אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן
a.chash.dar.pan
satrap
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew lemma אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן (Strong's number: H0323) translates to "satrap." This term is derived from the Achaemenid Empire's administrative system, where a satrap was a high-ranking governor or viceroy responsible for governing a province. Given that this word appears only four times in the Bible, its meaning is clear and specific to this historical and cultural context. In this limited context, the term אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן is most likely used to describe officials serving under the Persian Empire, specifically those in positions of power and governance. This suggests that the word is tied to the historical and geographical background of the Persian Empire's expansion into the ancient Near East. The limited frequency of occurrence in the Bible highlights the specific and non-general nature of this term. Its significance is rooted in its historical and cultural context, providing insight into the administrative systems and governance structures of the Achaemenid Empire during a particular period.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
They delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s local governors, and to the governors beyond the River. So they supported the people and God’s house.
Esther 3:12Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s local governors, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.
Esther 8:9Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the local governors, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.
Esther 9:3All the princes of the provinces, the local governors, the governors, and those who did the king’s business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.