אִגֶּ֫רֶת H0107
Letter, epistle, written dispatch — a formal written communication, especially royal or official correspondence
The noun אִגֶּרֶת (iggeret) designates a formal letter or epistle, appearing exclusively in post-exilic literature (Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther). It is a loanword from Akkadian egirtu ('letter, document'), reflecting the Persian-period administrative vocabulary that pervades these books. Hezekiah sends letters throughout Israel and Judah summoning the people to Passover (2 Chr 30:1, 6). Nehemiah secures letters from King Artaxerxes granting safe passage and timber rights (Neh 2:7-9; 6:5, 17, 19). In Esther, the term carries life-and-death weight: Haman's letters decree genocide (Est 9:26, 29), and Mordecai's counter-letters establish Purim. Spanish 'carta/epístola' and French 'lettre' both capture the official register.
Senses
1. letter, epistle — A formal written letter or epistle, specifically royal or official correspondence in the post-exilic period. Used for Hezekiah's Passover summons (2 Chr 30:1, 6), Nehemiah's letters of safe-conduct from Artaxerxes (Neh 2:7-9), threatening letters received by Nehemiah (Neh 6:5, 17, 19), and the pivotal dispatches in Esther that decree and then reverse the destruction of the Jews (Est 9:20, 26, 29). An Akkadian loanword (egirtu) reflecting the Persian administrative milieu of these books. Spanish 'carta,' French 'lettre,' and German 'Brief/Schreiben' all render it appropriately as formal correspondence. 10×
AR["الرِّسَالَةِ", "بِـ-الرِّسَالَاتِ", "رَسائِلَ", "رَسائِلَهُمْ", "رَسَائِلَ", "رَسَائِلُ", "رِسَالَاتٍ", "رِسَالَةِ", "وَ-رِسالَةٌ", "وَ-رِسَالَةٌ"]·ben["-চিঠির", "-পত্রগুলি-নিয়ে", "আর-একটি-চিঠি", "এবং-চিঠি", "চিঠি", "চিঠিগুলি", "তাদের-চিঠিগুলি", "পত্র"]·DE["Briefe", "Schreiben", "[אגרות]", "[אגרתיהם]", "[באגרות]", "der-Schreiben", "und-Schreiben"]·EN["and-a-letter", "and-letter", "letter-of", "letters", "letters-of", "the-letter", "their-letters", "with-the-letters"]·FR["et-lettre", "in-lettres", "lettre", "lettres"]·heb["איגרת", "איגרת-ם", "ב-ה-איגרת", "ה-איגרת", "ו-איגרת"]·HI["और-पत्र", "पत्र", "पत्र विषय में", "पत्र-के", "पत्रों-से"]·ID["dan-surat", "dengan-surat-surat", "surat", "surat-surat", "surat-surat-mereka"]·IT["e-lettera", "in-lettere", "lettera", "lettere"]·jav["Lan-serat", "kaliyan-serat", "lan-serat", "serat", "serat-serat", "serat-seratipun"]·KO["그-편지의", "그들의-편지들을", "그리고-서신을", "그리고-편지가", "서신들", "서신들을", "편지들을", "편지를"]·PT["a-carta", "carta-de", "cartas", "cartas-de", "com-as-cartas", "e-carta", "suas-cartas"]·RU["и-письмо", "письма", "письма-их", "письмо", "с-письмами"]·ES["Y-carta", "carta-de", "cartas", "cartas-de", "con-las-cartas", "la-carta", "sus-cartas", "y-carta"]·SW["barua", "barua-za", "barua-zao", "baּigּrwot", "igּrwot", "na-barua", "na-nini"]·TR["mektubun-", "mektubunu", "mektuplar", "mektuplarla", "mektupları", "mektuplarını", "ve-mektup"]·urd["اور-ایک-خط", "اور-خط", "اُن-کے-خطوط", "خط", "خط-کی", "خطوط", "خطوط-کے", "خطوں-کے-ساتھ"]
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
אִגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. letter, letter-missive (late, prob. loan-word, As. egirtu DlW)—abs. Ne 2:8 + 2 textual; cstr. Est 9:29; pl. אִגְּרוֹת abs. 2 Ch 30:1 + 3 textual; cstr. Ne 2:9; אִגְּרֹתֵיהֶם Ne 6:17—letter, especially royal letter 2 Ch 30:1, 6 Ne 2:7, 8, 9; but also others Ne 6:5, 17, 19 Es 9:26, 29 (‖ סֵפֶר vv 20, 30; other syn. מִכְתָּב, נִשְׁתְּוָן q.v.)