This Aramaic term means letter or written document, typically referring to official correspondence. It appears in Ezra 4:7 and 7:11, both times describing formal letters written by or to Persian kings regarding the Jewish community in Jerusalem. The word is likely derived from Persian, reflecting the administrative vocabulary of the Achaemenid Empire. These letters were important diplomatic and legal documents that could authorize or prohibit construction projects, grant permissions, or convey royal decrees. The term appears only in the Aramaic sections of Ezra dealing with Persian-period administration.