### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **mᵉgillâh**, represented by `{{H4040}}`, corresponds to its Hebrew counterpart and means **a roll**. This specific term is exceptionally rare, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, where it refers to a rolled document or scroll.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical use of `{{H4040}}` occurs in the book of Ezra. In this passage, a search is conducted and a **roll** is found in the palace at Achmetha, which was located in the province of the Medes [[Ezra 6:2]]. This specific **roll** contained a written record, highlighting its function as an official document for preserving important information.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words found in the same passage help clarify the context and function of the **roll**:
* `{{H7912}}` **shᵉkach** (to discover...; find): The action of "finding" the roll is what brings this historical record to light. The roll's discovery is the pivotal event in the verse [[Ezra 6:2]].
* `{{H1799}}` **dikrôwn** (a register; record): This word specifies the contents of the roll. The **mᵉgillâh** was not blank; it served as the physical medium for an official **record** [[Ezra 6:2]]. The term is also used for a "book of the records" elsewhere, reinforcing its connection to official archives [[Ezra 4:15]].
* `{{H3790}}` **kᵉthab** (to write(-ten)): This describes the state of the record on the roll. The information was formally **written**, indicating a deliberate act of documentation [[Ezra 6:2]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4040}}` is derived entirely from its singular, practical context rather than from broad theological use.
* **A Medium for Official Records:** The appearance of `{{H4040}}` situates it as a physical carrier of a **record** `{{H1799}}`. It is not just any scroll, but one containing an official memorandum found in a royal archive.
* **Physical Basis of Authority:** The discovery of what was **written** `{{H3790}}` on this **roll** was critical. The physical document provided the historical and legal basis for subsequent actions in the narrative of Ezra [[Ezra 6:2]].
* **Context of Royal Administration:** The **roll** was located in the **palace** `{{H1001}}` within a governmental **province** `{{H4083}}`, underscoring its role within the administrative functions of the Persian empire as described in scripture.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4040}}` **mᵉgillâh** is a highly specific Aramaic term for a **roll**. While it appears only once, its context in [[Ezra 6:2]] is very clear, defining it as an official document found within a state archive. It serves as the physical vessel for a crucial written record, illustrating the importance of preserved documents for law and history in the biblical narrative.
TRV