Lexical Summary pithgam: answer, edict, report Original Word: פִתְגָּם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance answer, letter, matter, word (Aramaic) corresponding to pithgam; a word, answer, letter or decree -- answer, letter, matter, word. see HEBREW pithgam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to pithgam Definition a command, word, affair NASB Translation answer (1), answer...matter (1), answered* (1), edict (1), report (1), sentence (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִּתְגָם noun masculineEzra 6:11 command, word, affair (Persian: see Biblical Hebrew); — absolute ׳פ Daniel 3:16; emphatic מָא- Ezra 4:17 +; — command Ezra 6:11, word, by missive Ezra 5:7, from king Ezra 4:17 (both with שְׁלַת), in answer Ezra 5:11 (with התיב); weakened, thing, affair Daniel 3:16; Daniel 4:14. Topical Lexicon Term Overview פִתְגָּם (pitgam) denotes an authoritative statement issued in official contexts—most often a royal decree, edict, or formal answer. In Scripture it appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of Ezra and Daniel, always in settings where the authority of a kingdom or of Heaven is being asserted through a written or spoken proclamation. Occurrences and Contexts • Ezra 4:17 – King Artaxerxes issues “the reply” to local Persian officials who had accused the Jews: “The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.” The use of pitgam underlines the weight of the king’s definitive answer. Historical Background Pitgam is a Persian loanword reflecting the administrative culture of the Achaemenid Empire. Persian governance relied on written edicts transmitted across provinces; the biblical authors adopt this term to situate the Jewish remnant firmly within that historical setting. Its appearance confirms the accuracy of the exile-and-return narratives, matching extra-biblical Persian documents that speak of resh-pitgam (“chief decree”) and related formulae. Theological and Canonical Significance 1. Divine sovereignty over human decrees: Ezra displays successive monarchs unknowingly advancing the prophetic word spoken long before (Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 29:10). Pitgam thus becomes a vehicle through which “the king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:1). Practical Ministry Reflections • Preaching and Teaching: Highlight how God may use official channels—company policy, government rulings, court decisions—to advance His redemptive plan, reassuring believers who serve under secular authorities. Christological Foreshadowing Just as pitgam conveys the finality of a king’s word, Jesus Christ is presented in the New Testament as “the Word” (John 1:1) and the One in whom “all authority in heaven and on earth” resides (Matthew 28:18). His pronouncements—“Truly, truly, I say to you”—function as the ultimate pitgam, culminating in the Gospel commission and the promise of His unshakeable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28). Related Biblical Themes Royal decrees: Esther 1:19; 8:8 Heavenly courts: 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6 Obedience under foreign rule: Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1 Bold witness: Acts 4:19; 1 Peter 3:15 Forms and Transliterations פִּתְגָ֖ם פִּתְגָמָ֔א פִּתְגָמָ֖א פִּתְגָמָ֞א פִּתְגָמָ֣א פִתְגָמָ֖א פתגם פתגמא fitgaMa piṯ·ḡā·mā p̄iṯ·ḡā·mā piṯ·ḡām pitGam piṯḡām pitgaMa piṯḡāmā p̄iṯḡāmāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:17 HEB: פִּתְגָמָ֞א שְׁלַ֣ח מַלְכָּ֗א NAS: sent an answer to Rehum KJV: the king an answer unto INT: an answer sent the king Ezra 5:7 Ezra 5:11 Ezra 6:11 Daniel 3:16 Daniel 4:17 6 Occurrences |
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