אֵמְתָּנִי
𐤀𐤌𐤕𐤍𐤉
ʼêmᵉtânîy
H574 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Aramaic adjective signifying someone who is powerfully built, muscular, or physically imposing, often with a connotation of might or strength, particularly in a military context. The term can also imply someone who is formidable or awe-inspiring due to their physical presence.
Semantic Range
strong, mighty, burly, physically powerful, imposing, formidable, awe-inspiring, of great strength
Root / Etymology
From the root corresponding to Hebrew מֹתֶן (moten, 'loins'), itself from the root מתן (m-t-n), meaning 'loins' or 'waist,' the seat of strength and vigor. The Aramaic form reflects a similar semantic field and describes someone as 'well-loined,' i.e., strong or mighty. The specific derivation אֵמְתָּנִי contains the preformative aleph and suffix -i, forming an adjectival pattern to denote 'having strong loins.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 4:3, 34), אֵמְתָּנִי is used to describe beings or individuals possessing great strength or might, often in contexts emphasizing physical or military prowess. The association with 'loins' is rooted in ancient Near Eastern anthropology, where the loins symbolized core strength. Related Hebrew words (e.g., מֹתֶן) can refer to physical strength, virility, or the seat of procreative power, but אֵמְתָּנִי in Aramaic has a more pronounced focus on might and formidable presence. Standard English translations vary between 'mighty,' 'strong,' and (occasionally) 'terrible,' but 'terrible' reflects an older English sense of 'awe-inspiring' or 'formidable,' not something evil or malicious. In translation tradition and later Jewish literature, the term is sometimes interpreted more broadly as 'powerful' or 'mighty one.' Its use is generally restricted to descriptions of particularly impressive individuals (e.g., warriors, rulers) and not common people, and is infrequent in the Aramaic corpus of the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of מֹתֶן; well-loined (i.e. burly) or mighty; terrible.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מתן (m-t-n) — loins, strength, core power
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H574-01 |
וְ/אֵֽימְתָנִ֨י | veeymetani | AC/Aafsa |
and terrible | powerfully built | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H574-01 |
Daniel 7:7 | וְ/אֵֽימְתָנִ֨י | veeymetani | AC/Aafsa |
and terrible | powerfully built |