H2869 H2869
good, fine, pleasing (Aramaic)
This Aramaic adjective appears in Daniel and Ezra with two shades of meaning. In Daniel 2:32, it describes refined or pure gold, emphasizing quality and excellence. In Ezra 5:17, it means pleasing or good in the sense of what seems right to the king, paralleling the common Hebrew tov. The semantic range encompasses both objective quality (fine gold) and subjective approval (if it pleases the king). This Aramaic term functioned in Persian-period Jewish texts much like its Hebrew cognate, spanning material excellence and royal favor.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The two contexts demonstrate the word's flexibility between material and interpersonal domains. Daniel 2:32 uses it attributively for "fine gold" in Nebuchadnezzar's statue, emphasizing the precious metal's purity and value. Ezra 5:17 employs it in a diplomatic formula: "if it pleases the king" (literally "if good upon the king"), requesting royal approval for temple reconstruction. The parallel with Hebrew tov is strong—both words span quality, goodness, and approval. Spanish fino/bueno and French bon capture this dual application to physical excellence and favorable disposition. 2×
AR["جَيِّدٍ", "حَسَنًا"]·ben["উত্তম", "ভালো-হয়"]·DE["[טב]"]·EN["fine", "good"]·FR["[טב]", "bon"]·heb["טב", "טוב"]·HI["अच्छा-लगे", "शुद्ध"]·ID["baik", "murni"]·IT["[טב]"]·jav["dipun-padosi", "mulus"]·KO["좋다", "좋은"]·PT["fino", "parece-bom"]·RU["угодно", "чистого"]·ES["bueno", "fino"]·SW["safi", "vizuri"]·TR["iyi", "saf"]·urd["اچھا", "خالص"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† טָב adj. good;—abs. ט׳ Dn 2:32 pure gold; = pleasing to (עַל pers.) Ezr 5:17 (cf. 6:18, BH טוֹב 5).