Lexical Summary tiphsar: Scribe, Officer Original Word: טִפְסַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance captain Of foreign derivation; a military governor -- captain. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a scribe, marshal NASB Translation marshal (1), marshals (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs טִפְסָר noun [masculine] scribe, marshal (if meaning correct, then Assyrian loan-word, from dupsarru, tablet-writer, scribe, see LenLangue Primit. de la Chaldeve, 365 SchrCOT on Jeremiah 51:27, LotzTP 180; dupšarru, according to DlHWB 227) — plural suffix טַפְסְרַיִךְ Nahum 3:17 (as if from טַפְסֵר) thy scribes, marshals, of high officials of Nineveh; absolute singular מִּקְדוּ עָלֶיהָ טִפְסָר Jeremiah 51:27 appoint a marshal against her, i.e. against Babylon. — On military function of those skilled in writing compare שֹׁטֵר. Topical Lexicon Form and Linguistic Background טִפְסַר (ṭiphsar) is a loanword that entered Biblical Hebrew from the imperial courts east of Israel, referring to an upper–level official whose responsibilities combined record-keeping with military or administrative authority. In later Aramaic and Persian usage the term described men who both wrote decrees and supervised those who carried them out, a dual role that explains why modern translations render it variously as “scribe,” “marshal,” or “officer.” Biblical Occurrences 1. Jeremiah 51:27 – “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her; summon the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal over them; send horses up like a swarm of locusts.” Historical Function and Social Status Ancient Near Eastern monarchies relied on literate elites to translate royal will into action. These officers: Thus the “tiphsar” bridged pen and sword—trusted enough to wield authority, skilled enough to preserve state secrets, and visible enough to symbolize imperial order. Prophetic Context Jeremiah 51 and Nahum 3 both forecast the downfall of oppressive superpowers—Babylon and Assyria. By naming their “tiphsarim,” the prophets direct the judgment not only at kings and generals but at every layer of the imperial machine. The men who recorded conquests would themselves become footnotes in God’s record of justice. • Jeremiah portrays the marshal drafted into an anti-Babylon coalition, underscoring God’s sovereignty in raising up even pagan administrators to accomplish His purposes. Theological Themes 1. Divine Supremacy over Nations – Even the paperwork of war falls under the Lord’s command. Practical Ministry Application • Christian leaders who manage budgets, minutes, or legal documents stand in a lineage that Scripture recognizes. Administrative gifts (Romans 12:8) are indispensable, yet servants must remember that accuracy and efficiency serve higher kingdom ends, not personal prestige. Christological and Redemptive Insights Where ancient empires relied on tiphsarim to inscribe decrees of domination, the New Covenant rests on a greater Scribe: Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17) and writes believers’ names “in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Earthly archives perish; the Lamb’s book of life endures. The contrast magnifies the grace of a King who both authors and secures eternal salvation. Summary טִפְסַר represents the educated might of worldly kingdoms, indispensable yet ultimately impotent before God’s sovereign plan. Its brief Scriptural witness reminds the Church that administrative skill, like every gift, must bow to the Author and Finisher of our faith. Forms and Transliterations וְטַפְסְרַ֖יִךְ וטפסריך טִפְסָ֔ר טפסר tifSar ṭip̄·sār ṭip̄sār vetafseRayich wə·ṭap̄·sə·ra·yiḵ wəṭap̄sərayiḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 51:27 HEB: פִּקְד֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ טִפְסָ֔ר הַֽעֲלוּ־ ס֖וּס NAS: Appoint a marshal against KJV: appoint a captain against her; cause the horses INT: Appoint against A marshal her Bring the horses Nahum 3:17 2 Occurrences |
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