7328. raz
Lexical Summary
raz: Secret, mystery

Original Word: רָז
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: raz
Pronunciation: rahz
Phonetic Spelling: (rawz)
KJV: secret
NASB: mystery, mysteries
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from an unused root probably meaning to attenuate, i.e. (figuratively) hide]

1. a mystery

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
secret

(Aramaic) from an unused root probably meaning to attenuate, i.e. (figuratively) hide; a mystery -- secret.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) of foreign origin
Definition
a secret
NASB Translation
mysteries (3), mystery (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
רָז noun masculineDaniel 2:18 secret (ᵑ7 id., Syriac , , ; Persian loan-word; = Pahlavi r¹z, New Persian r¹z AndrM 83 *); — absolute ׳ר Daniel 4:6, emphatic רָזָא Daniel 2:18,19,27,30,47; plural absolute רָזִין Daniel 2:28; Daniel 2:47, emphatic רָזַיָּא Daniel 2:29.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope

The term רָז denotes a secret, mystery, or hidden matter that requires divine disclosure. It portrays truths inaccessible by human wisdom and therefore dependent on God for their unveiling.

Occurrences and Narrative Setting

רָז appears nine times, all within the Aramaic chapters of Daniel. Every use is tied to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and to Daniel’s subsequent interpretation:

Daniel 2:18
Daniel 2:19
Daniel 2:27
Daniel 2:28
Daniel 2:29
Daniel 2:30
Daniel 2:47 (twice)
Daniel 4:9

The concentration of occurrences in a single episode highlights a literary and theological emphasis: God alone possesses and reveals the hidden.

Divine Sovereignty over Hidden Knowledge

Nebuchadnezzar’s court sages are exposed as powerless: “No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner is able to explain to the king the mystery he has asked about” (Daniel 2:27). In stark contrast, Daniel testifies, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:28). רָז thus becomes a key motif underscoring divine sovereignty over both history and human understanding.

Revelation through Intercession and Worship

Daniel’s approach to the mystery is instructive for ministry. He gathers his companions “to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” (Daniel 2:18). The revelation comes in response to communal prayer and is followed by doxology (Daniel 2:20-23). The pattern—petition, revelation, praise—models a rhythm of prayerful dependence on God’s self-disclosure.

Witness to the Nations

When the mystery is revealed, its purpose exceeds Daniel’s personal safety. God uses the revelation to bear witness to Babylonian royalty: “Surely your God is the God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries” (Daniel 2:47). רָז therefore serves missional ends, demonstrating to pagan authorities that Israel’s God rules over earthly kingdoms.

Prophetic Horizon

The content of the revealed רָז encompasses the rise and fall of empires and the ultimate establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom (Daniel 2:44-45). The term functions prophetically, linking immediate circumstances to eschatological hope.

Connection with New Testament Mysteries

While רָז itself is Aramaic, its concept anticipates the New Testament “mystery” (Greek μυστήριον). Paul proclaims “the mystery that was hidden for ages” (Colossians 1:26) and now revealed in Christ. The continuity shows that Scripture presents one coherent theology of revelation: what is hidden remains so until God chooses to disclose it, ultimately culminating in the gospel.

Pastoral and Devotional Implications

1. Humility before God’s knowledge: human intellect is insufficient without divine light.
2. Confidence in prayer: God welcomes petitions for insight into life’s perplexities.
3. Evangelistic opportunity: when God answers, His people should publicize His glory, as Daniel did.
4. Hope in God’s unfolding plan: past revelations guarantee future fulfillment of all He has declared.

Summary

רָז encapsulates the biblical theme that mysteries belong to God, yet He willingly reveals them to faithful servants for His redemptive purposes. From Babylon’s court to the cross and empty tomb, every unveiled secret magnifies the wisdom and sovereignty of the Lord.

Forms and Transliterations
רָ֖ז רָזִ֑ין רָזִ֔ין רָזַיָּ֛א רָזָ֖ה רָזָ֣ה רָזָ֥א רָזָ֥ה רָזָה֙ רז רזא רזה רזיא רזין rā·zā rā·zāh rā·zay·yā rā·zîn raz rāz raZa rāzā raZah rāzāh razaiYa rāzayyā raZin rāzîn
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Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 2:18
HEB: שְׁמַיָּ֔א עַל־ רָזָ֖ה דְּנָ֑ה דִּ֣י
NAS: this mystery, so
KJV: this secret; that Daniel
INT: of heaven concerning mystery this so

Daniel 2:19
HEB: דִֽי־ לֵילְיָ֖א רָזָ֣ה גֲלִ֑י אֱדַ֙יִן֙
NAS: Then the mystery was revealed
KJV: Then was the secret revealed
INT: in A night the mystery was revealed Then

Daniel 2:27
HEB: מַלְכָּ֖א וְאָמַ֑ר רָזָה֙ דִּֽי־ מַלְכָּ֣א
NAS: and said, As for the mystery about which
KJV: and said, The secret which the king
INT: the king and said the mystery which the king

Daniel 2:28
HEB: בִּשְׁמַיָּא֙ גָּלֵ֣א רָזִ֔ין וְהוֹדַ֗ע לְמַלְכָּא֙
NAS: reveals mysteries, and He has made known
KJV: that revealeth secrets, and maketh known
INT: heaven reveals mysteries has made to King

Daniel 2:29
HEB: דְנָ֑ה וְגָלֵ֧א רָזַיָּ֛א הוֹדְעָ֖ךְ מָה־
NAS: and He who reveals mysteries has made known
KJV: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known
INT: time reveals mysteries has made what

Daniel 2:30
HEB: כָּל־ חַיַּיָּ֔א רָזָ֥א דְנָ֖ה גֱּלִ֣י
NAS: But as for me, this mystery has
KJV: this secret is not
INT: any living mystery this been revealed

Daniel 2:47
HEB: מַלְכִ֖ין וְגָלֵ֣ה רָזִ֑ין דִּ֣י יְכֵ֔לְתָּ
NAS: and a revealer of mysteries, since
KJV: and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest
INT: of kings revealer of mysteries since have been

Daniel 2:47
HEB: יְכֵ֔לְתָּ לְמִגְלֵ֖א רָזָ֥ה דְנָֽה׃
NAS: to reveal this mystery.
KJV: reveal this secret.
INT: have been to reveal mystery this

Daniel 4:9
HEB: בָּ֔ךְ וְכָל־ רָ֖ז לָא־ אָנֵ֣ס
NAS: is in you and no mystery baffles
KJV: [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth
INT: of the holy all mystery or even baffles

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7328
9 Occurrences


rāz — 1 Occ.
rā·zā — 1 Occ.
rā·zāh — 4 Occ.
rā·zay·yā — 1 Occ.
rā·zîn — 2 Occ.

7327
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