Berean Strong's Lexicon kean: Now, at this time Original Word: כְּעַן Word Origin: Derived from the Aramaic root, used in the context of the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the books of Daniel and Ezra, which contain Aramaic sections. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for "kean," the concept of immediacy or present time can be found in Greek words such as "νῦν" (nun, Strong's Greek 3568), meaning "now." Usage: The adverb "kean" is used to denote the present moment or the current time. It is often employed in narrative contexts to transition or emphasize the immediacy of an action or event. In the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, it serves to anchor the narrative in the present, highlighting the urgency or importance of the moment being described. Cultural and Historical Background: The use of Aramaic in the Hebrew Bible reflects the historical context of the Jewish people during the Babylonian and Persian periods. Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Near East during these times, and its presence in the biblical text underscores the cultural and political influences on the Jewish community. The books of Daniel and Ezra, where "kean" is found, were written during or after the Babylonian exile, a period when Aramaic was commonly spoken among the Jewish people. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) probably from anah Definition now NASB Translation now (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּעַן adverb now (so Egyptian Aramaic (CISii. 137 = CookeNo.73 RÉS:361 B S-CPap. C 5); ᵑ7, e.g. Numbers 22:4: עַן probably a substantive from [עָנָה] the √ of עֵת, time; so כְּעַן literally at (this) time = Hebrew עַתָּה: K§ 67, 4); — Daniel 2:23 וּכְעַן הוֺדַעְתַּנִי, Daniel 3:15; Daniel 4:34; Daniel 5:12,15,16; Daniel 6:9; Ezra 4:13,14,21; Ezra 5:17; Ezra 6:6; עַדכְּֿעַן until now Ezra 5:16 (so ᵑ7 Genesis 18:22 +). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance now (Aramaic) probably from ken; now -- now. see HEBREW ken Forms and Transliterations וּכְעַ֞ן וּכְעַ֤ן וכען כְּעַ֗ן כְּעַ֛ן כְּעַ֞ן כְּעַ֡ן כְּעַ֣ן כְּעַן֙ כען kə‘an kə·‘an keAn ū·ḵə·‘an ucheAn ūḵə‘anLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:13 HEB: כְּעַ֗ן יְדִ֙יעַ֙ לֶהֱוֵ֣א NAS: Now let it be known to the king, KJV: Be it known now unto the king, INT: Now it be known become Ezra 4:14 Ezra 4:21 Ezra 5:16 Ezra 5:17 Ezra 6:6 Daniel 2:23 Daniel 3:15 Daniel 4:37 Daniel 5:12 Daniel 5:15 Daniel 5:16 Daniel 6:8 13 Occurrences |