5406. nishtevan
Lexical Summary
nishtevan: decree, letter

Original Word: נִשְׁתְּוָן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nishtvan
Pronunciation: nish-teh-VAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (nish-tev-awn')
KJV: letter
NASB: decree, letter
Word Origin: [probably of Persian origin]

1. an epistle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
letter

Probably of Persian origin; an epistle -- letter.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a letter
NASB Translation
decree (1), letter (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
נִשְׁתְּוָן noun [masculine] letter (usually derived from Persian , i.e. writing, HoffmZA ii (1887), 52 yet compare MeyerJudenthum 22); — absolute ׳נ Ezra 4:7; Ezra 7:11.

נתב (√ of following; Arabic swell forth, become prominent, protuberant, Lane2760).

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Concept

נִשְׁתְּוָן designates an official written communiqué, most often a formal imperial letter or decree issued under Persian rule. Far more than casual correspondence, it denotes an authenticated state document bearing legal force.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Ezra 4:7 records that opponents of the returned exiles “wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.” The term identifies their hostile petition that successfully halted temple construction.
2. Ezra 7:11 introduces “the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and scribe,” authorizing Ezra’s reforms in Jerusalem. Here the word marks the royal charter empowering covenant renewal.

Historical Background

Persia governed an enormous multicultural empire through an extensive bureaucracy that prized written documentation. Royal scribes prepared edicts in multiple languages, authenticated them with seals, and archived them (cf. Esther 3:12–15; Esther 8:9). The use of the Aramaic language and script (Ezra 4:7) reflects the empire’s lingua franca, ensuring that provincial officials could read and enforce the king’s will. The preservation of these letters inside the biblical narrative affirms the historical credibility of Ezra–Nehemiah, grounding Israel’s restoration in verifiable administrative processes.

Theological Significance

1. Divine Providence through Secular Edicts. Behind each נִשְׁתְּוָן stands the unseen hand of God who “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them” (Daniel 2:21). Whether the hostile letter of Ezra 4 or the favorable decree of Ezra 7, the Lord sovereignly employs imperial paperwork to advance His redemptive plan for Jerusalem and the temple.
2. Validation of Covenant Reforms. Ezra’s commission arrives not merely by personal zeal but by documented royal authority. The written decree secures safe passage, financial resources, and juridical power (Ezra 7:12–26), illustrating that obedience to God’s Law can flourish under pagan administrations when God so wills (cf. Proverbs 21:1).
3. Reliability of Scripture. The inspired writer cites the exact existence of these state papers, some of which were discoverable in Persian archives (Ezra 6:1–2). Such specificity underscores the historicity and trustworthiness of the biblical record.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Respect for Lawful Authority. Believers today can look to Ezra’s example: he submitted his mission to legitimate governmental structures without compromising devotion to the Lord.
• Importance of Accurate Record-Keeping. God used precise documentation to protect His people and purposes. Churches benefit from clear constitutions, minutes, and financial transparency, echoing the principle that meticulous records can serve kingdom ends.
• Perseverance amid Bureaucratic Opposition. The negative נִשְׁתְּוָן of Ezra 4 delayed but did not defeat temple restoration. Ministry often encounters official hurdles; faith presses on, confident that God can overturn adverse rulings in His timing.

Christological and New Testament Connections

The pattern of redemptive history regularly moves through written decrees: Caesar’s census brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1–7); Pontius Pilate’s inscription proclaims Jesus “King of the Jews” (John 19:19–22). Ultimately, the Father’s eternal “decree” (Psalm 2:7) secures the Messiah’s reign. The earthly letters of kings foreshadow the final, unassailable declaration that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15).

Summary

נִשְׁתְּוָן highlights the profound intersection of divine purpose and human paperwork. Through two Persian letters the book of Ezra reveals a God who superintends secular administrations to accomplish covenant promises, safeguards the integrity of scriptural history, and models for His people wise engagement with governmental structures while awaiting the ultimate fulfillment of His sovereign decree.

Forms and Transliterations
הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן הנשתון han·niš·tə·wān hannishteVan hanništəwān
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:7
HEB: פָּרָ֑ס וּכְתָב֙ הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֔ן כָּת֥וּב אֲרָמִ֖ית
NAS: and the text of the letter was written
KJV: and the writing of the letter [was] written
INT: of Persia and the text of the letter was written Aramaic

Ezra 7:11
HEB: וְזֶ֣ה ׀ פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַֽנִּשְׁתְּוָ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָתַן֙
NAS: is the copy of the decree which
KJV: Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king
INT: now this is the copy of the decree which gave

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5406
2 Occurrences


han·niš·tə·wān — 2 Occ.

5405
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