רִשְׁיוֹן (rish.yon)
rish.yon
permission
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rishyon appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Ezra 3:7. In this context, it translates simply as "permission." The verse describes how the people of Israel, having returned from exile, obtained the necessary authorization to purchase timber and begin rebuilding the temple.
Its meaning is straightforward and administrative rather than theological. It denotes official consent or a license granted by authority. Because the word occurs in a single historical narrative about construction logistics, it does not carry deeper spiritual connotations or complex nuances found in other Hebrew terms for freedom or liberty.
Translators consistently render this rare word as "permission" to reflect its legal and practical sense. The text highlights that the rebuilding effort proceeded with proper approval from regional officials, ensuring the work was lawful. This single usage anchors the concept of authorized action within the post-exilic restoration narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rishyon appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Ezra 3:7. It describes the official permission granted by King Cyrus for the Israelites to rebuild the temple. This rare term highlights how God works through earthly authorities and legal processes to fulfill His purposes.
For your faith, this reminds us that obedience often involves navigating real-world structures. The returned exiles did not act in secret or rebellion; they secured proper authorization. This shows that working within lawful systems is part of honoring God. When you face administrative hurdles, remember that divine plans can unfold through official channels.
God’s provision includes both spiritual calling and practical means. Just as the builders needed cedar and permission, your journey may require patience with procedures. Trust that God oversees these details, turning bureaucratic steps into opportunities for His glory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- according to/ [the] permission of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/רִשְׁי֛וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 3:7
They also gave money to the masons and to the carpenters. They also gave food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus King of Persia.
This verse explicitly mentions the grant from Cyrus, which is the specific permission (rishyon) that enabled the temple reconstruction to begin legally.