H0409 H0409
Aramaic negative particle: 'do not,' 'let not' — used with the imperfect to express prohibition
The Aramaic adverb of prohibition, functionally equivalent to Biblical Hebrew 'al. It appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel, where it introduces commands to refrain from action. Daniel urges Arioch not to destroy the wise men of Babylon (Dan 2:24), Nebuchadnezzar is told not to let his dream alarm him (Dan 4:19), and the queen tells Belshazzar not to let his thoughts terrify him (Dan 5:10). Despite its small footprint, it carries considerable narrative weight in each scene.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Aramaic particle of prohibition meaning 'do not' or 'let not,' governing an imperfect verb. Daniel deploys it urgently — 'do not destroy the wise men' (Dan 2:24) — and it recurs in reassurances: 'let not the dream alarm you' (Dan 4:19), 'let not your thoughts terrify you' (Dan 5:10). English glosses as 'do not / let not,' Spanish as 'no,' French as a directional marker, and German similarly, though the consistent prohibitive function is clear across all witnesses. 4×
AR["لاَ-", "لَا-"]·ben["করবেন-না-", "না-"]·DE["zu"]·EN["do-not-", "let-not-"]·FR["vers"]·heb["אל"]·HI["न"]·ID["Jangan", "jangan"]·IT["a"]·jav["Sampun-", "sampun-", "sampun-ngantos-"]·KO["말지어다-", "하지-마라"]·PT["Não-", "não", "não-"]·RU["не-", "пусть-не-"]·ES["no"]·SW["isi-", "usi", "yasi-"]·TR["değil-", "yapma-"]·urd["نہ", "نہ-"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַל adv. of prohibition, do not …, let not …, sq. impf. (= BH I. אַל; Zenj. אל (Had 22.23.29) Cooke 160 f.; cf.Pehlevi (NöGGA, 1884, 1016); not 𝔗 Syriac);—Dn 2:24 אַל־תְּהוֹבֵד, 4:16; 5:10.