Lexical Summary moth: Death Original Word: מוֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance death (Aramaic) corresponding to maveth; death -- death. see HEBREW maveth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to maveth Definition death. Topical Lexicon Synopsis מוֹת (Strong’s H4193) denotes the penalty of death and appears singularly in Ezra 7:26, embedded in Artaxerxes’ decree that empowered Ezra to enforce both “the law of your God and the law of the king.” Though only one occurrence is recorded, the word embodies the weight of divine and civil justice, framing capital punishment as a final sanction for covenant violation. Occurrence The Context of Ezra 7:26 “Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him swiftly, whether death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” (Berean Standard Bible) The verse forms part of an official Persian edict (Ezra 7:12–26). Artaxerxes delegates to Ezra broad judicial authority within Judah, recognizing Torah as a binding societal code. Death stands first among the listed penalties, underscoring the seriousness with which both monarch and scribe regarded obedience to God’s revelation. Capital Punishment Within the Post-Exilic Community 1. Covenant Preservation: In the Mosaic economy, capital punishment guarded holiness (Leviticus 20:2; Deuteronomy 17:2-7). By placing death at the head of possible sentences, the decree re-affirms that post-exilic Israel must remain distinct and faithful. Persian Legal Influence and the Covenant Law While Persian policy allowed subject peoples to live by ancestral statutes, the king’s law remained supreme. The verse unites both systems, showing that true covenant faithfulness need not conflict with secular authority when the latter upholds righteousness (cf. Romans 13:1-4). Ezra’s commission models godly engagement with governmental structures without compromising theological convictions. Theological Threads: Death as Judicial Sentence • Retributive Justice: Death addresses high-handed rebellion (Numbers 15:30). Its inclusion in Ezra 7:26 echoes God’s immutable justice, demonstrating that sin’s ultimate consequence is death (Romans 6:23). From Shadow to Substance: Death Penalty and the Atoning Work of Christ The single mention of מוֹת anticipates the fuller biblical narrative wherein death’s sentence falls on a Substitute (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). Christ fulfills the law’s demands, absorbing death so believers inherit life (Hebrews 2:14-15). Thus the decree’s severity magnifies the grace later revealed at the cross. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Upholding Authority: Leaders are tasked to maintain doctrinal and ethical purity, addressing sin decisively yet redemptively. Summary מוֹת in Ezra 7:26 serves as a judicial warning rooted in covenant theology, historically situated within Persian administrative policy, and theologically pointing forward to the ultimate resolution of death in Christ. Its solitary appearance amplifies rather than diminishes its importance, reminding the Church that divine law, human government, and gospel hope converge in the sober yet life-giving message of Scripture. Forms and Transliterations לְמוֹת֙ למות lə·mō·wṯ lemOt ləmōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 7:26 HEB: מִנֵּ֑הּ הֵ֤ן לְמוֹת֙ הֵ֣ן [לִשְׁרֹשׁוּ NAS: whether for death or KJV: whether [it be] unto death, or INT: him whether death or banishment 1 Occurrence |
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