עֲרָד (a.rad)
a.rad
wild donkey
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun arad refers to a wild ass, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible at Daniel 5:21. In this context, it describes the animals roaming freely in Babylon during King Belshazzar’s feast. The term is an Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew word arod (H6171), sharing the same basic meaning across both languages.
Its single occurrence highlights the desolation and abandonment of the royal court, where wild beasts replace human order. Translators consistently render it as "wild ass" to distinguish it from domesticated donkeys, emphasizing its untamed nature. This usage underscores the contrast between divine judgment and earthly power in the Daniel narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
King Belshazzar’s feast was a display of immense power, yet Daniel 5 reveals how quickly human authority can unravel. When the king is driven away from society, his dwelling becomes that of the wild donkey. This image captures a total loss of dignity and order. The untamed animal represents a life stripped of civilization, where instinct replaces reason and freedom turns into isolation.
For us, this story reminds us that true stability does not come from our status or possessions. It comes from recognizing who holds ultimate authority. When we rely on our own strength, we risk losing the peace that only God provides. The wild donkey’s existence is one of survival, but God offers something far better: a relationship with Him that grounds us in truth.
Even in moments where we feel displaced or uncertain, we can look to the One who sets up rulers and brings them down. Our security is not found in the approval of others or the comforts of this world, but in the unchanging nature of God. He invites us to find our rest in His sovereignty, knowing that He cares for every detail of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wild donkeys/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲרָֽדַיָּ/א֙1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:21
He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.
This verse uses the word to illustrate the complete degradation of Belshazzar, showing how divine judgment can reduce a powerful ruler to a state of untamed isolation.