אֱדַ֫יִן57 H0104
letter, epistle (Aramaic); official written correspondence
This Aramaic noun means a letter or epistle, particularly official correspondence in the Persian imperial administration. All three occurrences appear in Ezra, describing communications to and from the Persian court regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Ezra 4:8 mentions 'a letter against Jerusalem' written by Rehum and Shimshai to King Artaxerxes. Ezra 4:11 introduces 'the copy of the letter that they sent to him,' detailing accusations against the Jews. Ezra 5:6 records 'the copy of the letter that Tattenai...sent to King Darius,' seeking royal guidance on the temple rebuilding. These official letters shaped the political fortunes of the returning exiles.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The Aramaic term shows variation in translations—French and German preserve the Aramaic '[אגרה], [אגרתא],' while English renders 'letter, the-letter,' Spanish 'carta, la-carta.' Ezra 4:8 introduces hostile correspondence opposing Jerusalem's reconstruction. Ezra 4:11 presents the actual content of the letter accusing the Jews of potential rebellion. Ezra 5:6 shows Tattenai's more neutral inquiry to Darius about the temple project. These letters document the bureaucratic struggles of post-exilic Judaism navigating Persian imperial politics. 3×
AR["الرِّسالَة", "الرِّسَالَةِ", "رِسَالَةً"]·ben["-চিঠির", "চিঠি", "চিঠির"]·DE["[אגרה]", "[אגרתא]"]·EN["letter", "the-letter"]·FR["[אגרה]", "[אגרתא]"]·heb["אגרה", "אגרתא"]·HI["पत्र", "पत्र-की"]·ID["surat"]·IT["lettera"]·jav["kang-serat", "serat", "setunggal"]·KO["그-편지", "편지"]·PT["a-carta", "carta"]·RU["письма", "письмо"]·ES["carta", "la-carta"]·SW["barua", "ya-barua"]·TR["mektubun", "mektup"]·urd["خط", "خط-کی"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
אֱדַ֫יִן57 adv. then, thereupon (so Egyptian Aramaic (S-CPap. H 1, J 1), not 𝔗: the usually Aramaic forms are הֵידֵין, ܗܳܝܕܶܝܢ, Mand. האידין (NöM 207); from [אֱדַי] = BH אֲזַי (v. אָז) + determ. affix n (as in דִּכֵּן, תַּמָּן; in Sab. = post-pos. art., HomChr. § 57: cf.WCG 115), NöGGA 1884, 1020: אֲזַי, [אֱדַי], prob. from same demonstr. √ as זֶה, דָּא, דִּי, etc., إِذْ, إِذَا, lo, إِذًا well…