Lexical Summary keeneth or keeth: Base, pedestal, stand Original Word: כְּעֶנֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance at such a time (Aramaic) or kaeth (Aramaic) {keh-eth'}; feminine of k'an; thus (only in the formula "and so forth") -- at such a time. see HEBREW k'an NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) fem. of kean Definition now NASB Translation now (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּעֶ֫נֶת and (Ezra 4:17) contracted כְּעֶת adverb now (feminine of כְּעַן; so first SS TorreyJBL 16 (1897), 166 ff.; now confirmed by Egyptian Aramaic כענת CowleyPSBA xxv. 264, 311, 312 ( = RES492-4 = S-CM, N, O); ׳וכ formerly taken to mean and so forth); — always ׳וּכ, and always in a letter, introducing the business of the letter, and to be connected with what follows, not, as ᵑ0, with what precedes: Ezra 4:10 (strike out, as introduced by error from end of Ezra 4:11), Ezra 4:11 (joining to Ezra 4:12) and now, let it be known, etc., Ezra 4:17f. and now, the letter which, etc., Ezra 7:12f. and now, I make a decree, etc. (compare וְעַתָּה similarly in letters 2 Kings 5:6; 2 Kings 10:2, and καὶ νῦν2Macc 1:6). Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Literary Setting The expression כְּעֶנֶת occurs four times, all in the Aramaic sections of Ezra (Ezra 4:10; 4:11; 4:17; 7:12). Each occurrence lies inside formal, diplomatic correspondence exchanged between Persian officials and the Jerusalem community. Its placement is never random; it consistently appears at the transition point between the salutation or historical summary and the petition or decree that follows. • Ezra 4:10 closes the list of peoples resettled in Samaria with the concluding phrase, “ … and in the rest of the region beyond the River—so now.” Function within Ancient Near-Eastern Epistolary Form In fifth-century Persian bureaucracy, official letters followed a rigid pattern: (1) sender and recipient names, (2) greeting formula, (3) testimonial or historical survey, (4) request or directive, and (5) closing wish. כְּעֶנֶת serves as the hinge between sections two and three or three and four, the equivalent of “therefore,” “hence,” or “with respect to the aforementioned.” It signals that pleasantries have ended and actionable content is about to begin. Recognizing the term helps modern readers outline the document and understand where the legal argument starts. Historical and Apologetic Significance 1. Authentic Persian-Period Diction The recurrence of כְּעֶנֶת in precisely those Aramaic letters that would be expected from a Persian chancery strengthens the historicity of the Ezra narrative. The word does not appear in later rabbinic Hebrew or in the narrative sections of the Hebrew Bible, underscoring that Ezra preserves genuine fifth-century court language, not a later literary invention. 2. Confirmation of Administrative Context Its usage aligns with other Persian administrative tags such as “Beyond the River” (referring to the western territories of the empire) and “Osnappar” (Ashurbanipal). Together they place Ezra’s events squarely within the imperial policy of population transfer and provincial oversight. Theological Implications 1. Providence Over Empires That a seemingly incidental adverb appears in letters governing temple construction underscores God’s sovereignty over minute bureaucratic details. He who moves kings’ hearts (Proverbs 21:1) also guides the pen strokes of their scribes to fulfill covenant purposes (Ezra 6:14). 2. Scripture’s Precision Passages containing כְּעֶנֶת demonstrate that inspiration extends to the specific jargon of international diplomacy. The Spirit ensured not merely the broad message but the very turn-of-phrase that authenticates the setting, reinforcing confidence that “every word of God is flawless” (Proverbs 30:5). Ministry and Pastoral Application • Respectful Communication: The letters modeled by Ezra show believers how to combine courtesy (“Greetings”) with conviction (“so now” leading to the point). Ministry leaders drafting official correspondence—whether to government, donors, or other churches—can imitate this balance of honor and clarity. Conclusion Though brief and easily overlooked, כְּעֶנֶת offers a window into Persian-era protocol, bolsters the credibility of the Ezra narrative, and models purposeful, respectful transitions in communication. Its presence reminds the Church that God works through both monumental decrees and minute connective phrases to advance redemptive history. Forms and Transliterations וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ וּכְעֶֽת׃ וכענת׃ וכעת׃ ū·ḵə·‘e·neṯ ū·ḵə·‘eṯ ucheEnet ucheEt ūḵə‘eneṯ ūḵə‘eṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:10 HEB: עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃ NAS: of the region beyond the River. Now KJV: the river, and at such a time. INT: of the region the River Now Ezra 4:11 Ezra 4:17 Ezra 7:12 4 Occurrences |
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