Lexical Summary pechah: governors, governor, governor's Original Word: פֶחָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance captain, deputy, governor Of foreign origin; a prefect (of a city or small district) -- captain, deputy, governor. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a governor NASB Translation captains (1), governor (8), governor's (2), governors (15), official (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּחָה28 noun masculine2Kings 18:24 governor (loan-word from Assyrian pa—âti [abbreviated from bel pa—âti], lord of a district; compare perhaps Old Aramaic פחי governor); — absolute ׳הַמּ Nehemiah 5:14, construct מַּחַ֫ת Haggai 1:1 +, מֵּחַתֿ Haggai 2:21; suffix מֶּחָחֶ֑ךָ Malachi 1:8,מֶּחָם Nehemiah 5:14 (but read probably מֶּחָה); plural absolute מַּחוֺת 1 Kings 20:24 +; construct מַּחוֺת 1 Kings 10:15 2Chronicles 9:14, מַּחֲווֺת Ezra 8:36 +; suffix מַּחוֺתֶיהָ Jeremiah 51:28,57; — as Assyr. captains 2 Kings 18:24 = Isaiah 36:9 (< strike out ׳פ, compare StaZAW vi (1886), 182 and others), compare Ezekiel 23:6,12; of Babylon Jeremiah 51:23,57, and Babylonian allies Ezekiel 23:23; of Media Jeremiah 51:28; Persian governor of עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר, i. e. in Palestine, Haggai 1:1,14; Haggai 2:2,21; Nehemiah 2:7,9 8t.; Persian satraps in General Esther 3:12; Esther 8:9; Esther 9:3; applied (by late writer) to Solomon's governors 1 Kings 10:15 2Chronicles 9:14; Benhadad's captains 1 Kings 20:24 (strike out see, Sta and others). — compare Biblical Aramaic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of the TitleThe Hebrew title most often rendered “governor” refers to an official set over a province or territory on behalf of a higher monarch. It first appears in the United Monarchy period (1 Kings 10:15) but is most frequent in exilic and post-exilic literature, when Judah and her neighbors were ruled by foreign empires. Whether the overlord was Assyrian, Babylonian, or Persian, the office remained essentially the same: the governor represented imperial authority, collected tribute, enforced royal edicts, and could command military contingents. Historical Development 1. Early Israelite Use Solomon’s international revenues include “the governors of the land” (1 Kings 10:15), showing that Israel was already interacting with provincial officials from surrounding nations. 2. Assyrian and Babylonian Dominance During these centuries governors appear as both oppressors and instruments of divine judgment. Jeremiah repeatedly foretells Babylon’s downfall by promising that its “governors and prefects” will be shattered (Jeremiah 51:23, 28, 57). Ezekiel portrays the allure of foreign power: Samaria and Jerusalem “lusted after… governors clothed in purple” (Ezekiel 23:6, 12, 23), exposing Israel’s temptation to trust political might rather than covenant loyalty. 3. Persian Period: Judah’s Restoration The term reaches its theological climax after the exile when God raises Jewish leaders to the governorate: • “In the second year of King Darius… the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah” (Haggai 1:1). Under Persia, the office provided a legal channel for rebuilding Temple and walls (Ezra 5:14; 6:6-13). God’s people found that imperial structures could serve covenant purposes when rulers obeyed divine prompting. Key Personalities • Zerubbabel – A Davidic heir who, though holding only a provincial title, spearheaded temple reconstruction; Haggai and Zechariah hint at messianic overtones in his governorship (Haggai 2:21-23). Functions and Responsibilities 1. Fiscal – Collecting taxes and tribute (1 Kings 10:15; Nehemiah 5:15). Spiritual and Theological Implications • Sovereignty of God over Nations Governors appear whenever Israel falls under foreign dominion, yet Scripture consistently shows the LORD steering their decisions (Ezra 6:6-12; Haggai 1:14). Imperial bureaucracy cannot thwart divine purposes. • Legitimate Civil Authority Post-exilic narratives commend obedience to lawful governors when their policies do not contradict God’s law. Zerubbabel and Nehemiah operated within Persian legal frameworks while remaining first servants of the LORD. • Servant-Leadership Paradigm Nehemiah exemplifies sacrificial governance: “The governors who preceded me… laid heavy burdens on the people… But because of the fear of God I did not do so” (Nehemiah 5:15). Biblical leadership rejects exploitation and models generosity. • Messianic Foreshadowing The governor Zerubbabel, a Davidic descendant authorized by a gentile emperor, prefigures the Messiah who will one day exercise absolute authority under the Father’s commission (compare Haggai 2:23 with Matthew 28:18). Distribution by Biblical Corpus Historical Books – 1 Kings; 2 Kings; Ezra; Nehemiah Prophets – Jeremiah; Ezekiel; Haggai Apocalyptic – Daniel Approximately twenty-eight occurrences cluster around Judah’s exile and restoration, underscoring the title’s relevance to periods of foreign rule and covenant renewal. Practical Ministry Insights 1. God may position believers within secular structures to advance His redemptive agenda. Summary The Old Testament governor embodies both the yoke of foreign domination and the providential means by which God preserves and restores His people. Through righteous examples like Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, the title becomes a witness to the truth that every human authority, however exalted, remains subordinate to the purposes of the King of kings. Forms and Transliterations הַפֶּ֖חָה הַפֶּחָ֔ה הַפֶּחָה֙ הַפַּח֞וֹת הפחה הפחות וְהַפַּח֗וֹת וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ וּפַח֣וֹת וּפַח֥וֹת וּפַחֲו֖וֹת והפחות ופחוות ופחות לְפֶחָתֶ֗ךָ לפחתך פֶּחָם֮ פַּֽחֲווֹת֙ פַּֽחַת־ פַּח֖וֹת פַּח֣וֹת פַּח֤וֹת פַּח֨וֹת פַּחֲו֖וֹת פַּחַ֖ת פַּחַ֣ת פַּחוֹתֶ֖יהָ פַּחוֹתֶ֤יהָ פַחַ֥ת פחוות פחות פחותיה פחם פחת פחת־ faChat hap·pa·ḥō·wṯ hap·pe·ḥāh happaChot happaḥōwṯ hapPechah happeḥāh lə·p̄e·ḥā·ṯe·ḵā lefechaTecha ləp̄eḥāṯeḵā pa·ḥă·wō·wṯ pa·ḥaṯ p̄a·ḥaṯ pa·ḥaṯ- pa·ḥō·w·ṯe·hā pa·ḥō·wṯ paChat pachaVot paChot pachoTeiha paḥaṯ p̄aḥaṯ paḥaṯ- paḥăwōwṯ paḥōwṯ paḥōwṯehā pe·ḥām peCham peḥām ū·p̄a·ḥă·wō·wṯ ū·p̄a·ḥō·wṯ ufachaVot ufaChot ūp̄aḥăwōwṯ ūp̄aḥōwṯ vehappachOt wə·hap·pa·ḥō·wṯ wəhappaḥōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 10:15 HEB: מַלְכֵ֥י הָעֶ֖רֶב וּפַח֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ NAS: of the Arabs and the governors of the country. KJV: of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. INT: the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country 1 Kings 20:24 2 Kings 18:24 2 Chronicles 9:14 Ezra 8:36 Nehemiah 2:7 Nehemiah 2:9 Nehemiah 3:7 Nehemiah 5:14 Nehemiah 5:14 Nehemiah 5:15 Nehemiah 5:18 Nehemiah 12:26 Esther 3:12 Esther 8:9 Esther 9:3 Isaiah 36:9 Jeremiah 51:23 Jeremiah 51:28 Jeremiah 51:57 Ezekiel 23:6 Ezekiel 23:12 Ezekiel 23:23 Haggai 1:1 Haggai 1:14 28 Occurrences |
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