Lexical Summary dath: law, decree, edict Original Word: דָּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance commandment, commission, decree, law, manner Of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation: a royal edict or statute -- commandment, commission, decree, law, manner. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition decree, law NASB Translation decree (5), edict (4), edicts (1), law (7), laws (3), regulations (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דָּת noun feminineEsther 3:15 decree, law, usage, only in Persian period (Biblical Aramaic Late Hebrew id., Syriac  or  ; Persian loan-word, Old Persian dâta, law, SpiegAPK 225) — ׳ד absolute Esther 1:8 9t.; construct דַּת Esther 2:12, דָּת Esther 9:13; suffix דָּתוֺ Esther 2:8 4t.; plural construct דָּתֵי Ezra 8:36 2t.; suffix דָּתַיהֶם Esther 3:8; — 1 decree, edict, commission of Persian king Ezra 8:36 (word elsewhere only in Esther) Esther 2:8 ("" דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ), Esther 4:3 ("" id.) Esther 8:17 ("" id.) Esther 9:1 ("" id.; with עשׂה execute) compare also Esther 9:13; with verb נָתַן Esther 3:14,15; Esther 8:13,14; Esther 9:14; written כְּתָבהַֿדָּת Esther 4:8 (compare Esther 3:14; Esther 8:13). 2 law, permanently valid and applicable, וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי מָּרַסוּֿמָדַי וְלֹא יַעֲבוֺר Esther 1:19 compare Esther 1:15; Esther 4:11,16; יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין Esther 1:13 those that understood law and judgment; דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ Esther 3:8; of laws of the Jews in Persia Esther 3:8; even of rules for drinking at a feast Esther 1:8; for purifying of women Esther 2:12. — The distinction between 1 & 2 is not absolute. The king's will was law, and the royal edict (דְּבַר מַלְכוּת) concerning Vashti was reckoned among the laws (דָּתֵי) of the Persians & Medes (Esther 1:19). — In Deuteronomy 33:2 ᵑ0 אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֺ fire was a law for them is corrupt; many emendations proposed, compare Di; Di suggests דֹת[לַמִּ] אֵשׁ fire of flames, flaming fire, compare הַלַּמִּידִם Exodus 20:18 (but לַמִּדֹת plural in תֹ֯ not in OT unless as proper name), or (better), דֶת[יֹקֶ] אֵשׁ a burning fire, compare Isaiah 65:5 (different sense). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope דָּת designates a body of binding regulations issued by an authority—royal, civic, or religious. In the Persian period it refers chiefly to the codified edicts of the empire, yet the word is flexible enough to include the laws of God’s covenant people when contrasted with Gentile statutes (Esther 3:8). Occurrence in Scripture Ezra 8:36; Esther 1:8, 1:13, 1:15, 1:19; 2:8, 2:12; 3:8 (twice), 3:14, 3:15; 4:3, 4:8, 4:11, 4:16; 8:13, 8:14, 8:17; 9:1, 9:13, 9:14. Historical Setting: The Persian Dominion After Babylon fell in 539 B.C., Cyrus the Great promoted an imperial policy that respected local customs while asserting the supremacy of the royal will. A “law of the Persians and Medes” (see Esther 1:19) was perceived as irrevocable once sealed with the king’s signet. This concept underlies every Old Testament use of דָּת. The term therefore crystallizes the tension between earthly absolutism and God’s higher sovereignty during the post-exilic era. Key Themes 1. Unalterable Decrees 2. Contrast Between Divine Law and Human Law 3. Providence and Deliverance The irreversible nature of a Persian דָּת magnifies the miracle of deliverance. Humanly speaking, annihilation was certain by the date fixed in Esther 3:13; divinely speaking, “relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place” (Esther 4:14). God works through Esther’s courage, Mordecai’s wisdom, and royal sleeplessness (Esther 6:1) to reverse outcomes without violating the empire’s legal framework. 4. Intercession, Fasting, and Courage Esther 4:16 records, “Go, gather together all the Jews… do not eat or drink for three days… I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.” Defying an unjust statute required spiritual preparation and a willingness to perish. The church today finds a paradigm for prayer-saturated engagement with hostile structures (Acts 4:19–31). 5. Celebration and Memory Esther 9:13–14 leads to the institution of Purim (9:26-28). A decree that once threatened extinction now secures celebration. God invites His people to commemorate rescue so that future generations grasp His faithfulness. Theology • Divine Sovereignty over Human Legalism The drama of Esther shows that no earthly edict is ultimate. The king may sign an irreversible statute, yet “the heart of the king is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). Scripture affirms the good use of civil law (Romans 13:1–7) but warns against absolutizing it. דָּת becomes oppressive when detached from justice and mercy. Esther’s role prefigures Christ’s greater advocacy. She risks death to secure life for her people; He embraces death to grant eternal life (Hebrews 7:25). Ministry Significance 1. Respect Government yet Obey God Christians live “subject to rulers and authorities” (Titus 3:1) while recognizing a higher allegiance. When government decrees contradict God’s commands, believers must respond with Spirit-guided courage and gracious appeal. 2. Engage Culture with Discernment Haman exploited cultural pluralism to foster prejudice. The church counters such manipulation by embodying righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 3. Maintain Corporate Prayer and Fasting Breakthrough amid hostile legislation often follows united intercession. Congregations can set aside seasons of fasting, seeking God’s intervention in civic issues affecting gospel freedom and human dignity. 4. Rehearse Testimonies of Deliverance Like Purim, Christian worship should recount past rescues—personal and communal—to strengthen faith for present trials. 5. Encourage God-honoring Statesmanship The influence granted to Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Daniel illustrates that believers, when gifted and called, may serve effectively within government structures, steering policy toward what honors the Lord. Summary דָּת captures the authority, permanence, and cultural impact of Persian law in the post-exilic period, yet its biblical usage proclaims a greater truth: God’s sovereign hand overrides every human decree to preserve His covenant people and advance redemptive purposes. The term thus challenges believers to respect lawful order, resist unrighteous statutes, intercede with fervor, and trust the Lord who turns “mourning into dancing” (Psalm 30:11). Forms and Transliterations בְּדָתֵ֥י בדתי דָּ֖ת דָּ֥ת דָּת֙ דָּתֵ֣י דָּתֵ֤י דָּתוֹ֙ דת דתו דתי הַ֠דָּת הדת וְדָת֔וֹ וְדָת֖וֹ וְדָתֵיהֶ֞ם וְדָתוֹ֙ וְהַדָּ֥ת ודתו ודתיהם והדת כְּדָ֣ת כְּדָ֤ת כְּדָת֙ כַדָּ֔ת כַדָּ֖ת כדת bə·ḏā·ṯê bəḏāṯê bedaTei chadDat dā·ṯê dā·ṯōw dat dāṯ dāṯê daTei daTo dāṯōw had·dāṯ haddāṯ Haddot ḵad·dāṯ ḵaddāṯ kə·ḏāṯ keDat kəḏāṯ vedateiHem vedaTo vehadDat wə·ḏā·ṯê·hem wə·ḏā·ṯōw wə·had·dāṯ wəḏāṯêhem wəḏāṯōw wəhaddāṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 8:36 HEB: וַֽיִּתְּנ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־ דָּתֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי֙ NAS: the king's edicts to the king's KJV: the king's commissions unto the king's INT: delivered edicts the king's satraps Esther 1:8 Esther 1:13 Esther 1:15 Esther 1:19 Esther 2:8 Esther 2:12 Esther 3:8 Esther 3:8 Esther 3:14 Esther 3:15 Esther 4:3 Esther 4:8 Esther 4:11 Esther 4:16 Esther 8:13 Esther 8:14 Esther 8:17 Esther 9:1 Esther 9:13 Esther 9:14 21 Occurrences |
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