Lexical Summary toqeph: Authority, Power, Strength Original Word: תֹּקֶף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance authority, power, strength From taqaph; might or (figuratively) positiveness -- authority, power, strength. see HEBREW taqaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom taqeph Definition power, strength, energy NASB Translation authority (2), power (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תֹּ֫קֶף noun masculine power, strength, energy (Aramaic תְּקוֺף, תֹּקֶף  ); — ׳ת absolute Esther 9:29; construct Daniel 11:17, the strength of his whole kingdom; suffix תָּקְמּוֺ Esther 10:2 the deeds of his power (+ גְּבוּרָתוֺ, etc.). Topical Lexicon Overview The noun תֹּקֶף (toqeph) denotes resolute strength that issues in tangible authority. It appears three times in the Old Testament, each occurrence describing power that is acknowledged and exercised in public life—royal, civil, or military. Occurrences in Scripture • Esther 9:29 – Queen Esther and Mordecai write “with full authority.” Authority in the Book of Esther Within the Persian court, toqeph characterizes the legal potency behind Esther’s decree that secures the annual celebration of Purim. “Queen Esther … wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim” (Esther 9:29). Here toqeph affirms that covenant-faithful Jews, even in exile, may exercise legitimate dominion when God opens the way. The same term in Esther 10:2 underscores how the Lord silently positioned Mordecai for deeds of statecraft that historians could not ignore. The chronicler’s juxtaposition of “power” and “might” signals that this authority was neither nominal nor symbolic but effectual in the empire’s administration. Political Power in Daniel’s Prophecy Daniel 11:17 employs toqeph to describe an ambitious northern monarch who marshals “the strength of his entire kingdom” to forge an alliance with the south. The context portrays power divorced from covenant fidelity, reminding readers that human authority, when misdirected, becomes a vehicle for oppression. Yet even this misuse of toqeph unfolds within God’s foreordained plan, demonstrating that divine sovereignty encompasses both righteous and unrighteous applications of earthly strength. Theological Reflections 1. Origin of Authority: All genuine toqeph—whether wielded by Esther or a pagan king—derives ultimately from the Lord, who “removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). Historical and Cultural Background Persian edicts were irrevocable once sealed (Esther 8:8). Thus, when Esther’s decree gained toqeph, it acquired the same legal inviolability as the king’s own laws. In the Hellenistic era portrayed in Daniel 11, imperial power was measured by one’s capacity to marshal armies and secure dynastic marriages. The term’s use in both settings conveys recognizable legal and military clout to ancient readers. Implications for Christian Ministry • Civil Engagement: Believers may serve within secular structures, confident that God can grant toqeph for the common good, as with Mordecai. Key Themes Summarized Strength that authorizes, power that accomplishes, and sovereignty that overrules—all converge in תֹּקֶף. Whether manifested in covenant faithfulness or human ambition, this strength ultimately serves the redemptive purposes of God, pointing forward to the unassailable authority of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations בְּתֹ֧קֶף בתקף תָקְפּוֹ֙ תֹּ֑קֶף תקף תקפו bə·ṯō·qep̄ beTokef bəṯōqep̄ ṯā·qə·pōw takePo ṯāqəpōw tō·qep̄ Tokef tōqep̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 9:29 HEB: אֶת־ כָּל־ תֹּ֑קֶף לְקַיֵּ֗ם אֵ֣ת NAS: with full authority to confirm KJV: wrote with all authority, to confirm INT: with full authority to confirm letter Esther 10:2 Daniel 11:17 3 Occurrences |
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