The Aramaic word ʻAlmîy, represented by H5962, is a patrial term for an Elamite. It appears 1 times across 1 unique verses in the Bible. The term is derived from a name corresponding to Elam and is used to identify an inhabitant of that region.
The single biblical use of H5962 occurs in an administrative context. It is found in a list of various peoples who were companions to Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe. In a letter of protest, these groups are identified, including the Elamites, as part of the coalition of peoples writing to the king Ezra 4:9.
Several other patrial terms appear in the same context, identifying the diverse groups involved in the correspondence:
- H896 Bablîy (a Babylonian): This term for an inhabitant of Babylonia appears in the same list of peoples mentioned in Ezra 4:9.
- H7801 Shûwshankîy (a Shushankite): This word identifies the Susanchites as another group listed alongside the Elamites Ezra 4:9.
- H1723 Dahăvâʼ (Dehavites): This name refers to the Dehavites, a people colonized in Samaria, who are also included in the same list of companions Ezra 4:9.
The significance of H5962 is primarily historical and administrative rather than theological.
- Ethnic Identification: Its main function is to identify a specific ethnic group, the Elamites, within a larger, multi-ethnic collection of peoples.
- Political Coalition: The term is used in the context of a formal letter, indicating the Elamites were part of a political bloc of various relocated peoples who were co-signatories to the correspondence Ezra 4:9.
- Geopolitical Context: The presence of the Elamites alongside Babylonians, Susanchites, and others in this list illustrates the diverse populations present in the region during the post-exilic period.
In summary, H5962 is a highly specific Aramaic term for an Elamite. Its sole appearance in scripture serves to identify one of the many groups of people listed in a formal, political letter recorded in the book of Ezra. Its importance lies in the precise ethnic and historical detail it provides for understanding the geopolitical landscape of that time.
TRV