תַּלְתִּי (tal.ti)
tal.ti
third
A:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:A
Word Overview
The Aramaic word tal.ti simply means "third." It appears only twice in the Bible, both within the book of Daniel, where it functions as an ordinal number to mark sequence or rank.
In Daniel 2:39, it describes the third kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, following Babylon and Medo-Persia. Here, the term identifies a distinct political power that will succeed the previous ones. In Daniel 5:7, King Belshazzar promises to dress a wise man in purple and make him the "third ruler" in his kingdom. This usage highlights a specific position of high authority, sitting just below the king himself.
Although rare, this word helps readers track the chronological flow of empires in Daniel’s visions. It provides a clear marker for where events stand in a larger historical timeline, emphasizing that each power has its place and duration within God’s overarching plan.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tal.ti marks the third position in a sequence. In Daniel's visions, it helps us follow the rise and fall of empires. This simple number shows that history moves in steps under God’s control.
When King Belshazzar promised the third ruler position to whoever could read the writing, he showed how even high authority is temporary. We see that human power has limits, but God’s plan continues steadily forward.
For your faith, this reminds us that we are part of a larger story. Our lives fit into God’s timeline. Trusting Him means believing He guides each step, even when the future seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- third1×
- and/ third1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְלִיתָאָ֤ה1×
- וְ/תַלְתִּ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:39
“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
This verse uses tal.ti to identify the third kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, showing its place after Babylon and Medo-Persia.
-
Daniel 5:7
The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and shows me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
Here, Belshazzar offers the third ruler position as a reward, highlighting that even high authority is subject to God's judgment.