Original Word: אִילָן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: iylan
Pronunciation: ee-lawn'
Phonetic Spelling: (ee-lawn')
KJV: tree
NASB: tree
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H356 (אֵילוֹן אֵלוֹן אֵילוֹן - Elon)]

1. a tree

tree

(Aramaic) corresponding to 'Eylown; a tree -- tree.

see HEBREW 'Eylown

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to Elon
Definition
a tree
NASB Translation
tree (6).

אִילָן (D¹³⁸) noun masculine^{Dan 4:7} tree (ᵑ7 אִילָן, Syriac ; compare Biblical Hebrew אֵלָה, אֵלוֺן); — absolute׳א Daniel 4:7; emphatic נָא- Daniel 4:8; Daniel 4:11; Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:20; Daniel 4:23.

Overview

אִילָן occurs six times, all in Daniel 4, the lone Aramaic narrative in Scripture where a Babylonian king relates his dream of a colossal tree that is cut down and later restored. The word therefore carries a highly concentrated narrative and theological weight, functioning as a divinely chosen image to reveal God’s sovereignty over earthly power.

Linguistic Range and Context

While the Hebrew Bible normally uses עֵץ for “tree,” Daniel employs the Aramaic אִילָן. The shift underscores the exile setting: Daniel reports the dream in the language of the imperial court, making the revelation accessible to Gentile audiences while preserving covenant truth for Israel.

Occurrences in Daniel 4

• Daniel 4:10 – Nebuchadnezzar sees “a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was great.”
• Daniel 4:11 – “The tree grew large and strong… it was visible to the ends of the earth.”
• Daniel 4:14 – A heavenly messenger commands, “Cut down the tree.”
• Daniel 4:20 – Daniel repeats the king’s description before interpreting it.
• Daniel 4:23 – The watcher’s decree highlights judgment tempered by mercy: “leave the stump.”
• Daniel 4:26 – Daniel promises restoration once the king recognizes that “Heaven rules.”

The pattern traces exaltation, humbling, and eventual restoration—a narrative arc that mirrors the gospel’s call to repentance and grace.

Symbolism of the Great Tree

1. Royal Grandeur: Ancient Near Eastern texts often picture mighty kings as cosmic trees. Scripture adopts the image to affirm that every ruler’s majesty is by God’s leave (compare Ezekiel 31:3–14).
2. Sanctuary for Creation: “The beasts of the field found shade…and the birds of the air lived in its branches” (Daniel 4:12). Kings are to foster flourishing, yet failure to acknowledge God turns stewardship into self-exaltation.
3. Sudden Judgment: The command, “Cut down the tree,” exposes the fragility of human empires. God’s sentence is public, swift, and irreversible without repentance.
4. Preserved Stump: Grace is woven into judgment. The iron and bronze band secures the stump, promising a future sprout once humility is achieved (Daniel 4:26).

Historical Setting

The dream occurs circa the sixth century B.C., after Nebuchadnezzar has consolidated power through conquest and monumental building projects. Babylon’s ziggurats and lush gardens illustrated the king’s boast, “Is this not Babylon the great that I myself have built?” (Daniel 4:30). Against that backdrop, the vision of אִילָן rebukes imperial pride and vindicates the God of the exiles.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty: “The Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17).
• Human Pride and Humbling: The king’s degradation to live “with the beasts” pictures depravity when God is ignored.
• Grace and Restoration: Recognition of Heaven restores reason and throne alike (Daniel 4:34–36).
• Universal Revelation: Because the chapter is Aramaic, the warning and hope reach beyond Israel to every nation, prefiguring the gospel’s global scope.

Intertextual Connections

• Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:8 portray the righteous as fruitful trees, contrasting Nebuchadnezzar’s withered stump.
• Isaiah 11:1’s “shoot from the stump of Jesse” echoes the preserved stump motif, directing hope to Messiah.
• Parables of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32) and birds nesting in its branches invert Daniel 4: a kingdom that begins small but grows to shelter the nations through humble beginnings rather than imperial might.
• Acts 5:30 and 1 Peter 2:24 call the cross a “tree,” reminding believers that true exaltation comes through Christ’s self-emptying sacrifice.

Ministry Implications

1. Humility before God: Leaders, whether civic or church, must daily acknowledge Heaven’s rule lest success become an idol.
2. Assurance amid World Powers: Believers facing cultural or political intimidation find comfort that God can fell or restore any “tree” at will.
3. Call to Repentance: Like Daniel, servants of God are to warn lovingly yet boldly, trusting that divine judgment is tempered with mercy for the penitent.
4. Hope of Restoration: Personal or communal discipline is not God’s final word. Where there is a “stump,” there is potential for new growth once the heart bows to the Most High.

אִילָן therefore stands as more than a botanical term; it is a Spirit-inspired emblem of God’s absolute sovereignty, the peril of pride, and the promise of grace for all who humble themselves under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6).

אִֽילָנָ֔א אִֽילָנָ֖א אִֽילָנָ֜א אִֽילָנָא֙ אִילָ֛ן אילן אילנא ’î·lā·nā ’î·lān ’îlān ’îlānā iLan ilaNaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts