עֲרָד
𐤏𐤓𐤃
ʻărâd
H6167 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wild donkey, specifically the onager (Equus hemionus), native to arid regions and characterized in the ancient Near East for its untamable, swift, and independent nature. The term is used for the wild, untamed desert-dwelling donkey distinct from domesticated species.
Semantic Range
wild donkey, onager, wild ass, symbol of untamed or independent character
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. Possibly related to עָרוֹד (H6171), which appears in Hebrew and denotes a wild donkey or onager. The Aramaic form עֲרָד is cognate with related Semitic roots designating wild equids.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Used primarily in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 5:21) to denote a wild donkey or onager, an animal representing untamed wilderness and associating with freedom, wildness, and sometimes social outcasts in the broader literary tradition. The term distinguishes the wild donkey from the domesticated חֲמ֔וֹר (ḥamôr). English translations such as 'wild ass' or 'onager' are close but sometimes fail to communicate the strong Near Eastern cultural associations of the animal with independence and the desert landscape. In post-exilic literature, such references often serve as metaphors for human character or social status (free, unbound, or forsaken). The use of Aramaic עֲרָד aligns with similar words in neighboring Semitic languages, but rarely appears outside Daniel in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to עָרוֹד; an onager; wild ass.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ערד (ʿ-r-d) — free, untamed, wild
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6167-01 |
עֲרָֽדַיָּ/א֙ | aradaya | ANcmpd/Td |
wild donkeys | the wild onagers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6167-01 |
Daniel 5:21 | עֲרָֽדַיָּ/א֙ | aradaya | ANcmpd/Td |
wild donkeys | the wild onagers |