### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼiggereth**, represented by `{{H107}}`, signifies an **epistle** or **letter**. It appears **10 times** across **10 unique verses**, typically referring to a formal written communication. These letters often carry official weight, serving as decrees, requests for resources, or important messages between leaders.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H107}}` is primarily used in contexts of official and authoritative correspondence. Kings use **letters** to issue commands and grant permissions, such as when Nehemiah requests **letters** for safe passage and for timber from Asaph{H623}, the king's{H4428} keeper{H8104} [[Nehemiah 2:7-8]]. Similarly, King Hezekiah uses **letters** to summon all Israel and Judah to observe the Passover, conveying a royal commandment ([[2 Chronicles 30:1]], [[2 Chronicles 30:6]]). The term also appears in contexts of conflict and intimidation, as when Tobiah{H2900} sent{H7971} **letters** to frighten Nehemiah [[Nehemiah 6:19]] and Sanballat sent an "open **letter**" as a public challenge [[Nehemiah 6:5]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words highlight the context and function of an **ʼiggereth**:
* `{{H3789}}` **kâthab** (to write): This primitive root describes the very creation of a letter. A letter{H107} is something that must be **written**, as when Queen Esther{H635} **wrote** with all authority to confirm the second **letter** of Purim [[Esther 9:29]].
* `{{H7971}}` **shâlach** (to send away, for, or out): Letters are created to be dispatched. The verb **shâlach** is frequently used to describe the delivery of an **ʼiggereth**. For instance, Tobiah{H2900} **sent** letters{H107} to intimidate Nehemiah [[Nehemiah 6:19]], and King Hezekiah{H3169} **sent** to all Israel and Judah [[2 Chronicles 30:1]].
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (a king): The authority behind many of these letters comes from a **king**. Nehemiah's mission was enabled by receiving **letters** from the **king** [[Nehemiah 2:9]], demonstrating that these documents served as extensions of royal power.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H107}}` is found in its use as an instrument within God's unfolding plan:
* **Implementing Divine Will:** Official **letters** are the means by which God's servants enact His purposes. Hezekiah's **letters** were sent to gather the people to "keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel," facilitating a national return to worship [[2 Chronicles 30:1]].
* **Evidence of God's Providence:** Nehemiah explicitly attributes his success in obtaining crucial **letters** from the king to "the good hand of my God upon me" [[Nehemiah 2:8]]. This shows God's sovereign ability to work through secular authorities and official documents.
* **Tool of Opposition:** Just as letters can advance God's work, they can also be used to oppose it. The **letters** sent by Tobiah were specifically intended "to put me in fear," demonstrating that written communication is a weapon also wielded by the enemies of God's people [[Nehemiah 6:19]].
### Summary
In summary, **ʼiggereth** `{{H107}}` is more than just a word for a physical **letter**. It represents a formal, authoritative document used to convey commands, establish decrees, and execute plans. Whether used by a king to restore national worship or by an enemy to instill fear, these **letters** serve as pivotal artifacts in the biblical narrative, illustrating how written communication can be a powerful tool for enacting or opposing the purposes of God.
TRV