Lexical Definition
דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ Dârᵉyâvêsh (daw-reh-yaw-vaysh') Darius N:N-M-P
of Persian origin
Darius.
- § Darius = "lord"
- Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings
1) Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, king of the Chaldeans, who succeeded to the Babylonian kingdom on the death of Belshazzar; probably the same as "Astyages" the last king of the Medes (538 BC)
2) Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC)
3) Darius II or Darius III
3a) Darius II, Nothus (Ochus) was king of Persia during the time of Nehemiah (424/3-405/4 BC). Darius II is the most probable because he is mentioned by Nehemiah and ruled during the time of Nehemiah
3b) Darius III, Codomannus was king of Persia during its last years at the time of Alexander the Great and was his opponent (336-330 BC)
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.5.31
- son of: Ahasuerus (אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ)
- Also named: dar.ya.vesh (דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ "Darius" דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Aramaic form: דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ
דָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁ proper name, masculine Darius (Old Persian Dârayaua'ush compare SpiegAPK 81) —
1. Darius Hystaspis, 522-485 Ezra 4:5; Hag 1:1; Hag 1:15; Hag 2:10; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1.
2. Darius Codomannus, 336-332 Neh 12:22.
3. 'Darius the Mede,' Dan 9:1; Dan 11:1, compare BevDan. p. 19.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Ezra | 4:5 |
| Nehemiah | 12:22 |
| Daniel | 9:1 · 11:1 |
| Haggai | 1:1 · 1:15 · 2:10 |
| Zechariah | 1:1 · 1:7 · 7:1 |
Profile
Male • Persian ruler • Mede who became Emperor over Babylon
Ruler living at the time of Exile and Return
Darius the Mede received the Empire of Babylon and ruled over it. (Dan.9.1; 11.1; 5.31; 6.1,6,9,25,28)
- Ruler living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.5.31;
- referred to as Darius דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ, or Darius דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ;
- son of Ahasuerus אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ and Vashti וַשְׁתִּי;
- brother of Artaxerxes אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתָּא.
Darius the Mede is mentioned in the Book of Daniel as the ruler who took over the Babylonian kingdom after the fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persian Empire. He is first introduced in Daniel 5:31, which states that Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
In Daniel 6, Darius is portrayed as the king who was manipulated by his officials into issuing a decree that prohibited prayer to anyone but him for thirty days. This decree led to Daniel being thrown into the lions' den when he was caught praying to God. However, God protected Daniel, and Darius, upon discovering Daniel's miraculous survival, issued a new decree acknowledging the power of Daniel's God (Daniel 6:25-28).
Darius is also mentioned in Daniel 9:1, which sets the context for Daniel's prayer of confession and supplication for his people. The chapter begins by stating that this event took place in the first year of Darius' reign.
In Daniel 11:1, an angelic messenger refers to the first year of Darius the Mede, indicating that he had been supporting and protecting the prince of Persia.
The identity of Darius the Mede has been a subject of debate among scholars, as there is no clear historical record of a Median king ruling Babylon between the reigns of Belshazzar and Cyrus the Great. Some scholars suggest that Darius may have been a subordinate ruler or a governor under Cyrus, while others propose that the name may be a title or a reference to Cyrus himself. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his identity, the biblical account presents Darius the Mede as a significant figure in the early days of the Medo-Persian Empire and in the life of Daniel.
All entries for Darius: דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ ☩ דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ
Related Profiles:
- Ahasuerus (father)
- Vashti (mother)
- Artaxerxes (sibling)