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.
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.
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).
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.
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