צְדָא

From the study of Daniel 3:14

Range of meaning

This word appears only here in the Bible, so its meaning has to be reconstructed. The ha- at the front is the ordinary question marker. Two main proposals exist for ṣədāʾ:

1. "Purpose, intent" (BDB). This links it to the Semitic root ṣ-d-y/ṣ-d-h, "to lie in wait, intend." Compare Hebrew ṣədiyyāh, "lying in wait, intent," in the law on deliberate versus accidental killing (Num 35:20, 22). On this reading the king asks: "Is it deliberate?"
2. "Truth, reality" ("truly?"). This follows the ancient translations and is listed as an option in HALOT. On this reading: "Is it true?"

Some medieval Jewish interpreters connected the word with a root meaning "desolate, void," giving something like "Are you making my decree void?" Few follow this today.

Against the English

KJV, BSB, WEB and most modern versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT) have "Is it true…?" YLT has "Is it a laid plan…?", and older works such as Keil & Delitzsch and the RV margin have "of purpose". So English readers mostly hear a king checking a report, not a king asking whether the defiance was intended.

Used elsewhere in the period

Theodotion's Greek has ei alēthōs ("is it truly…?") and the Vulgate has verene ("is it really so…?"). The modern "is it true" goes back to them. The Old Greek version of Daniel seems to read "Why…?" (dia ti), which may be a guess at an obscure word. In favour of "purpose," the root ṣ-d-y is attested in Hebrew with the sense of intent.