### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **nᵉkaç**, represented by `{{H5232}}`, is a term for **goods** or **treasure**. It is a rare word, appearing only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the book of Ezra. Its meaning is directly tied to material possessions and wealth, particularly within the context of royal administration.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5232}}` is found exclusively within royal decrees concerning the Jews after their return from exile. In one instance, the "king's **goods**" are commanded to be used to provide for the expenses of rebuilding the house of God, ensuring the work is not hindered [[Ezra 6:8]]. In contrast, it is also listed as a form of punishment, where the "confiscation of **goods**" is a penalty for anyone who disobeys the law of God and the king [[Ezra 7:26]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the administrative and legal context of `{{H5232}}`:
* `{{H4061}}` **middâh** (tribute): This term specifies the source of the king's goods, identifying them as funds collected through **tribute** [[Ezra 6:8]].
* `{{H6065}}` **ʻănash** (confiscation): This word describes the punitive action taken against an individual's possessions, a legal penalty defined as **confiscation** of goods [[Ezra 7:26]].
* `{{H4430}}` **melek** (king): Both uses of `{{H5232}}` are in the context of a decree from a **king**, highlighting that these goods are under royal authority ([[Ezra 6:8]], [[Ezra 7:26]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5232}}` is primarily administrative and political, showing how material resources were wielded by the Persian empire.
* **Royal Provision:** The term is used to demonstrate the king's authority to allocate resources for significant projects, specifically the funding of the temple reconstruction from the royal **goods** [[Ezra 6:8]].
* **Legal Enforcement:** The threat of confiscation of **goods** serves as a tangible consequence for lawbreakers, reinforcing the power behind the king's decree and the law of God [[Ezra 7:26]].
* **Economic Power:** The word illustrates that royal **goods**, derived from sources like tribute, were a critical instrument of state power, used for both patronage and punishment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5232}}` provides a focused look at the concept of **goods** within the framework of imperial law and finance. Though appearing only twice, it effectively illustrates the dual role of a king's wealth: to support and provide for projects he sanctions, and to enforce compliance with his law through the threat of confiscation. It is a term rooted in the practical realities of governance and economics in the ancient world.
TRV