1668. da
Lexical Summary
da: Knowledge, understanding

Original Word: דָּא
Part of Speech: demonstrative pronoun feminine
Transliteration: da'
Pronunciation: dah
Phonetic Spelling: (daw)
KJV: oneanother, this
NASB: this, one another, together
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H2088 (זֶה - this)]

1. this

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
one

(Aramaic) corresponding to zeh; this -- one..another, this.

see HEBREW zeh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to zeh
Definition
this
NASB Translation
one another (1), this (2), together (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
דָּא demonstrative pronoun feminine this (= Biblical Hebrew זֹה: Zinjirli Têma, Cappadocian, Egyptian Aramaic זא, Nabataean דא, Palmyrene דה (Lzb264: Eph. i. 323 Cooke26), ᵑ7 דא: see further below Biblical Hebrew זֶה. The corresponding masculine is דְּנָה); — this, Daniel 4:27 הֲלָא דָיא בַּבֶל רַבְּתָא, Daniel 5:6 דָּא לְדָא נָ֧קְשָׁן one striking against another, similarly Daniel 7:3 (compare זֶה 1b), Daniel 7:8 בְקַרְנָאדָֿא.

Topical Lexicon
Linguistic and Canonical Setting

דָּא is an emphatic demonstrative pronoun in the Aramaic portions of Daniel (Daniel 2–7). Its nuanced force—“this,” “these,” or “such”—marks out what the inspired author wishes to spotlight, often contrasting human pretension with divine reality.

Occurrences in Daniel

Daniel 4:30: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Daniel 5:6 (twice): Belshazzar’s terror is described when “this” hand appears and “this” change of countenance overtakes him.
Daniel 7:3 (twice): “Four great beasts came up out of the sea, each different from the others.”
Daniel 7:8: “Behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.”

Historical Context

Daniel 4–5 records the decline of Babylonian kings. Nebuchadnezzar boasts in “this” Babylon (Daniel 4:30) before divine judgment sends him into seven years of humbling. A generation later Belshazzar, drunk with pride, trembles as “this” mysterious hand inscribes his doom (Daniel 5:6). Chapter 7 shifts to the Medo-Persian era, where Daniel beholds four beasts; “this” final horn epitomizes arrogant human power that God will ultimately overthrow.

Thematic Significance

1. Human Pride vs. Divine Sovereignty. Every use of דָּא in Daniel highlights a visible object—city, hand, beast, horn—through which God exposes the folly of self-exaltation (Proverbs 16:18).
2. Revelation and Accountability. By pointing to “this” concrete evidence, the text removes all excuse; kings and readers alike are confronted with unmistakable testimony of God’s rule (Romans 1:20).
3. Eschatological Foreshadowing. “This horn” (Daniel 7:8) prefigures the final antichrist figure who exalts himself above God, yet is slain by the coming of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:11–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8).

Ministry Applications

• Call to Humility: Like Nebuchadnezzar, believers must recognize that every “this” achievement is a stewardship from God (James 1:17).
• Readiness for Judgment: Belshazzar’s sudden terror warns against postponing repentance (Hebrews 3:15).
• Discernment in Prophecy: Daniel’s vision trains the Church to interpret current events through Scripture, not speculation, anchoring hope in Christ’s consummation (Revelation 11:15).

Christological Insight

The demonstrative in Daniel 7 funnels attention toward the climactic appearance of “One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13), fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:64). “This” horn’s arrogance contrasts with “this” Son’s humility, underscoring the Gospel pattern: suffering precedes glory (Philippians 2:5-11).

See Also

Genesis 11:4; Psalm 2:2-6; Isaiah 14:13-15; Acts 17:26-31.

Forms and Transliterations
דָ֔א דָּ֥א דָּֽא׃ דָא־ דא דא־ דא׃ לְדָ֖א לדא da dā ḏā ḏā- lə·ḏā leDa ləḏā
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 4:30
HEB: וְאָמַ֔ר הֲלָ֥א דָא־ הִ֖יא בָּבֶ֣ל
NAS: and said, 'Is this not Babylon
INT: and said is not is this not Babylon

Daniel 5:6
HEB: מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן וְאַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔הּ דָּ֥א לְדָ֖א נָֽקְשָֽׁן׃
NAS: and his knees began knocking together.
KJV: smote one against another.
INT: went and his knees together together knocking

Daniel 5:6
HEB: וְאַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔הּ דָּ֥א לְדָ֖א נָֽקְשָֽׁן׃
KJV: smote one against another.
INT: and his knees together together knocking

Daniel 7:3
HEB: יַמָּ֑א שָׁנְיָ֖ן דָּ֥א מִן־ דָּֽא׃
NAS: different from one another.
KJV: the sea, diverse one from another.
INT: the sea different one from another

Daniel 7:3
HEB: דָּ֥א מִן־ דָּֽא׃
NAS: different from one another.
KJV: one from another.
INT: one from another

Daniel 7:8
HEB: אֲנָשָׁא֙ בְּקַרְנָא־ דָ֔א וּפֻ֖ם מְמַלִּ֥ל
NAS: it; and behold, this horn
KJV: and, behold, in this horn
INT: of a man horn this mouth uttering

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1668
6 Occurrences


ḏā- — 5 Occ.
lə·ḏā — 1 Occ.

1667
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