(Aramaic) corresponding to נָגַד; to flow (through the idea of clearing the way); issue.
Transliteration:nᵉgad
Pronunciation:neg-ad'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic term nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) primarily conveys the meaning "to flow" or "to issue forth." The base definition provided suggests an underlying nuance of "clearing the way." This implies that what "issues forth" does so unimpeded or makes a path for itself. Crucially, it is noted as corresponding to the Hebrew nagad (`{{H5046}}`), which typically means "to tell, declare, report, make known." This correspondence suggests a shared conceptual root where something is brought forth into visibility or audibility, whether literally flowing or metaphorically "flowing out" as a declaration. For nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`), the emphasis leans towards an authoritative emanation, such as a decree or command.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The Aramaic nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) appears only once in the biblical text, in the book of Ezra, which contains significant Aramaic portions.
* **Ezra 4:18**: "The letter which you sent to us has been read thoroughly before me. And a decree has been issued (נְגַד) by me, and it has been searched, and it has been found that this city from ancient times has risen against kings, and rebellion and sedition have been carried on in it."
* In this verse, the verb nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) is found in the Hophal stem, indicating a passive causative action: "has been caused to issue forth" or simply "has been issued."
* The subject of the verb is "a decree" (טְעֵם - *ṭᵉʿēm*), referring to a royal edict from King Artaxerxes.
* The context is the king's response to the accusations leveled against the Jews who were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The king states that an official decree has "issued forth" from him, signifying a formal and authoritative pronouncement. The idea of "clearing the way" could subtly imply that this decree clears up the matter or establishes a new directive that must be followed.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Hebrew nagad (`{{H5046}}`):** This is the direct Hebrew cognate. While nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) emphasizes "flow/issue," nagad (`{{H5046}}`) primarily means "to tell, declare, report, make known." The shared semantic field lies in the idea of "bringing something forth" or "making it manifest." A declaration "flows forth" from the speaker, and a decree "issues forth" from the authority.
* **Concepts of Authority and Decree:** The single occurrence of nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) in [[Ezra 4:18]] inextricably links it to the exercise of royal authority and the issuing of official commands. This ties into the broader biblical theme of both human and divine authority being expressed through pronouncements and edicts.
* **"Flowing" as Revelation or Communication:** The underlying concept of "flowing" can be metaphorically extended to the idea of revelation or communication, where truth, wisdom, or will "flows forth" from a source. This imagery is present elsewhere in scripture, such as the "river of the water of life" ([[Revelation 22:1]]) or the Word of God that "goes forth" and accomplishes its purpose ([[Isaiah 55:11]]).
### Theological Significance
Though nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) appears only once, its usage in Ezra carries theological weight concerning the nature of authority and divine sovereignty. The "issuing forth" of a human king's decree in [[Ezra 4:18]] highlights the reality of earthly rulers wielding significant power, even when their decisions temporarily hinder God's people. Yet, within the overarching biblical narrative, such human decrees are ultimately subject to God's sovereign will. God is able to cause decrees to "issue forth" that favor His people, as later demonstrated in Ezra and Nehemiah. The human act of "issuing" a decree, while often driven by human motives, serves as a faint echo of the divine act of speaking and creating, where God's Word "issues forth" with ultimate authority and efficacy, always accomplishing His intended purpose ([[Isaiah 55:11]]).
### Summary
The Aramaic term nᵉgad (`{{H5047}}`) denotes the action of "flowing" or "issuing forth," with a nuanced sense of "clearing the way." Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Ezra 4:18]] describes a royal decree that "has been issued" by King Artaxerxes, underscoring the authoritative nature of a king's pronouncement. This term correlates with the Hebrew nagad (`{{H5046}}`), which means "to declare" or "make known," reinforcing the idea of something being brought into manifestation. Theologically, nᵉgad serves as a reminder of the power of human authority to issue commands, yet it ultimately points to the greater truth of God's supreme sovereignty, whose divine Word perpetually "issues forth" to accomplish His perfect and unhindered will.
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