וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃
(Daniel 2:21)
And He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding.
This verse is dominated by participial forms — מְהַשְׁנֵא (“changing”), מְהַעְדֵּה (“removing”), מְהָקֵים (“raising up”) — which function not as finite verbs but as descriptions of God’s ongoing attributes. The style highlights God’s continuous and active control over cosmic and political affairs, contrasting sharply with the transience of human power.
Parsing the Key Participles
- מְהַשְׁנֵא (mĕhaššĕnēʾ) – Root: ש־נ־א / ש־נ־ה; Stem: Haphel (causative); Form: masculine singular participle; Meaning: “changing” (causing alteration).
- מְהַעְדֵּה (mĕhaʿdēh) – Root: ע־ד־ה; Stem: Haphel; Form: masculine singular participle; Meaning: “removing, causing to pass away.”
- מְהָקֵים (mĕhāqēm) – Root: ק־ו־ם; Stem: Haphel; Form: masculine singular participle; Meaning: “establishing, raising up.”
- יָהֵב (yāhēb) – Root: י־ה־ב; Stem: Peʿal; Form: imperfect 3ms; Meaning: “He gives.” Unlike the participles, this finite verb underlines God’s direct act of bestowal.
Table: Participles and Finite Verb in Daniel 2:21
| Form | Root | Stem | Morphology | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מְהַשְׁנֵא | ש־נ־ה | Haphel | Participle, ms | changing (times and seasons) |
| מְהַעְדֵּה | ע־ד־ה | Haphel | Participle, ms | removing (kings) |
| מְהָקֵים | ק־ו־ם | Haphel | Participle, ms | raising up (kings) |
| יָהֵב | י־ה־ב | Peʿal | Imperfect, 3ms | He gives (wisdom/knowledge) |
Aspectual and Syntactic Observations
The participles convey an ongoing, habitual action — God is continuously the changer of times, remover of kings, and establisher of kings. By contrast, יָהֵב is a finite imperfect form, shifting momentarily from timeless description to a specific divine act: the giving of wisdom and knowledge. This interplay highlights both God’s eternal sovereignty and His particular interventions.
Theological Dimension
This verse emphasizes the sovereignty of God over both cosmic cycles (עִדָּנַיָּא וְזִמְנַיָּא, “times and seasons”) and political powers (kings removed and raised). In the exilic context, such grammar functions theologically: it reassures the hearers that despite Babylon’s might, it is ultimately God who orchestrates history. The blessing of wisdom to the wise further underscores that human knowledge is derivative — given, not innate.
Grammar as Theology
The participial sequence portrays God in enduring roles, while the imperfect verb pinpoints His immediate generosity. Thus, morphology is not incidental but central: it encodes Israel’s faith in God’s ongoing rule and providential wisdom.
