The study investigates the historical roles of Aramaic as both a lingua franca and a koine, examining its development and usage across various periods. It identifies three main contexts: as the administrative and diplomatic language of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, as the religious and scholarly language of Jewish communities in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and as the liturgical and literary language of Syriac Christianity. Aramaic’s adaptability allowed it to function as an international medium for communication, transcending local dialects and ethnic boundaries. The discussion contrasts the broader concept of a lingua franca, which includes ad hoc languages for specific purposes, with the more structured and culturally embedded nature of a koine, developed within linguistic communities for unified usage. The article highlights Aramaic’s persistence through historical shifts, its role in intercommunal exchanges, and its eventual decline with the rise of Arabic as a dominant language in the region.