6347. pechah
Lexical Summary
pechah: governor, governors

Original Word: פֶחָה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pechah
Pronunciation: peh-khah'
Phonetic Spelling: (peh-khaw')
NASB: governor, governors
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H6346 (פֶּחָה - governors)]

1. captain, governor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
captain, governor

(Aramaic) corresponding to pechah -- captain, governor.

see HEBREW pechah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to pechah
Definition
a governor
NASB Translation
governor (6), governors (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מֶּחָה noun masculine (Babylonian or Persian) governor (Assyrian loan-word, Biblical Hebrew id.); — absolute ׳פ Ezra 5:14; construct מַּחַת Ezra 5:3,6; Ezra 6:6,7,13; plural emphatic מַּחֲוָתָא Daniel 3:2,3,27; Daniel 6:1.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

The word designates a provincial governor or prefect, a civil official who administered territory on behalf of an imperial monarch. In Scripture the office appears in the post-exilic Persian period of Ezra and in the Babylonian and Median settings of Daniel, revealing a consistent pattern of delegated authority throughout successive empires.

Biblical Usage

1. Ezra 5–6 (seven occurrences)
• Tattenai is repeatedly called “governor of the region west of the Euphrates” (Ezra 5:3, 6; 6:6, 13). His inquiry into the rebuilding of the temple and his subsequent obedience to Darius’ decree illustrate that even powerful administrators remain subject to higher authority—and, ultimately, to the sovereign purposes of God.
• Cyrus appoints Sheshbazzar as “governor” of Judah (Ezra 5:14), highlighting the political framework that permitted the first return under Zerubbabel.
Ezra 6:7 records Darius’ command: “Leave this work on the house of God; let the governor of the Jews and their elders rebuild this house of God on its original site.” The title therefore covers both foreign and Jewish leaders, depending on imperial appointment.

2. Daniel 3 (three occurrences)

Nebuchadnezzar summons “the satraps, prefects, governors” to the dedication of the golden image (Daniel 3:2-3). After the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers gathered around” to witness that “the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men” (Daniel 3:27). The repeated listing underlines the wide reach of the miracle and public vindication of God’s servants before every level of imperial administration.

3. Daniel 6:7

Conspirators against Daniel declare, “All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should issue an edict” (Daniel 6:7). The passage exposes the misuse of governmental power when it is detached from justice and manipulated for personal vendettas.

Historical Context

The term mirrors the administrative vocabulary found in Persian and Babylonian documents. A governor exercised military, judicial, and fiscal oversight, reported directly to the king, and was responsible for maintaining order and forwarding tribute. The presence of such officials in Judea and beyond the Euphrates corresponds with extra-biblical records (e.g., the Elephantine papyri), confirming Scripture’s historical reliability.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty over Human Authority. Whether opposing (Tattenai), neutral (Sheshbazzar), or hostile (Daniel’s accusers), every governor operates within boundaries set by God (Proverbs 21:1). The temple is completed, and Daniel is rescued, not because imperial structures favor faith, but because the Lord rules over them.
• Faithful Witness in Public Office. Both Sheshbazzar and the three Hebrews demonstrate that public service and covenant loyalty are not mutually exclusive.
• Accountability of Rulers. Darius’s swift response to the forged decree (Daniel 6) and Tattenai’s compliance with Cyrus’s edict (Ezra 6) model the biblical expectation that civil authorities should promote justice and protect true worship.

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Engage Civil Structures without Fear. Like Zerubbabel’s elders, believers may appeal to legitimate channels when kingdom work is opposed.
2. Pray for Those in High Office. The prominence of the governor in Ezra and Daniel reinforces Paul’s exhortation in 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
3. Model Integrity. Daniel’s blameless record before multiple governors (Daniel 6:4) remains the standard for Christian service in public or ecclesiastical leadership.

Christological Glimpses

Imperial governors foreshadow the greater Governor who bears absolute authority: “the government will be upon His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6). Earthly prefects could not thwart the temple’s reconstruction; likewise, no ruler could halt Christ from building His Church (Matthew 16:18).

See Also

Governor of Judah (Ezra 1–6; Haggai 1–2)

Satrap

Cyrus the Great

Darius the Mede

Forms and Transliterations
וּֽפַחֲוָתָ֡א וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א וּפַחֲוָתָא֮ ופחותא פֶחָ֖ה פַּחַ֣ת פַּחַ֤ת פַּחַ֧ת פַּחַ֨ת פחה פחת feChah pa·ḥaṯ paChat paḥaṯ p̄e·ḥāh p̄eḥāh ū·p̄a·ḥă·wā·ṯā ufachavaTa ūp̄aḥăwāṯā
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 5:3
HEB: עֲלֵיה֜וֹן תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה
NAS: Tattenai, the governor of [the province] beyond
KJV: to them Tatnai, governor on this side
INT: them Tattenai the governor beyond the River

Ezra 5:6
HEB: שְׁלַ֞ח תַּתְּנַ֣י ׀ פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֗ה
NAS: Tattenai, the governor of [the province] beyond
KJV: that Tatnai, governor on this side
INT: sent Tattenai the governor beyond the River

Ezra 5:14
HEB: שְׁמֵ֔הּ דִּ֥י פֶחָ֖ה שָׂמֵֽהּ׃
NAS: whom he had appointed governor.
KJV: whom he had made governor;
INT: name whom governor had appointed

Ezra 6:6
HEB: כְּעַ֡ן תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֜ה
NAS: [therefore], Tattenai, governor of [the province] beyond
KJV: [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond
INT: Now Tattenai governor beyond the River

Ezra 6:7
HEB: אֱלָהָ֣א דֵ֑ךְ פַּחַ֤ת יְהוּדָיֵא֙ וּלְשָׂבֵ֣י
NAS: alone; let the governor of the Jews
KJV: alone; let the governor of the Jews
INT: of God this the governor of the Jews and the elders

Ezra 6:13
HEB: אֱ֠דַיִן תַּתְּנַ֞י פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה
NAS: Tattenai, the governor of [the province] beyond
KJV: Tatnai, governor on this side
INT: Then Tattenai the governor beyond the River

Daniel 3:2
HEB: לַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֡א סִגְנַיָּ֣א וּֽפַחֲוָתָ֡א אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּא֩ גְדָ֨בְרַיָּ֤א
NAS: the prefects and the governors, the counselors,
KJV: the governors, and the captains, the judges,
INT: the satraps the prefects and the governors the counselors the treasurers

Daniel 3:3
HEB: אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֡א סִגְנַיָּ֣א וּֽפַחֲוָתָ֡א אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּ֣א גְדָבְרַיָּא֩
NAS: the prefects and the governors, the counselors,
KJV: the governors, and captains, the judges,
INT: the satraps the prefects and the governors the counselors the treasurers

Daniel 3:27
HEB: אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֞א סִגְנַיָּ֣א וּפַחֲוָתָא֮ וְהַדָּבְרֵ֣י מַלְכָּא֒
NAS: the prefects, the governors and the king's
KJV: governors, and captains, and the king's
INT: the satraps the prefects the governors high and the king's

Daniel 6:7
HEB: וַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣א וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א לְקַיָּמָ֤ה קְיָם֙
NAS: the high officials and the governors have consulted together
KJV: the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together
INT: and the satraps the high and the governors establish A statute

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6347
10 Occurrences


p̄e·ḥāh — 1 Occ.
pa·ḥaṯ — 5 Occ.
ū·p̄a·ḥă·wā·ṯā — 4 Occ.

6346
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