דִּין

From the study of Daniel 4:37

Range of meaning

A judgment or verdict, justice, a lawsuit. It can also mean the court itself (Dan 7:10, 26: 'the court sat'). The setting is legal: a decision handed down by someone with authority to judge.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say 'judgment'. BSB, ESV and NIV say 'just'. WEB says 'justice'. 'Judgment' is literal, but modern readers may hear only condemnation. 'Just' keeps the moral verdict but drops the courtroom picture.

How it drifted

In 1611 'judgment' meant a lawful ruling or justice. Today it leans toward 'condemnation' or 'being judgmental.'

Used elsewhere in the period

In Ezra 7:26 din is a legal sentence. Daniel 7:10, 22 and 26 use it for the heavenly court. Theodotion translates it kriseis ('judgments'). It matches the legal wording of Daniel 4:17: 'the decision is by the decree of the watchers.'

From the study of Daniel 7:10

Range of meaning

Judgment or justice (Ezra 7:26, 'let judgment be executed'). It can also mean the court, the judicial body that gives judgment. The verb dîn is 'to judge'; dayyān is 'judge' (Ezra 7:25).

Against the English

BSB 'convened', NIV 'was seated', ESV 'sat in judgment', NASB 'sat' all take dînāʾ as 'the court'. KJV/WEB 'the judgment was set' was literal in its day. YLT 'the Judge is seated' reads it as one person.

How it drifted

In KJV-era English, 'was set' could still mean 'was seated'. A modern reader hears 'the verdict was fixed', as though the outcome were already determined. The Aramaic describes a court taking its seats to begin a hearing.

Used elsewhere in the period

The same phrase comes back in Dan 7:26: 'the court will sit, and his dominion will be taken away'. Verse 22 says 'judgment was given for/to the holy ones'. The Greek versions read kritērion ekathisen, 'the tribunal sat', and the Vulgate iudicium sedit.

From the study of Daniel 7:22

Range of meaning

A legal word: judgment, verdict, justice, the legal claim or case of a party; by extension the court itself, the body that sits to judge. In Ezra 7:26 it is a legal penalty; in Daniel 4:37 God's ways are 'justice'; in Daniel 7:10 and 7:26 dînāʾ yĕtib means 'the court sat'.

Against the English

'Judgment' in modern English usually suggests condemnation or punishment. KJV/WEB 'judgment was given to the saints' can sound as though the saints are judged, or as though they are made judges. BSB, NIV and NASB settle it as a verdict 'in favor of' them; ESV 'given for' keeps some ambiguity.

How it drifted

In church speech 'judgment' has narrowed toward final condemnation ('the Judgment'). In the ancient Near East the judge's main role was to defend the wronged party: to 'give justice' to the widow, the orphan and the oppressed was to decide their case in their favour.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Hebrew equivalent is used in exactly this protective sense: 'The LORD will maintain the cause (dîn) of the afflicted' (Ps 140:12); God 'executes justice for' the orphan and widow (Deut 10:18, mišpāṭ). The Old Greek and Theodotion render it κρίσις / κρίμα ('judgment, verdict'). Revelation 20:4 picks up this verse: 'judgment was given to them' (κρίμα ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς), said of those enthroned with Christ.