Lexical Summary bau: To swell, to boil up, to bubble forth Original Word: בָּעוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance petition (Aramaic) from b'a'; a request -- petition. see HEBREW b'a' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from bea Definition a petition NASB Translation petition (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּעוּ (K§ 61, 4) noun feminine petition (ᵑ7 Syriac); — absolute ׳ב Daniel 6:8; suffix בָּעוּתֵהּ Daniel 6:14 (both accusative of congnate meaning with verb with בְּעָא). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope of Usage בָּעוּ occurs twice in the Aramaic portion of Daniel, serving as the narrative verb for concerted consultation. The form is plural and active, pointing to a united, deliberate act of planning by a group of officials. Scriptural Occurrences • Daniel 6:7 – The administrators tell King Darius that they “have agreed” on a decree forbidding prayer to any deity but the king for thirty days. Historical Background in Daniel Daniel chapter 6 unfolds late in the prophet’s life, under Medo-Persian rule. The empire relied on a bureaucratic network of “presidents, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors.” These officials perceived Daniel’s integrity and God-given favor as a threat to their power. Their conspiracy required unanimity—hence בָּעוּ highlights the corporate nature of their counsel. In Persian law once a royal edict was sealed it was irrevocable (Daniel 6:8). The conspirators exploited this legal rigidity to trap Daniel, knowing he would not compromise his prayer life. Theological Significance 1. Contrast Between Human Counsel and Divine Counsel בָּעוּ embodies human plotting in rebellion against God’s purposes. Psalm 2:2 notes that “the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed.” Daniel 6 provides a historical instance of that perennial conflict. The officials “have agreed,” yet their collective wisdom is overturned by God’s sovereign intervention (Daniel 6:22). The verb thus sets the stage for God to demonstrate that no human alliance can thwart His covenant with His servant. While Persian law is famously unalterable, Daniel’s commitment to prayer reveals a higher, unchanging authority. The clash of counsels shows the supremacy of divine revelation over civil ordinances when the two collide (cf. Acts 5:29). Practical Ministry Applications • Discernment of Groupthink: Leaders and congregations must test any unanimous human strategy against Scripture, recognizing that consensus does not guarantee righteousness. Christological and Prophetic Reflection The united conspiracy foreshadows the collective opposition to Jesus Christ by religious and political authorities (Luke 23:12; Acts 4:27). Just as God delivered Daniel, the resurrection vindicated the Son, proving that divine counsel always prevails over human schemes. Related Concepts • “Principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12) – spiritual forces behind human conspiracies. Summary בָּעוּ captures the calculated unity of ungodly counsel. In Daniel it serves as the narrative hinge between human scheming and divine deliverance, reminding believers that God overrules the plots of men and calls His people to unwavering faithfulness. Forms and Transliterations בָ֠עוּ בָּעוּתֵֽהּ׃ בעו בעותה׃ ḇā‘ū bā‘ūṯêh ḇā·‘ū bā·‘ū·ṯêh bauTeh VauLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 6:7 HEB: דִּֽי־ יִבְעֵ֣ה בָ֠עוּ מִן־ כָּל־ NAS: who makes a petition to any god KJV: that whosoever shall ask a petition of INT: who makes A petition of to any Daniel 6:13 2 Occurrences |
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