The Aramaic word millah means word, matter, thing, or command. It is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew dabar (H1697) and appears frequently in the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra. It encompasses speech, decree, subject matter, and legal rulings — reflecting the power of spoken and written words in the ancient Near Eastern court.
In Daniel, millah describes both human and divine decrees. Nebuchadnezzar's millah (decree) commanded worship of the golden image, while God's millah (word) was revealed to Daniel in visions. The contrast between royal decrees that demand false worship and God's word that reveals truth drives the theological drama of the entire book. The message is clear: earthly kings issue words that pass away, but God's millah stands forever and determines the course of history.