Lexical Summary niphqah: Opening, aperture Original Word: נִפְקָא 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.” 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. 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. 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. 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 wənip̄qəṯāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 2 Occurrences |