5313. niphqah

Lexical Summary

niphqah: Opening, aperture

Original Word: נִפְקָא
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: niphqa'
Pronunciation: nif-KAH
Phonetic Spelling: (nif-kaw')
KJV: expense
NASB: cost
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H531 (אָמוֹץ - Amoz)2]

1. an outgo, i.e. expense

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

expense

(Aramaic) from nphaq; an outgo, i.e. Expense -- expense.

see HEBREW nphaq

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) from nephaq
Definition
an outlay
NASB Translation
cost (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[נִפְקָה] noun feminine outlay; — emphatic נִפְקְתָא Ezra 6:4,8.

Topical Lexicon

נִפְקָא (Strong’s 5313)

Narrative Setting

The word appears in two verses, both embedded in King Darius’ official memorandum concerning the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple (Ezra 6:4, 8). The return from exile had begun under Cyrus around 538 B.C.; yet local opposition caused a prolonged halt until prophets Haggai and Zechariah rekindled the work. Darius’ decree, issued about 520 B.C., not only reaffirmed Cyrus’ original authorization but also mandated that the royal treasury underwrite every “expense” (נִפְקָא) required for the project.

Occurrences

1. Ezra 6:4 – “...the expenses shall be paid out of the royal treasury.”
2. Ezra 6:8 – “Moreover, I hereby issue a decree as to what you must do for these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God: The full cost is to be paid to these men from the royal revenue... so that the work will not be hindered.”

Theological Emphases

• Divine Sovereignty over Kings: The same Persian coffers that once financed imperial conquest now finance covenant restoration. God “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21), steering Gentile policy toward His redemptive plan.
• Covenant Faithfulness: The post-exilic community’s lack of resources is no impediment; the Lord supplies through unlikely means. נִפְקָא thus testifies to the inviolable promise that “the silver is Mine and the gold is Mine” (Haggai 2:8).
• Worship Prioritized: Temple reconstruction is not merely civic improvement; it reinstates sacrificial worship, Scripture reading, and communal identity. The provision for every expense underscores that right worship is a divine priority, worthy of lavish outlay.

Historical Significance

Archaeological finds such as the Persepolis Fortification Tablets corroborate Persian administrative practice of disbursing state funds for religious edifices across the empire, making Ezra’s report historically plausible. For Israel, the royal financing removed the last political obstacle, enabling completion by Adar 515 B.C. and paving the way for the Passover celebration in Ezra 6:19-22.

Ministry Implications

• Biblical Stewardship: נִפְקָא encourages modern believers to trust that God funds what He commands. Churches and mission agencies can labor with confidence that provision accompanies obedience.
• Generosity as Witness: Darius’ largesse models how unbelieving authorities can, under providence, become benefactors of gospel work. Prayer for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) is therefore strategic ministry, not mere civic duty.
• Accountability in Sacred Projects: The explicit accounting of costs reminds every generation handling ministry finances that transparency honors God and silences detractors (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21).

Christological Trajectory

Just as Darius’ treasury covered every temple expense, the greater King provides at His own cost for a superior temple—the church—through the blood of Christ. “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). נִפְקָא becomes a shadow of the ultimate, infinite cost borne at Calvary to secure eternal worship.

Practical Reflection

• Evaluate ministry budgets not merely by available resources but by divine mandate.
• Intercede for governing officials, expecting God to overrule for the advance of His kingdom.
• Cultivate a culture of open financial reporting within Christian organizations as a testimony to the world.

Thus, the brief yet potent appearance of נִפְקָא in Scripture anchors a theology of providential provision, faithful stewardship, and Christ-centered fulfillment.

Forms and Transliterations

וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔א ונפקתא נִפְקְתָ֛א נפקתא nifkeTa nip̄·qə·ṯā nip̄qəṯā veNifkeTa wə·nip̄·qə·ṯā wənip̄qəṯā

Englishman's Concordance

Ezra 6:4
HEB: אָ֣ע חֲדַ֑ת וְנִ֨פְקְתָ֔א מִן־ בֵּ֥ית
NAS: of timbers. And let the cost be paid
KJV: timber: and let the expenses be given
INT: of timbers of new the cost of treasury

Ezra 6:8
HEB: נַהֲרָ֔ה אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא נִפְקְתָ֛א תֶּהֱוֵ֧א מִֽתְיַהֲבָ֛א
NAS: the full cost is to be paid
KJV: the river, forthwith expenses be given
INT: the River the full cost be is to be paid

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5313
2 Occurrences

nip̄·qə·ṯā — 1 Occ.
wə·nip̄·qə·ṯā — 1 Occ.