אִגֶּ֫רֶת (ig.ge.ret)
ig.ge.ret
letter
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun iggearet refers to a written letter or official missive, appearing ten times in the Hebrew Bible. It is most frequently found in the books of Nehemiah, Esther, and 2 Chronicles, where it describes formal correspondence between rulers, governors, or religious leaders. The word carries a sense of official authority, often denoting documents that carry legal weight or royal command rather than casual personal notes.
In Esther, for instance, the term appears in the context of Haman’s letters to satraps and the subsequent counter-decrees issued by King Ahasuerus (Esther 3:12; 8:9). Similarly, Nehemiah uses it to describe the official reports sent to the king regarding Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 2:9). The Aramaic equivalent, iggra, appears in Daniel and Ezra, reflecting the bureaucratic language of the Persian empire. This lexical consistency highlights how written communication functioned as a primary tool of administration and governance in the ancient Near East.
The word underscores the importance of written records in maintaining political order and religious identity during the post-exilic period. By preserving these texts, Scripture emphasizes that God’s people operated within historical realities, using letters to negotiate survival, restore communities, and assert their rights under foreign rule. The presence of iggearet reminds readers that divine providence often works through mundane administrative channels.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word iggearet describes a formal written letter, often carrying official authority or royal command. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears ten times, primarily in historical books like Nehemiah, Esther, and 2 Chronicles. These were not casual notes but documents that could alter political landscapes, restore communities, or issue life-saving decrees. The text shows God’s people using these administrative tools to navigate foreign rule and protect their identity.
For your faith, this reminds us that divine providence often works through mundane channels. Whether it is Hezekiah inviting Israel to worship or Nehemiah securing timber for Jerusalem’s walls, written words played a crucial role in God’s plan. You can trust that God cares about the details of your life, using ordinary means—like a letter—to bring about His purposes. This history encourages you that your own story is part of a larger narrative where God remains sovereign.
When you read these accounts, see how faith and practical action intertwine. The writers did not wait for miracles alone; they used the resources available to them. This offers hope that God can use your everyday efforts and communications to advance His kingdom. It is a reminder that no task is too small when done in obedience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- letters3×
- and/ a letter2×
- with <the>/ letters1×
- the/ letter1×
- letters/ their1×
- [the] letters of1×
- [the] letter of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אִגְּרוֹת֙2×
- וְ/אִגֶּ֥רֶת1×
- וְ/אִגֶּ֡רֶת1×
- הָ/אִגֶּ֣רֶת1×
- בָּֽ/אִגְּר֜וֹת1×
- אִגֶּ֧רֶת1×
- אִגְּרֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם1×
- אִגְּר֣וֹת1×
- אִגְּר֛וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 30:1
Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Hezekiah uses letters to reunite divided tribes for worship, showing how written communication can restore spiritual unity.
-
Nehemiah 2:9
Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
Nehemiah presents the king’s official letters to governors, demonstrating how divine favor empowers practical leadership.
-
Esther 9:26
Therefore they called these days “Purim”, from the word “Pur.” Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,
The letter establishes the festival of Purim, preserving the memory of God’s deliverance for future generations.