Word Study for H6600 (פִּתְגָּם)

pithgâm /pith-gawm'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to פִּתְגָּם

Meaninga word, answer, letter or decree

KJV usageanswer, letter, matter, word.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pithgâm — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word pithgâm, represented by H6600, refers to an official or authoritative communication, such as a word, answer, letter or decree. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Aramaic portions of the Bible. Its meaning encompasses various forms of spoken or written statements that carry significant weight, from a formal reply to an unalterable edict.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6600 is consistently used in contexts of governance and high-stakes communication. It can describe a formal letter sent to a king Ezra 5:7 or the king's official answer in response Ezra 4:17. The term is also used for a declarative answer given as testimony Ezra 5:11. In Daniel, it denotes a grave matter that is the subject of a divine judgment Daniel 4:17 or a critical point of contention before a king Daniel 3:16. Furthermore, a king's spoken word H6600 can constitute a binding decree with severe penalties for disobedience Ezra 6:11.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the authoritative nature of H6600:

H1510 gᵉzêrâh (a decree): This word for a formal decree appears directly with pithgâm to emphasize that a "matter" is settled by an unchangeable heavenly verdict Daniel 4:17.
H2942 ṭᵉʻêm (decree, command): This term signifies a judgment or command carrying royal authority, often issued to enforce a king's word H6600 and turn it into law Ezra 6:11.
H8421 tûwb (to reply, return an answer): This verb describes the action of delivering a pithgâm, such as when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego state they do not need to answer the king in a particular matter Daniel 3:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6600 is tied to the concept of declared, authoritative words.

Divine Judgment: The term is used for a "matter" that is explicitly defined by a "decree of the watchers" and the "word of the holy ones," linking it directly to the execution of God's sovereign judgment upon earthly rulers Daniel 4:17.
Authoritative Word: Whether spoken by a human king or a heavenly being, a pithgâm carries immense authority. A king's "word" becomes a decree that cannot be altered without consequence, reflecting the power inherent in a formal declaration Ezra 6:11.
Test of Faith: In Daniel, the "matter" H6600 becomes the focal point of a test of allegiance, forcing a choice between obeying a king's command or remaining faithful to God Daniel 3:16.

Summary

In summary, H6600 is far more than a simple word for "word." It specifically denotes a formal, consequential communication. Its usage in Ezra and Daniel establishes it as a term for official answers, letters, and matters of judgment. It powerfully illustrates how a declared word can function as an instrument of royal power and divine authority, shaping events and determining destinies.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

פִּתְגָמָ
פִּתְגָם

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra (4 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.