6599. pithgam

Lexical Summary

pithgam: edict, sentence

Original Word: פִתְגָּם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pithgam
Pronunciation: pit-gawm'
Phonetic Spelling: (pith-gawm')
KJV: decree, sentence
NASB: edict, sentence
Word Origin: [of Persian origin]

1. a (judicial) sentence

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

decree, sentence

Of Persian origin; a (judicial) sentence -- decree, sentence.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
an edict, decree
NASB Translation
edict (1), sentence (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מִּתְגָּם noun masculine edict, decree (Persian loan-word, Old Persian patigâma (patigam, come to, arrive), New Persian paigâm, message; see Gildem^{ZKM iv. 214} Mey^{Entstehung 23}; Aramaic מִּתְגָּמָא, word, command, Biblical Aramaic = Biblical Hebrew); — construct הַטֶּלֶךְ ׳פ Esther 1:20; with Genitive object מַעֲשֵׂה הָרָעָה ׳פ Ecclesiastes 8:11 (apparently f., compare De; but Hi Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 115} read נַעֲשֶׂה for נַעֲשָׂה).

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Semantic Range

פִתְגָּם denotes an authoritative proclamation—an edict, decree, or formal sentence issued by a ruler or governing body. It carries the sense of a word that is fixed, public, and enforceable, emphasizing the binding nature of spoken or written authority.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Esther 1:20 – A royal ordinance published throughout the Persian Empire.

“And when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout his vast kingdom, all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” (Berean Standard Bible)
2. Ecclesiastes 8:11 – A judicial verdict whose delayed execution emboldens wrongdoing.

“When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Historical Background

In the Persian administrative system, decrees were irrevocable once issued (Esther 1:19; Daniel 6:8). The term fits this milieu, underscoring the unalterable character of royal commands. Ecclesiastes reflects a later period when Hebrew wisdom literature absorbed Aramaic legal vocabulary, suggesting sustained contact with imperial cultures where the king’s word stood as law.

Theological Themes

1. Authority of the Spoken Word – Both passages reveal that words, once officially uttered, possess life-shaping power. This mirrors the divine pattern: “For He spoke, and it came to be” (Psalm 33:9).
2. Justice and Accountability – Ecclesiastes highlights the moral hazard that arises when judgment is deferred, stressing the need for timely justice (compare Deuteronomy 17:12–13).
3. Domestic and Social Order – The edict in Esther intends to stabilize family relationships, reflecting the broader biblical principle that societal peace is linked to God-ordained order (Ephesians 5:22–33).

Applications for Ministry

• Preaching and Teaching – Use פִתְגָּם to illustrate the reliability of God’s promises; unlike fallible human decrees, the Lord’s statutes are perfect (Psalm 19:7).
• Leadership – Encourage leaders to weigh their words carefully, recognizing the lasting impact of official statements (Matthew 12:36–37).
• Justice Ministry – Advocate for swift and righteous adjudication, drawing from Ecclesiastes 8:11 to warn against delayed accountability.
• Family Counseling – Esther 1:20 supplies a historical case study on how civil legislation attempts to address domestic issues, reminding believers that true harmony flows from transformed hearts rather than external compulsion.

Related Biblical Concepts

Word of the King (Proverbs 16:10; Ecclesiastes 8:4)

Law and Decree (Ezra 7:26; Daniel 6:15)

Irrevocability of God’s Covenant Promises (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11)

Summary

פִתְגָּם underscores the potency of authoritative words in shaping societal conduct and moral behavior. Whether in a Persian palace or within the reflections of wisdom literature, the term calls attention to the profound responsibility borne by those who issue commands and to the greater, unassailable authority of God, whose every decree stands forever (Psalm 119:89).

Forms and Transliterations

פִּתְגָ֨ם פִתְגָ֔ם פתגם fitGam piṯ·ḡām p̄iṯ·ḡām pitGam piṯḡām p̄iṯḡām

Englishman's Concordance

Esther 1:20
HEB: וְנִשְׁמַע֩ פִּתְגָ֨ם הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲשֶֽׁר־
NAS: When the king's edict which
KJV: And when the king's decree which he shall make
INT: is heard edict the king's which

Ecclesiastes 8:11
HEB: אֵין־ נַעֲשָׂ֣ה פִתְגָ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה
NAS: Because the sentence against an evil
KJV: Because sentence against an evil work
INT: is not executed the sentence deed an evil

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6599
2 Occurrences

p̄iṯ·ḡām — 1 Occ.
piṯ·ḡām — 1 Occ.