נִשְׁתְּוָן
𐤍𐤔𐤕𐤅𐤍
nishtᵉvân
H5406 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A written document, letter, or epistle, typically referring to an official correspondence or decree. The term is used specifically in the context of administrative or legal missives during the Persian period, especially for communications from Persian authorities or those written in Aramaic for official purposes.
Semantic Range
official letter, epistle, administrative document, bureaucratic correspondence, written order
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The word is likely of Old Persian origin, entering Hebrew and Aramaic administrative lexicon during the Achaemenid period in the Levant. No clear Hebrew root has been identified; its form and context suggest a borrowing related to Middle Persian and Aramaic terms for letter or document.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נִשְׁתְּוָן appears only in post-exilic biblical texts, specifically within books concerned with Persian administration (Ezra and Nehemiah), reflecting the realities of imperial bureaucracy. It refers not simply to any letter, but to official documents or decrees, distinct from earlier Israelite terms such as סֵפֶר (sefer, 'scroll' or 'book'). In English translations, it is generally rendered as 'letter' or 'epistle,' but these may not convey the full administrative and bureaucratic nuance. The term's use illustrates the lexical influence of Persian on Hebrew and Aramaic during the Achaemenid period, as Persian imperial governance introduced new forms of documentation and terminology. Over time, its usage does not extend beyond the post-exilic/cross-cultural administrative context, and it does not appear in pre-exilic texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of Persian origin; an epistle; letter.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נשתון (n-š-t-w-n (loanword)) — writing, recording, official correspondence, inscribed document
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5406-01 |
הַֽ/נִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן | hanishetevan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the letter | the official letter | the official letter | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences