Lexical Definition

‎דָּת‎ dâth (dawth) law ^H:N-F
of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation

commandment, commission, decree, law, manner.

• a royal edict or statute

1) decree, law, edict, regulation, usage
1a) decree, edict, commission
1b) law, rule

See Greek: γνώμη · γράφω · δόγμα · δογματίζω · νόμισμα · νόμος

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: dat (‎ד‎ָּ‎ת‎ "law" דָּת)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎דָּת‎ noun feminine^{Esth 3:15} decree, law, usage, only in Persian period (Biblical Aramaic Late Hebrew id., Syriac or ; Persian loan-word, Old Persian dâta, law, Spieg^{APK 225}) — ‎׳‎‎ד‎ absolute Esth 1:8 + 9 t.; construct ‎דַּת‎ Esth 2:12, ‎דָּת‎ Esth 9:13 suffix ‎דָּתוֺ‎ Esth 2:8 + 4 t.; plural construct ‎דָּתֵי‎ Ezra 8:36 + 2 t.; suffix ‎דָּתַיהֶם‎ Esth 3:8 —

1. decree, edict, commission of Persian king Ezra 8:36 (word elsewhere only in Esther) Esth 2:8 (|| ‎דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ‎), Esth 4:3 (|| id.) Esth 8:17 (|| id.) Esth 9:1 (|| id.; with ‎עשׂה‎ execute) compare also Esth 9:13 with verb ‎נָתַן‎ Esth 3:14; Esth 3:15; Esth 8:13; Esth 8:14; Esth 9:14 written ‎כְּתָבהַֿדָּת‎ Esth 4:8 (compare Esth 3:14; Esth 8:13).

2. law, permanently valid and applicable, ‎וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי פָּרַסוּֿמָדַי וְלֹא יַעֲבוֺר‎ Esth 1:19 compare vEsth 1:15; Esth 4:11; Esth 4:16 ‎יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין‎ Esth 1:13 those that understood law and judgment; ‎דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ‎ Esth 3:8 of laws of the Jews in Persia Esth 3:8 even of rules for drinking at a feast Esth 1:8 for purifying of women Esth 2:12. — The distinction between 1 & 2 is not absolute. The king's will was law, and the royal edict (‎דְּבַר מַלְכוּת‎) concerning Vashti was reckoned among the laws (‎דָּתֵי‎) of the Persians & Medes (Esth 1:19). — In Deut 33:2 ᵑ0 ‎אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֺ‎ fire was a law for them is corrupt; many emendations proposed, compare Di; Di suggests ‎דֹת‎[‎לַפִּ‎] ‎אֵשׁ‎ fire of flames, flaming fire, compare ‎הַלַּפִּידִם‎ Exod 20:18 (but ‎לַפִּדֹת‎ plural in ‎תֹ֯‎ not in OT unless as proper name), or (better), ‎דֶת‎[‎יֹקֶ‎] ‎אֵשׁ‎ a burning fire, compare Isa 65:5 (different sense).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References