יְדָא (ye.da)
ye.da
to praise
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb yeda appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Daniel 2:23. It translates to "to praise" or "give thanks," functioning as an Aphel stem that conveys a causative sense—essentially, to cause someone to know or acknowledge God’s wisdom through thanksgiving.
This word is the Aramaic counterpart to the Hebrew yadah (H3034). While yadah often implies a public confession or acknowledgment of guilt, yeda in Daniel focuses on gratitude for divine revelation. When Daniel uses it, he is not merely expressing personal relief but publicly attributing insight and strength to God.
The single occurrence highlights the cross-cultural nature of biblical worship. In the imperial court of Babylon, praise takes the form of Aramaic, showing that thanksgiving transcends ethnic boundaries. The term anchors Daniel’s response to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in humility, recognizing that true understanding comes from God alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word יְדָא appears just once in the Bible, in Daniel 2:23. It is an Aramaic verb meaning 'to praise' or 'give thanks.' In this context, Daniel uses it to acknowledge God as the source of wisdom and strength. This single occurrence reminds us that gratitude is a universal language, crossing cultural and linguistic boundaries.
When we face challenges that seem beyond our understanding, Daniel’s example invites us to look upward. He did not rely on his own insight but praised God for revealing what was hidden. This posture of humility opens the door for divine wisdom to guide us through difficult seasons.
Your faith is strengthened when you recognize that true understanding comes from God. Whether in times of clarity or confusion, offering thanks aligns your heart with His sovereignty. Let this word encourage you to trust in His provision and praise Him for His faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [am] praising1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְהוֹדֵ֤א1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 2:23
I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
This verse shows Daniel using the word to publicly attribute wisdom and revelation to God, rather than relying on his own abilities.