Original Word: אֲחַשְׁתָּרָן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: achashtaran
Pronunciation: a-khash-te-RAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ash-taw-rawn')
Definition: Royal horse, swift steed
Meaning: a mule

camel

Of Persian origin; a mule -- camel.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
royal
NASB Translation
royal (1).

[אֲחַשְׁתְּרָן] adjective (?) royal (from Persian Khshatra, lordship, realm, see Spieg^l. with 215) plural הָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִים agreeing with הָרֶכֶשׁ Esther 8:10,14.

אַחַת see אֶחָד.

אַט see אטט. below

אטד (meaning dubious; perhaps compare Arabic make firm, strong, compare Thes MV).

Word Origin: Derived from a foreign origin, possibly of Persian derivation.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Greek equivalents in the Strong's Concordance for this specific Hebrew term, as it is a unique term related to the Persian context within the Hebrew Bible. However, Greek terms related to animals used for riding or carrying loads, such as ὄνος (onos, Strong's Greek 3688) for "donkey," may be considered in broader studies of biblical transportation animals.

Usage: The term appears in the context of the Persian Empire, specifically in the book of Esther, where it refers to a type of swift animal used for royal dispatches.

Context: The Hebrew term אֲחַשְׁתָּרָן (achashteran) is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Esther 8:10 and 8:14. In these passages, the word is used to describe a type of animal employed in the Persian postal system. The context suggests that these animals were used for their speed and endurance, likely for carrying important messages across the vast Persian Empire. The exact nature of the animal is debated, but it is commonly understood to refer to a mule, a hybrid animal known for its strength and ability to travel long distances without tiring.

In Esther 8:10, the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) translates the passage as: "And Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. He sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares." Here, the term אֲחַשְׁתָּרָן is part of the description of the swift animals used for the king's dispatches.

The use of אֲחַשְׁתָּרָן highlights the efficiency and organization of the Persian communication system, which was crucial for maintaining control over the expansive empire. The choice of mules or similar animals underscores the importance of reliability and speed in ancient communication networks.

הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים האחשתרנים hā’ăḥaštərānîm hā·’ă·ḥaš·tə·rā·nîm haachashteraNimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts