, trusting that God can still act in ways that confound observers. Related Biblical Themes Summary The lone occurrence of Strong’s Hebrew 8429 in Daniel 3:24 crystallizes the reverent shock that ensues when sovereign God intervenes openly in human affairs. It signals the overthrow of idolatrous power, confirms the reliability of divine promises, and points forward to the ultimate revelation of the Son who delivers His people from the final furnace of judgment. Forms and Transliterations תְּוַ֖הּ תוה tə·wah teVah təwahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:24 HEB: נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֔א תְּוַ֖הּ וְקָ֣ם בְּהִתְבְּהָלָ֑ה NAS: the king was astounded and stood KJV: the king was astonied, and rose up INT: Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood haste |
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