אַנְתּוּן (an.tun)
an.tun
you
A:PerP-MPQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:PerP-MP
Word Overview
The word antun is the second-person plural pronoun in Biblical Aramaic, meaning "you" when addressing more than one person. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 2:8, where it serves as a direct address to the Chaldean wise men. This single occurrence highlights its role in the narrative’s dramatic tension, marking the moment of confrontation between the king and his advisors.
Etymologically, antun corresponds to the Hebrew attem (אַתֶּם), functioning as the Aramaic equivalent for "you all." Its presence in Daniel reflects the linguistic shift within the book, which moves from Hebrew to Aramaic. This transition underscores the text’s engagement with a broader, international audience, using the language of the empire to convey divine sovereignty.
Translators consistently render antun as "you" in modern English, preserving the directness of the original address. The word’s brevity and clarity emphasize the immediacy of the dialogue in Daniel 2. Its isolation in the canon makes it a unique marker of Aramaic usage within the Hebrew Scriptures, anchoring the text in its historical and linguistic context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word antun is the Aramaic form for "you" when speaking to a group. It appears only once in the Bible, in Daniel 2:8. Here, King Nebuchadnezzar uses it to address his wise men directly. The king is angry because they cannot tell him his dream. He accuses them of trying to buy time by delaying their answer.
This single word carries heavy weight in the story. It marks a moment of high tension and confrontation. For us, it reminds us that God sees the truth even when human wisdom fails. The wise men could not succeed on their own, but God later revealed the secret to Daniel. We can trust that God provides understanding when we seek Him with sincere hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַנְתּ֣וּן1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:8
The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.
The king uses this plural 'you' to confront the Chaldean advisors, accusing them of stalling because they cannot meet his demand.