Original Word: אֲרוּ
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: aruw
Pronunciation: ah-roo
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-oo')
KJV: behold,lo
NASB: behold
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) probably akin to H43 (אֶביָסָף - Ebiasaph)1]

1. lo!

behold,lo

(Aramaic) probably akin to 'aluw; lo! -- behold,lo.

see HEBREW 'aluw

Word Origin
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation
Definition
lo!
NASB Translation
behold (5).

אֲרוּ interjection lo (of uncertain derivation: only Biblical Aramaic (? Nabataean, see CIS^{ii. 186}); אֲלוּ, and Late Hebrew הֲרֵי see! Here! Ab Daniel 3:4 and elsewhere, are perhaps allied), וַאֲרוּ Daniel 7:2 חָוֵי הֲוֵית ֗֗֗ וַאֲרוּ, Daniel 7:5; Daniel 7:6; Daniel 7:7; Daniel 7:13, always in description of a vision (compare אֲלוּ).

Meaning and Nuance

The term introduces something striking, unexpected, or climactic, functioning much like the Hebrew “hinneh.” It interrupts description with an invitation to look with the prophet and share his astonishment, thereby heightening the force of the revelation and underscoring its reliability.

Occurrences in Daniel 7

• Daniel 7:2 – “I looked, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”
• Daniel 7:5 – “And behold, there before me was a second beast, which resembled a bear…”
• Daniel 7:6 – “After this I looked, and behold, there was another beast, like a leopard…”
• Daniel 7:7 – “After this, as I watched in my night visions, I looked, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful, and extremely strong…”
• Daniel 7:13 – “I continued to watch in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven…”

Literary and Rhetorical Role

1. Punctuating Revelation: Each appearance of the word acts as a signal flare that marks the transition from one stage of the vision to the next, keeping the reader attentive.
2. Building Dramatic Tension: The repeated “behold” moves the passage from the agitation of the “great sea” to the dreadful fourth beast and finally to the glorious enthronement of the Son of Man, escalating the sense of awe.
3. Ensuring Witness Credibility: Daniel’s repeated exclamation reminds the audience that he is not inventing the scene; he is testifying to what he actually “beheld,” anchoring the prophecy in eyewitness language.

Prophetic and Apocalyptic Emphasis

Daniel 7 is structured around four beasts symbolizing successive empires and a heavenly court scene that determines their fate. The interjection marks each major turn:
• Behold the winds and sea → chaotic world history.
• Behold each beast → concrete political powers permitted for a time.
• Behold the Son of Man → the decisive arrival of the everlasting kingdom.

Thus the word frames history under God’s sovereignty, declaring that what Daniel sees is not conjecture but settled decree.

Christological Focus (Daniel 7:13)

The climactic “behold” introduces “One like the Son of Man,” to whom dominion, glory, and a kingdom are given (Daniel 7:14). New Testament writers echo this vision when speaking of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7). The same imperative—“behold”—invites readers to fix their gaze on the Messiah’s exaltation, encouraging faith in His ultimate victory.

Historical Reception

Early Jewish interpreters saw in the repeated “behold” a literary signpost framing the unfolding of redemptive history. Christian theologians from Justin Martyr to the Nicene Fathers recognized Daniel 7:13–14 as a direct prophecy of Christ, noting that the recurring interjection calls special attention to this climactic figure. Reformation expositors likewise used the term’s emphatic nature to argue for the certainty of prophetic fulfillment.

Ministry and Devotional Implications

• Cultivation of Watchfulness: The word teaches believers to adopt a posture of expectancy, mirroring Daniel’s night-watch.
• Assurance of Divine Control: Each “behold” underscores that the disturbing beasts appear only under God’s sovereign gaze.
• Focus on Christ’s Reign: The final “behold” fixes attention on the Son of Man, encouraging boldness and hope amid worldly turmoil. Preachers can leverage the term to move congregations from historical analysis to worshipful anticipation.

Summary

Though brief, this Aramaic interjection carries substantial weight. By summoning readers to “behold,” it threads Daniel’s vision together, spotlights the rise and fall of nations, and culminates in the revelation of the eternal King. Its fivefold use in Daniel 7 turns a prophetic narrative into an invitation for every generation to look, trust, and wait confidently for the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

וַאֲר֗וּ וַאֲר֣וּ וַאֲר֤וּ וַאֲרוּ֙ וארו vaaRu wa’ărū wa·’ă·rūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts