3493. yattir
Lexical Summary
yattir: Excellent, surpassing, preeminent

Original Word: יַתִּיר
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: yattiyr
Pronunciation: yat-teer'
Phonetic Spelling: (yat-teer')
KJV: exceeding(-ly), excellent
NASB: extraordinary, extremely, exceedingly, surpassing
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H3492 (יַתּתִּיר - Jattir)]

1. preeminent
2. as an adverb, very

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
exceedingly, excellent

(Aramaic) corresponding to Yattiyr; preeminent; as an adverb, very -- exceeding(-ly), excellent.

see HEBREW Yattiyr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to Yattir
Definition
preeminent, surpassing
NASB Translation
exceedingly (1), extraordinary (4), extremely (2), surpassing (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
יַתִּיר adjective pre-eminent, surpassing (see Biblical Hebrew יתר); — masculine singular absolute ׳י Daniel 2:31; feminine singular יַתִּירָא Daniel 6:4, usually הָ֯ Daniel 4:33; Daniel 5:12,14; as adverb exceedingly Daniel 3:22; Daniel 7:7,19 (compare יתיר מתבריך EutSin. 498 which Lzb401 reads יתירית בריך).

Topical Lexicon
Entry Title: Yattir (Strong’s Hebrew 3493)

Literary Setting and Distribution

Yattir appears eight times, all in the Aramaic chapters of Daniel (Daniel 2–7). Its consistent function is to mark something or someone as surpassing all others in degree, quality, or intensity. The word frames the book’s central contrast between the fleeting greatness of earthly kingdoms and the unrivaled supremacy of the Most High God.

Profiles of Usage

1. Daniel 2:31 – The gleam of Nebuchadnezzar’s colossal statue is “extraordinary,” accentuating both the statue’s allure and its ultimate vulnerability before the stone “cut without hands.”
2. Daniel 3:22 – The king’s decree is carried out with “exceeding urgency,” yet the fire meant to destroy God’s servants devours the mightiest men of Babylon instead, underscoring divine protection.
3. Daniel 4:36 – After his humbling, Nebuchadnezzar’s glory returns “greater than before,” illustrating God’s prerogative to exalt or abase rulers.
4. Daniel 5:12 and 5:14 – Daniel is repeatedly commended for an “extraordinary spirit,” highlighting the Spirit-filled wisdom that sets God’s servant apart in a pagan court.
5. Daniel 6:3 – Under Darius, Daniel again proves himself “distinguished above the other satraps” so that “the king planned to set him over the whole realm.” The phrase explains the jealousy that propels the lions’-den episode.
6. Daniel 7:7 and 7:19 – The fourth beast is “exceedingly terrifying,” more dreadful than its predecessors, anticipating the climactic conflict between hostile world power and the saints of the Most High.

Theological Emphases

Excellence Granted by God

Whenever the adjective describes human character (Daniel 5:12; Daniel 5:14; Daniel 6:3), the narrative immediately attributes that excellence to divine endowment: “an excellent spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems were found in this Daniel” (Daniel 5:12). Human distinction is shown as God-given, not self-generated.

Superlative Power of God

When applied to empires, decrees, or beasts, the term magnifies their scale only to cast a brighter spotlight on God’s sovereign intervention. The “extraordinary” sheen of the statue and the “exceedingly terrifying” beast both fall before the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-14). Yattir thus heightens dramatic tension and prepares readers for the revelation of divine control.

Moral Contrast

The same word that lauds Daniel’s integrity describes the fierce beast of Daniel 7, presenting a deliberate antithesis between spiritual excellence and monstrous wickedness. The righteous are called to surpassing holiness even in the shadow of surpassing evil.

Historical and Prophetic Significance

Babylonian and Persian Courts

In a multicultural bureaucracy, Daniel’s conspicuous excellence validates Israel’s testimony before the nations. His promotions after each crisis foreshadow the ultimate vindication of the saints.

Apocalyptic Vision

The intensification language of Daniel 7 supports a prophetic trajectory that reaches beyond the immediate empires to a future, climactic showdown. The “exceedingly” dreadful kingdom anticipates a final antichrist figure, yet it is decisively judged, assuring believers of God’s eventual triumph.

Ministry Reflections

Cultivating an Excellent Spirit

The repeated commendation of Daniel urges believers to pursue Spirit-empowered excellence in every vocation. Competence wedded to godliness commends the gospel in secular settings.

Recognizing True Greatness

Yattir reminds congregations to measure greatness not by worldly splendor but by alignment with God’s purposes. Nebuchadnezzar’s “greater majesty” after repentance (Daniel 4:36) illustrates that honor flows from humble submission to the Most High.

Strength in Hostile Times

The “exceedingly terrifying” imagery of Daniel 7 equips the church to face present-day pressures without fear. No matter how imposing the powers, “the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away” (Daniel 7:26).

Key Cross-References

Daniel 2:31; Daniel 3:22; Daniel 4:36; Daniel 5:12; Daniel 5:14; Daniel 6:3; Daniel 7:7; Daniel 7:19.

Forms and Transliterations
יַתִּ֑ירָא יַתִּ֖יר יַתִּ֗ירָא יַתִּ֗ירָה יַתִּירָ֖ה יַתִּירָ֡ה יַתִּירָא֙ יתיר יתירא יתירה yat·tî·rā yat·tî·rāh yat·tîr yatTir yattîr yatTira yattîrā yattiRah yattîrāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 2:31
HEB: רַ֛ב וְזִיוֵ֥הּ יַתִּ֖יר קָאֵ֣ם לְקָבְלָ֑ךְ
NAS: which was large and of extraordinary splendor,
KJV: whose brightness [was] excellent, stood
INT: was large splendor extraordinary was standing front

Daniel 3:22
HEB: וְאַתּוּנָ֖א אֵזֵ֣ה יַתִּ֑ירָא גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֗ךְ
NAS: had been made extremely hot,
KJV: and the furnace exceeding hot,
INT: and the furnace had been made extremely men those

Daniel 4:36
HEB: הָתְקְנַ֔ת וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה ה֥וּסְפַת לִֽי׃
NAS: in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness
KJV: in my kingdom, and excellent majesty
INT: was reestablished greatness and surpassing was added

Daniel 5:12
HEB: דִּ֣י ר֣וּחַ ׀ יַתִּירָ֡ה וּמַנְדַּ֡ע וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ
NAS: [This was] because an extraordinary spirit,
KJV: Forasmuch as an excellent spirit,
INT: whom spirit an extraordinary knowledge and insight

Daniel 5:14
HEB: וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֛וּ וְחָכְמָ֥ה יַתִּירָ֖ה הִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַת בָּֽךְ׃
NAS: insight and extraordinary wisdom
KJV: and understanding and excellent wisdom
INT: insight wisdom and extraordinary have been found

Daniel 6:3
HEB: דִּ֣י ר֤וּחַ יַתִּירָא֙ בֵּ֔הּ וּמַלְכָּ֣א
NAS: because he possessed an extraordinary spirit,
KJV: because an excellent spirit
INT: forasmuch spirit an extraordinary and the king planned

Daniel 7:7
HEB: וְאֵֽימְתָנִ֨י וְתַקִּיפָ֜א יַתִּ֗ירָא וְשִׁנַּ֨יִן דִּֽי־
NAS: and terrifying and extremely strong;
KJV: and strong exceedingly; and it had great
INT: and terrible strong and extremely teeth forasmuch

Daniel 7:19
HEB: ק) דְּחִילָ֣ה יַתִּ֗ירָה [שִׁנַּיַּהּ כ]
NAS: from all the others, exceedingly dreadful,
KJV: all the others, exceeding dreadful,
INT: all manner dreadful exceedingly tooth which

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3493
8 Occurrences


yat·tîr — 1 Occ.
yat·tî·rā — 3 Occ.
yat·tî·rāh — 4 Occ.

3492
Top of Page
Top of Page