Lexical Summary gemar: perfect Original Word: גְּמַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance perfect (Aramaic) corresponding to gamar -- perfect. see HEBREW gamar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to gamar Definition to complete NASB Translation perfect (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גְּמַר] verb complete (often ᵑ7 Syriac; rare Biblical Hebrew); — Pe`al Passive participle גְּמִיר Ezra 7:12 as adjective perfect (read perhaps ׳שְׁלָם ג, Torrey Berthol; compare Ezra 5:7). Topical Lexicon Overview A single Aramaic term occurring in Ezra 7:12 conveys the idea of something whole, finished, or complete. Within its one appearance it carries diplomatic, theological, and practical weight far beyond its brevity, situating the reader at the intersection of Persian protocol and the biblical theme of God bringing His purposes to perfect conclusion. Biblical Occurrence Ezra 7:12—“Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.” (Berean Standard Bible) Historical Context • Date: Approximately 458 B.C. during the seventh year of Artaxerxes I. Significance in the Narrative of Ezra 1. Validation of the Mission: The king’s single-word salutation signals a fully authorized commission. Ezra’s work is therefore portrayed not as a private initiative but as a completed legal mandate under imperial seal. Broader Canonical Links • Divine Completion: Other Old Testament passages celebrate God’s finishing work—such as Psalms 138:8, “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me”—inviting readers to connect royal “completion” with divine assurance. Theological Implications 1. Sovereign Orchestration: God moves the heart of a pagan monarch so that a legal document embodies divine completeness, showing that no human authority can thwart the finished purposes of heaven. Ministry Applications • Assurance in Calling: Servants of God may step forward boldly, trusting that divine commissions are not tentative but complete in God’s counsel (Ephesians 2:10). Related Scripture for Reflection • Psalms 57:2; Psalms 138:8—God fulfills His purposes. Summary The lone Aramaic word translated “Greetings” in Ezra 7:12 serves as a literary seal of completeness that unites Persian legalese with the biblical motif of divine fulfillment. Its placement in the narrative assures Ezra, and every subsequent reader, that when God commissions, the outcome is already counted as whole. In ministry and personal discipleship alike, this single occurrence reinforces unwavering confidence in the God who perfects all that He ordains. Forms and Transliterations גְּמִ֖יר גמיר gə·mîr geMir gəmîrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |