אֲחִידָה (a.chi.dah)
a.chi.dah
riddle
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun aḥîdâ means a riddle or puzzle, appearing only once in Scripture at Daniel 5:12. In this context, it refers to the cryptic writing on the wall that King Belshazzar could not decipher. The word is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew ḥîdâ, sharing the same core sense of a difficult problem set before an audience for interpretation.
Its solitary occurrence highlights the theme of divine mystery in Daniel. The king’s wise men are unable to solve the enigma, emphasizing that understanding such secrets requires God’s revelation rather than human wisdom alone. Translators typically render it as "riddle" or "problem," capturing the sense of a puzzling challenge that defies immediate explanation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life presents a situation that feels completely opaque, like writing on a wall that no one can read, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by the lack of clarity. This rare Aramaic word for riddle appears in Daniel when King Belshazzar faces an impossible challenge. The king’s experts could not decipher the message, reminding us that some mysteries lie beyond human calculation.
There is comfort in knowing that understanding often comes through divine insight rather than our own intellectual effort alone. When you encounter confusion or uncertainty, you are invited to look toward God for wisdom. He provides clarity where human strength falls short, turning darkness into light for those who seek His guidance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- riddles1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲחִידָ֜ן1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 5:12
because an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
This verse highlights the specific ability to interpret dark sentences, showing that true understanding of hidden meanings requires a spirit distinct from ordinary human wisdom.