דַּיָּן (day.yan)
day.yan
judge
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The word dayyan is an Aramaic noun meaning judge, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Ezra 7:25. It functions as a direct cognate of the Hebrew dayan, reflecting the linguistic reality that Ezra’s audience spoke Aramaic rather than classical Hebrew. In this single occurrence, it refers to officials appointed to administer justice and teach laws to the people returning from exile.
Its presence in Ezra highlights the bilingual nature of post-exilic Judah, where Aramaic served as the administrative language of the Persian Empire. The term carries the standard legal weight of a judicial officer, responsible for resolving disputes and enforcing statutory order. By using this specific form, the text underscores the practical governance structures established under foreign rule.
Translators typically render it simply as "judges" or "magistrates," capturing its functional role without adding theological nuance beyond legal authority. The rarity of the word in Scripture makes Ezra 7:25 a unique snapshot of how Aramaic legal terminology integrated into biblical narrative, preserving the precise administrative vocabulary of the era.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dayyan appears just once in Scripture, found in Ezra 7:25. It is an Aramaic term for a judge or magistrate, reflecting the bilingual reality of post-exilic Judah. When Ezra was sent to restore order, he appointed these officials to administer justice and teach God’s laws to the people. This shows that God cares about practical governance and fair treatment in community life.
For your faith today, this reminds us that justice is not just a spiritual ideal but a tangible practice. God uses human structures to protect the vulnerable and maintain peace. Whether you are in a position of authority or simply living under it, this passage encourages trust in systems designed to uphold truth and fairness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ judges1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/דַיָּנִ֗ין1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 7:25
You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
This verse uniquely uses the Aramaic term for judge to describe officials appointed by Ezra to enforce God's laws among the exiles.