אַפֶּ֫דֶן (ap.pe.den)
ap.pe.den
palace
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun appeden refers to a royal palace or king’s residence. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Daniel 11:45, where it describes the location associated with the “king of the north,” identified by most scholars as Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
As a loanword likely from Persian, it carries the specific weight of imperial authority rather than general wealth. In this single context, it underscores the political and military hub of a powerful ruler during a time of intense conflict between northern and southern kingdoms.
Its rarity highlights how focused Daniel’s vision is on specific historical figures and their seats of power. The term anchors the prophecy in the tangible reality of ancient Near Eastern politics, reminding readers that divine narratives unfold within human history and royal courts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word appeden appears just once in the Old Testament, found in Daniel 11:45. It refers to a royal palace or the residence of a king. In this specific verse, it describes the headquarters of the "king of the north," a powerful ruler engaged in intense conflict with neighboring kingdoms.
This rare term carries the weight of imperial authority rather than simple wealth. It reminds us that divine narratives unfold within real human history and political courts. Even the most powerful seats of power are temporary, as the verse notes that this ruler will come to his end without help.
For your faith, this offers a quiet assurance. Human empires rise and fall, but God’s purposes remain steady. You can trust that no matter how strong earthly powers seem, they do not have the final word. Your hope rests in something far more enduring than any palace or throne.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- palace/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַפַּדְנ֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 11:45
He will plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
This verse uses the term to locate the king of the north's military base, highlighting that even his fortified position cannot prevent his ultimate defeat.