### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **niphqâʼ**, represented by `{{H5313}}`, translates to **expense**. Derived from a root meaning "an outgo," it appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. This specific term is used to describe the financial costs associated with a significant construction project.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Both occurrences of `{{H5313}}` are found in the book of Ezra, within the context of the decree to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. The word is used to denote the funds supplied by the king to ensure the project's completion. In one instance, the decree specifies the building materials and states, "let the **expenses** be given out of the king's house" [[Ezra 6:4]]. The second usage reinforces this, commanding that from the king's goods and tribute, "forthwith **expenses** be given unto these men, that they be not hindered" [[Ezra 6:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words clarify the context of these royally funded expenses:
* `{{H5232}}` **nᵉkaç** (goods): This word for treasure or **goods** identifies the source of the funds. The decree orders the payment to be made from the king's own **goods** [[Ezra 6:8]].
* `{{H4061}}` **middâh** (tribute): This term specifies the funding source further, indicating the expenses came from the **tribute** money collected from the region beyond the river [[Ezra 6:8]].
* `{{H3052}}` **yᵉhab** (to give): Defined as to **give**, pay, or yield, this verb is used in both verses to command that the expenses must be **given** for the temple's construction ([[Ezra 6:4]], [[Ezra 6:8]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H5313}}` lies in its direct connection to the fulfillment of God's will through a secular authority.
* **Royal Provision:** The term is used exclusively in the context of a king's decree, highlighting that the **expenses** for rebuilding the temple were not just a gift but a legally mandated payment from the royal treasury.
* **Enabling God's Work:** The specific command that **expenses** be given so the builders "be not hindered" shows the instrumental role of these funds in ensuring God's work could proceed without financial obstacles [[Ezra 6:8]].
* **Sanctioned Funding:** The source of the **expenses** is explicitly tied to royal assets, such as goods `{{H5232}}` and tribute `{{H4061}}`, illustrating a key biblical theme where worldly resources are directed to serve divine purposes.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5313}}` is a precise term for **expense** whose limited use is highly significant. It appears only in the narrative of the temple's reconstruction in Ezra, where it underscores the provision and authority of a king in financing the work of God. It demonstrates how material costs, or **expenses**, can be a critical element in the outworking of the divine plan.
TRV