Lexical Summary teqan: To establish, to set right, to make straight Original Word: תְּקַן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance establish (Aramaic) corresponding to taqan; to straighten up, i.e. Confirm -- establish. see HEBREW taqan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to taqan Definition to be in order NASB Translation reestablished (1). Topical Lexicon Rooted meaning and narrative setting The Aramaic verb תְּקַן appears once, in Daniel 4:36, within Nebuchadnezzar’s autobiographical decree. Coming after seven years of divinely imposed humiliation, the word describes the king’s throne being “restored” or “re-established.” The verb therefore carries the sense of setting something firmly in place again—an action God alone effects in the narrative. God’s sovereign restoration of Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4 records how prideful exaltation led to Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall and bestial madness. When the appointed time of discipline ended, Scripture states: “I was restored to my throne, and even greater greatness was added to me” (Daniel 4:36). The use of תְּקַן highlights two truths: 1. Restoration is God’s gracious initiative, not human achievement. Echoes of divine establishment throughout Scripture Although תְּקַן itself occurs only here, the Bible often presents God as the One who sets people, kingdoms, and covenants in firm position: By placing תְּקַן at the climax of Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony, Daniel showcases God’s unwavering pattern: He humbles the proud, but He also graciously re-establishes the repentant to display His glory. Historical implications Archaeological records confirm that Nebuchadnezzar’s reign experienced a period of unexplained interruption, lending external support to Daniel’s account. The king’s later public proclamations of divine supremacy mirror the theological pivot preserved in Daniel. Thus the single occurrence of תְּקַן anchors a historically credible restoration that shaped Near-Eastern political reality. Ministry significance 1. Hope for the fallen: Leaders, families, and churches that experience collapse may find assurance that God can “restore the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). Christological perspective In contrast to Nebuchadnezzar, Jesus Christ never needed restoration, yet willingly emptied Himself (Philippians 2:6-8). God therefore “highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:9), providing the ultimate model of divine establishment after humility. All lesser restorations, including Nebuchadnezzar’s, prefigure this perfect vindication. Eschatological outlook Daniel 4 anticipates the final setting up of an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:14). The same God who reinstated a Gentile monarch will one day establish the throne of His Anointed forever, guaranteeing that every promise of restoration finds consummation in the reign of Jesus Christ. Summary תְּקַן encapsulates the Bible’s message that the Lord alone establishes and re-establishes. Whether applied to a chastened Babylonian king, the people of God, or individual believers, the verb signals hope: what God sets upright remains secure, and His restorative work ultimately serves the praise of His own majesty. Forms and Transliterations הָתְקְנַ֔ת התקנת hā·ṯə·qə·naṯ hatekeNat hāṯəqənaṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:36 HEB: וְעַל־ מַלְכוּתִ֣י הָתְקְנַ֔ת וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה NAS: began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, KJV: unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, INT: me my sovereignty was reestablished greatness and surpassing 1 Occurrence |
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