דָּת (dat)
dat
law
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun dat refers to a royal decree, statute, or established law. It appears twenty times in the Old Testament, primarily within the books of Esther and Ezra, reflecting its use during the Persian period. The word denotes a permanent and valid regulation issued by a king, carrying the force of official command rather than mere custom.
Its origin is likely foreign, possibly Persian, which explains why it appears in texts dealing with imperial administration. In Esther, it describes the unchangeable edicts of the Persian court, such as the decree to destroy the Jews or the subsequent reversal that allowed them to defend themselves. The term also appears in Deuteronomy 33:2, where it is associated with the law given at Sinai, suggesting a connection between divine instruction and authoritative command.
Translators render dat variously as "law," "decree," or "manner" depending on context. While it can mean general usage, its strongest sense is that of a binding royal mandate. This distinction highlights the tension in Esther between human political power and divine providence, as characters navigate laws they cannot alter but hope to overcome through wisdom and courage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dat points to a royal decree that stands firm and cannot be changed. In the book of Esther, this term describes the unyielding laws of the Persian empire. These edicts carried the full weight of the king’s authority, leaving no room for appeal or alteration once they were written.
Yet the story shows us that human power is not the final word. Even when a decree seemed to seal the fate of God’s people, providence worked through courage and wisdom to bring deliverance. This reminds us that while earthly systems may seem rigid, God remains sovereign over history and justice.
We can find comfort in knowing that no law or policy has more authority than God’s faithful care. When we face situations where rules feel unfair or overwhelming, we look to the One who holds all power in His hands. His love and purpose endure beyond any temporary decree.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ law/ his3×
- law2×
- and/ the/ law2×
- the/ law1×
- law/ his1×
- in/ [the] laws of1×
- and/ orders/ his1×
- and/ laws/ their1×
- according to/ [the] regulation of1×
- according to/ [the] law of1×
- according to/ [the] law1×
- [was] according to the/ law1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/דָּ֥ת2×
- וְ/דָת/וֹ֙2×
- דָּת֙2×
- כְּ/דָת֙1×
- כְּ/דָ֤ת1×
- כְּ/דָ֣ת1×
- כַ/דָּ֖ת1×
- כַ/דָּ֔ת1×
- וְ/דָתֵי/הֶ֞ם1×
- וְ/דָת֖/וֹ1×
- וְ/דָת֔/וֹ1×
- הַ֠/דָּת1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 1:19
“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
This verse highlights the permanent nature of a Persian law, which cannot be altered once written by the king.
-
Esther 3:8
Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain.
Haman uses the difference in laws to accuse the Jews, showing how legal distinctions became tools for political persecution.
-
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther’s decision to approach the king risks her life because it violates an established law that forbids unauthorized entry.