I. Historical, Political, and Administrative Terms (Babylonian/Persian Context):;xNLx;;xNLx;Chaldeans (e.g., Daniel 1:4; 2:2, 4-5, 10; 3:8; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 30; 9:1):;xNLx;Originally an ethnic group from southern Mesopotamia who became the ruling class of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.;xNLx;In Daniel, the term is also used more broadly to refer to a class of wise men, astrologers, sorcerers, or diviners in Babylon, skilled in various arts and sciences, including the interpretation of dreams and omens.;xNLx;Satrap (Daniel 3:2-3, 27; 6:1-7): A governor of a major province (satrapy) in the Medo-Persian Empire. They were powerful administrators responsible for their respective territories.;xNLx;Prefect (Daniel 2:48; 3:2-3, 27, 30; 6:7): A high-ranking administrative official in the Babylonian or Persian empires, possibly overseeing a specific district or having significant governmental responsibilities.;xNLx;Governor (Daniel 2:48; 3:2-3, 27; 6:1-7): A ruling official appointed over a territory or province. Often used interchangeably with or in conjunction with satraps and prefects.;xNLx;Counselors / Advisers (e.g., Daniel 2:14, 24, 27, 48; 3:24, 27; 4:18, 27, 36; 5:7-8, 10, 15; 6:7): Officials who provided advice and expertise to the king in matters of state, law, or wisdom.;xNLx;Magicians / Enchanters / Sorcerers / Astrologers (e.g., Daniel 1:20; 2:2, 10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15): Various classes of wise men or diviners in the Babylonian court who practiced arts such as interpreting dreams and omens, attempting to discern the future, or using incantations. Daniel and his companions proved superior to them through God's wisdom.;xNLx;Decree / Edict / Injunction / Ordinance / Statute / Law (e.g., Daniel 2:9, 13, 15, 46; 3:10, 12, 29; 4:6; 6:5, 7-17, 21-23, 26; 7:25): An official order, proclamation, or law issued by the king or governing authority, often considered irrevocable in the Medo-Persian system ("law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed" - Daniel 6:8, 12, 15).;xNLx;Province (e.g., Daniel 2:48-49; 3:1-3, 12, 30; 8:2; 11:24): An administrative district or territory within the Babylonian or Persian empires.;xNLx;Babylon (Throughout Daniel, e.g., Daniel 1:1; 2:12, 48; 3:1; 4:6, 29-30; 5:1; 7:1): The capital city and empire that conquered Judah and exiled its people. It is a major setting for the first half of the book.;xNLx;Media / Medes (e.g., Daniel 5:28, 31; 6:8, 12, 15, 28; 8:20; 9:1; 11:1): An ancient Iranian people and kingdom that, in alliance with the Babylonians, overthrew the Assyrian Empire, and later merged with Persia to form the Medo-Persian Empire, which conquered Babylon.;xNLx;Persia / Persians (e.g., Daniel 5:28; 6:8, 12, 15, 28; 8:20; 10:1, 13, 20; 11:2): An ancient Iranian people and kingdom that, under Cyrus the Great, became the dominant power in the Medo-Persian Empire after conquering the Medes and then Babylon.;xNLx;Greece / Javan (Hebrew: Yavan) (e.g., Daniel 8:21; 10:20; 11:2): The ancient Hellenic kingdom(s) that, under Alexander the Great, would later conquer the Persian Empire, as foretold in Daniel's visions.;xNLx;Aramaic (The language of Daniel 2:4b–7:28): An ancient Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew, which became a lingua franca in much of the ancient Near East, including the Persian Empire. A significant portion of the Book of Daniel is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew.;xNLx;Pulse (Daniel 1:12, 16): Vegetables or edible seeds, such as peas, beans, and lentils. Daniel and his companions requested a diet of pulse and water to avoid the king's rich food and wine, likely for reasons of ritual purity and faithfulness to God's dietary laws.;xNLx;Overseer / Steward (Daniel 1:11, 16): The official appointed to be in charge of Daniel and his companions, particularly regarding their food and training.;xNLx;Tribute / Tax (Implied in the context of empire and provincial administration, e.g., Daniel 11:20 "a collector of tribute"): Payments levied by the ruling empire on its subject peoples.;xNLx;II. Prophetic, Visionary, and Apocalyptic Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Visions (e.g., Daniel 1:17; 2:19, 28; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; 9:21, 23-24; Chapter 10; 11:14): Supernatural revelations or inspired insights given by God to Daniel, often involving complex symbolic imagery (like beasts, horns, and angelic beings) that depict future kingdoms, conflicts, and God's ultimate triumph.;xNLx;Dreams (e.g., Daniel 1:17; Chapter 2; Chapter 4; 7:1): Significant dreams, especially those of Nebuchadnezzar, which Daniel was given the divine ability to interpret, revealing God's sovereign plan.;xNLx;Interpretation (of dreams/visions) (e.g., Daniel 1:17; 2:4-45; 4:8-27; 5:7-8, 12, 15-28; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; 10:1): The act of explaining the meaning of symbolic dreams or visions, a gift God bestowed upon Daniel.;xNLx;Son of Man (Aramaic: bar enash) (Daniel 7:13): In Daniel's vision, this is a celestial, human-like figure who comes with the clouds of heaven and is presented before the "Ancient of Days" (God) to receive everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom. This figure is distinct from the way "son of man" is used to address Ezekiel. In Jewish and Christian tradition, this passage has significant messianic implications.;xNLx;Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22): A title for God, emphasizing His eternality, majesty, and role as the ultimate judge.;xNLx;Saints of the Most High (Daniel 7:18, 21-22, 25, 27): God's holy people who will ultimately receive the kingdom and possess it forever, after a period of suffering and persecution.;xNLx;Horn(s) (e.g., Daniel 7:7-8, 11, 20-21, 24; 8:3-9, 20-22): A common symbol in apocalyptic literature representing kings, kingdoms, or military power. The "little horn" (Daniel 7:8; 8:9) is a particularly arrogant and blasphemous power that persecutes God's people.;xNLx;Beasts (Daniel Chapter 7; 8:4): Symbolic representations of earthly kingdoms or empires in Daniel's visions (e.g., lion, bear, leopard, and a terrifying fourth beast in Daniel 7, representing Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and a subsequent powerful empire).;xNLx;Time, times, and half a time (Daniel 7:25; 12:7): A symbolic period of intense persecution or distress. Its precise interpretation is debated, but it signifies a limited duration set by God. (Often understood as three and a half years).;xNLx;Seventy weeks / Seventy sevens (Daniel 9:24-27): A significant prophetic timeline revealed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel, concerning the future of Jerusalem and God's people, leading up to the coming of an "anointed one" and eventual desolation and restoration. Its interpretation is complex and has various historical and eschatological applications.;xNLx;Anointed One / Messiah (Hebrew: mashiach) (Daniel 9:25-26): Literally "anointed one." In Daniel 9, this refers to a future leader or prince. Verse 25 speaks of an "anointed one, a prince," and verse 26 speaks of an "anointed one" being "cut off." This is a key messianic prophecy.;xNLx;Abomination that makes desolate / Abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11): An act of sacrilege or profound desecration, particularly in relation to the temple or holy things, leading to desolation and judgment. Historically, this has been associated with events like Antiochus IV Epiphanes' desecration of the Jerusalem Temple in the 2nd century BC, and it also has future eschatological interpretations.;xNLx;Transgression / Sin / Iniquity (e.g., Daniel 8:12-13, 23; 9:5, 11, 13, 16, 20, 24; 11:32): Disobedience to God's law and rebellion against His will, which leads to judgment and the need for atonement.;xNLx;Atonement (Daniel 9:24 "to make atonement for iniquity"): The act of covering or making amends for sin, reconciling humanity with God.;xNLx;Resurrection (Daniel 12:2): The raising of the dead. Daniel 12:2 is one of the clearest Old Testament references to a future resurrection of both the righteous ("to everlasting life") and the wicked ("to shame and everlasting contempt").;xNLx;Everlasting life (Daniel 12:2): Eternal existence in God's presence for the righteous.;xNLx;Holy covenant (Daniel 11:22, 28, 30, 32): The covenant between God and His people, which is opposed and profaned by an antagonistic king in Daniel 11.;xNLx;Prince of the host / Prince of princes (Daniel 8:11, 25): Titles referring to God or a divine representative, whose authority is challenged by the arrogant "little horn.";xNLx;Michael (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1): A powerful archangel, described as "one of the chief princes" and the "great prince who has charge of your people" (Israel), who contends with spiritual forces.;xNLx;Prince of Persia / Prince of Greece (Daniel 10:13, 20): Angelic or demonic spiritual beings associated with and influencing these earthly empires, depicted as being in conflict with God's angelic messengers.;xNLx;III. Worship and Religious Practice Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Most High (God) (e.g., Daniel 3:26, 32 [4:2 in ESV]; 4:17, 24-25, 32, 34; 5:18, 21; 7:18, 22, 25, 27): An exalted title for God, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty and power over all earthly rulers and kingdoms.;xNLx;Idols / Gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone (e.g., Daniel 2:11, 47; 3:1, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 18, 28; 5:4, 23): Images or objects worshipped as deities, particularly in the Babylonian context. The faithfulness of Daniel and his companions is shown in their refusal to worship such idols or the king as a god.;xNLx;Furnace (fiery furnace) (Daniel Chapter 3): A large oven used for intense heating, into which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, and from which God miraculously delivered them.;xNLx;Den of lions (Daniel Chapter 6): An enclosure where lions were kept, into which Daniel was thrown for praying to God in defiance of King Darius's decree, and from which God miraculously delivered him.;xNLx;Sacrifice / Offering (e.g., Daniel 8:11-13; 9:27; 11:31): Ritual presentations to God. The visions in Daniel speak of the regular burnt offering being taken away or sacrifices ceasing for a time due to persecution or desecration.;xNLx;Sanctuary / Temple (e.g., Daniel 5:2-3; 8:11-14; 9:17, 26; 11:31): The holy place of worship, specifically the Temple in Jerusalem. Its desecration and the interruption of its services are subjects of Daniel's visions and concerns.;xNLx;Fasting (Daniel 9:3; 10:2-3): Abstaining from food (and sometimes other comforts) for a period, usually for prayer, mourning, repentance, or seeking divine revelation. Daniel fasted while seeking understanding of visions and confessing sin.;xNLx;This list is intended to aid in understanding some of the key vocabulary and concepts encountered in the Book of Daniel (ESV). Its unique blend of historical narrative and apocalyptic prophecy requires careful attention to the meaning of these terms within their specific literary and historical contexts.