### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The word **parshegen**, represented by `{{H6572}}`, is a term of foreign origin that means a **transcript** or **copy**. Though specific, it is used in critical moments within the biblical narrative, appearing **4 times** across **4 unique verses** to denote the official reproduction of an important document.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6572}}` is exclusively found in the books of Esther and Ezra, referring to a **copy** of a formal, written document of law or communication. It is used for the **copy** of the writing of Haman's decree to destroy the Jews ([[Esther 3:14]], [[Esther 4:8]]) and later for the **copy** of the decree allowing them to avenge themselves [[Esther 8:13]]. It also describes the **copy** of the letter given by King Artaxerxes to Ezra, authorizing his work [[Ezra 7:11]]. In each instance, the term signifies an authoritative duplicate intended for distribution and action.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of `{{H6572}}` as a formal transcript of an official document:
* `{{H3791}}` **kâthâb** (something written, i.e. a writing, record or book): This word defines the original document that is being copied. A `parshegen` is consistently a copy of a `kâthâb`, or writing ([[Esther 3:14]], [[Esther 4:8]], [[Esther 8:13]]).
* `{{H1881}}` **dâth** (a royal edict or statute): This specifies the legal nature of the writing being copied. The transcript is of a royal **decree** or **commandment** with the force of law ([[Esther 3:14]], [[Esther 4:8]]).
* `{{H5406}}` **nishtᵉvân** (an epistle; letter): In Ezra, the `parshegen` is a copy of a royal **letter**, highlighting its use for official correspondence [[Ezra 7:11]].
* `{{H1540}}` **gâlâh** (to reveal; publish): This word describes the purpose of making a `parshegen`. The copy of the writing was to be **published** in every province so the decree would be widely known ([[Esther 3:14]], [[Esther 8:13]]).
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6572}}` lies in the administrative and legal concepts it represents:
* **Authority of Duplication:** The `parshegen` was not merely a note but a legally binding transcript that carried the full authority of the original decree. The fate of an entire people depended on the distribution of these copies [[Esther 4:8]].
* **Dissemination of Law:** Making copies was essential for governing a vast kingdom. The decrees were published "unto all people" to ensure universal awareness and compliance, whether for destruction [[Esther 3:14]] or for deliverance [[Esther 8:13]].
* **Preservation of Commands:** The use of `parshegen` for a king's letter to Ezra, a scribe of God's commandments and statutes, connects the human system of recording laws to the divine importance of preserving God's own words [[Ezra 7:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6572}}` is more than a simple word for "copy." It is a specific term rooted in the legal and administrative world of the Persian empire, emphasizing the power of the written word. It demonstrates that the faithful transcription and publication of a command—whether from a human king or the King of Heaven—is critical for its authority to be recognized and its purpose to be fulfilled.
TRV