Original Word: דֵּן
Part of Speech: demonstrative prounoun common
Transliteration: den
Pronunciation: deh-naw'
Phonetic Spelling: (dane)
KJV: (afore-)time, + after this manner, here (-after), oneanother, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), + thus, where(-fore), which
NASB: this, thus
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) an orthographical variation of H179 (אוֹבִיל - Obil)1]

1. this

aforetime, after this manner, here after, one

(Aramaic) an orthographical variation of dek; this -- (afore-)time, + after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), + thus, where(-fore), which.

see HEBREW dek

Word Origin
(Aramaic) a prim. pronoun
Definition
this
NASB Translation
one another* (1), therefore* (6), this (42), thus (2).

דְּנָה₅₇ demonstrative prounoun common this (Zinjirli זן, זנה; Egyptian Aramaic זנה (S-C ^{Pap. B 17} +); זנך (ib.^{C 6, D 8}); Nabataean, Palmyrene דנה (Lzb²⁶⁴ Cooke²⁶); ᵑ7 דֵּין (e.g. 1 Samuel 10:27) and (with הָ, i.e. הָא, ecce) הָדֵתן; Aramaic of Têma הא זא (Cooke^{195. 198}); Syriac (contracted for הָֽדְנָא); Mandean האזין; Sabean (Hom^{Chrest. 13}); Ethiopic all from [דֶּה,] זה, + demonstrative noun (W^{CG 108 f.}); feminine Biblical Aramaic דָּא, ᵑ7 דָּא, הָדה, Syriac , Mandean האזא, Ethiopic without the n; the plural is אִלֵּין, q. v. ); — this:

a. Daniel 2:18 רָזָא דְנָה this secret, Daniel 2:28; Daniel 2:29; Daniel 2:30 +, Ezra 4:11; Ezra 5:3,4,9 +; כָּלדְּֿנָה Daniel 5:22.

b. אַחֲרֵי דְנָה after this Daniel 2:29,45; so בָּאתַר דְּנָה Daniel 7:6,7.

c. כִּדְנָה like this, thus, Jeremiah 10:10 (= Hebrew כֹּה), Daniel 2:10 מִלְּתָא כִדְנָה a word like this (compare כָּזֹאת Esther 4:14), Esther 3:29; Ezra 5:7.

d. עַלדְּֿנָה on account of this Daniel 3:16; Ezra 4:22; Ezra 5:5,17; Ezra 6:11; as conjunction = therefore (compare Hebrew עַלזֹֿאת) Ezra 4:14,15. — See also קֳבֵלַ and קַדְמָה.

Identity and Range of Meaning

דֵּן (den) is an Aramaic demonstrative that functions much like the English “this,” “these,” or, in idiom, “then.” It can stand alone as a pronoun, modify a noun as an adjective, or be coupled with the preposition בְּ (“in/at”) to mark a specific moment (“at that time”). Because it points to something present, specific, and concrete, its literary force is one of immediacy and focus.

Literary Distribution

About fifty-eight occurrences are confined to the Aramaic sections of Ezra (4:8–6:18; 7:12-26) and Daniel (2:4b–7:28), plus the single Aramaic verse Jeremiah 10:11. The concentration in these passages underscores the inspired writers’ choice of Aramaic for official correspondence and court narrative, where precision in identifying people, edicts, dreams, and decisive moments was essential.

Representative Occurrences

Ezra 5:11 “And thus they answered us, saying, ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago…’” – “thus” translates דֵּן, identifying the precise statement given to Persian officials.

Ezra 6:13 “Then Tattenai, governor of the region west of the Euphrates… diligently carried out what King Darius had decreed.” – בַּעֵדְנָא דֵּן, “at that time,” marks the historical pivot from opposition to obedience.

Daniel 2:28 “But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries… Your dream and the visions in your mind as you lay on your bed are these:” – Nebuchadnezzar’s alarming vision is now made concrete; “these” renders דֵּן.

Daniel 3:12 “But there are some Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—these men have paid no heed to you, O king.” – דֵּן highlights the bold, identifiable witnesses to faith.

Jeremiah 10:11 “Thus you shall say to them: ‘The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens.’ ” – The lone Aramaic verse in Jeremiah uses דֵּן to contrast the living Creator with impotent idols beneath “these” heavens.

Narrative and Theological Function

1. Historical Anchoring: By constantly pointing to “this” edict, “that” decree, or “these” men, Scripture records verifiable events. The chronicler of Ezra employs דֵּן to authenticate official Persian documents, preserving the providential working of God through pagan kings (Ezra 6:8-12).
2. Prophetic Clarity: Daniel’s visions move from abstraction to specificity whenever דֵּן appears. God not only knows the future (Daniel 2:45) but defines it in unmistakable terms, vindicating both His sovereignty and the faith He requires of rulers and exiles alike.
3. Covenantal Witness: In Daniel 3 the term singles out a remnant (“these men”) whose allegiance challenges imperial idolatry. The demonstrative becomes a textual finger pointing to covenant fidelity amid pressure.
4. Judicial Certainty: Ezra 7:24 forbids taxation of temple personnel, and Ezra 7:26 threatens judgment on any who violate the law. דֵּן identifies the exact clauses by which God protects true worship and disciplines rebellion.

Intertextual Echoes and Christological Trajectory

By directing attention to specific, tangible realities, דֵּן anticipates the incarnational principle: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). What was once “this stone,” “this decree,” or “this man” ultimately culminates in the One who is Himself the sign (Luke 2:34). The Old Testament’s Aramaic demonstrative thus participates in a larger canonical movement from promise to concrete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the Amen” (Revelation 3:14).

Ministry Applications

1. Preaching: Point congregations to the concreteness of God’s acts. Like דֵּן, sermons should move from abstract principle to identifiable obedience: “these commands,” “this Savior,” “this day.”
2. Apologetics: The historical specificity marked by דֵּן aids in defending Scripture’s reliability. Ezra’s citations of royal archives and Daniel’s court records can be presented as evidentiary anchors.
3. Discipleship: Encourage believers to emulate “these men” who stood before the furnace. The demonstrative language reminds the church that faithfulness is not theoretical but lived in definable moments.
4. Prayer: Use Daniel’s pattern—recounting “these” mercies and “this” confession—to shape intercession grounded in God’s particular interventions.

Summary

דֵּן is small yet weighty, repeatedly drawing the reader’s eye to the concrete actions of God in history. Whether marking a critical hour, singling out faithful witnesses, or authenticating royal mandates, it serves the Spirit’s purpose of making divine revelation clear, verifiable, and compelling for faith and obedience.

דְּנָ֑ה דְּנָ֔ה דְּנָ֖ה דְּנָ֗ה דְּנָ֛ה דְּנָ֜ה דְּנָ֡ה דְּנָ֣ה דְּנָ֥ה דְּנָֽה׃ דְּנָה֙ דְּנָה֩ דְנָ֑ה דְנָ֔ה דְנָ֖ה דְנָ֗ה דְנָ֥ה דְנָֽה׃ דְנָה֒ דְנָה֙ דנה דנה׃ וְכִדְנָה֙ וּדְנָ֥ה ודנה וכדנה כִּדְנָֽה׃ כִּדְנָה֙ כִדְנָה֙ כדנה כדנה׃ chidNah də·nāh ḏə·nāh deNah dənāh ḏənāh kiḏ·nāh ḵiḏ·nāh kidNah kiḏnāh ḵiḏnāh ū·ḏə·nāh udeNah ūḏənāh vechidNah wə·ḵiḏ·nāh wəḵiḏnāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts