דִּכְרוֹן (dikh.ron)
dikh.ron
record
A:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun dikhron refers to a written memorandum or official record. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within the book of Ezra (Ezra 4:15 and 6:2). In these contexts, it denotes the archival documents that Persian officials consulted to verify historical claims about Jerusalem’s rebuilding.
Its meaning is closely tied to its Hebrew counterpart, zikaron, which generally means "memorial" or "remembrance." However, dikhron carries a more administrative weight. It is not merely a reminder for personal reflection but a concrete document kept in the royal archives. This distinction highlights how biblical writers used language to bridge spiritual memory with legal history.
The word underscores the importance of written testimony in the post-exilic community. By referencing these records, the text shows that faithfulness to God’s promises was validated through verifiable history. The preservation of such documents served as a tangible link between past events and present identity, ensuring that the community’s origins remained clear and accessible.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dikhron points to an official archive, a place where history is kept safe for future reference. In Ezra, these records were not just dusty papers but vital proof of God’s faithfulness to His people. When the work on the temple faced opposition, officials checked these documents to see what had been decided before. This shows that our spiritual journey has roots in real events and written promises.
For you today, this reminds us that God remembers and keeps records. Your life is not forgotten by Him. Just as those ancient scrolls preserved the truth about Jerusalem, your prayers and steps of faith are known to God. We can trust that He honors His word, even when things seem uncertain or delayed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- records/ the2×
- <the>/ memorandum1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָּכְרָנַיָּ/א֮1×
- דָּכְרָ֨נַיָּ֜/א1×
- דִּכְרוֹנָֽ/ה\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:15
that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.
This verse shows the word used in a legal context where officials consult archival records to verify past decisions about the city.
-
Ezra 6:2
A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:
Here the record is found in the royal palace, proving that God’s plan was documented and preserved by earthly authorities.