107. iggereth
Lexical Summary
iggereth: Letter, Epistle

Original Word: אִגְרֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: iggereth
Pronunciation: ig-eh-reth
Phonetic Spelling: (ig-eh'-reth)
KJV: letter
NASB: letters, letter
Word Origin: [feminine of H10 (אֲבַדּוֹה - Destruction)4]

1. an epistle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
letter

Feminine of 'iggra'; an epistle -- letter.

see HEBREW 'iggra'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as Agur
Definition
a letter
NASB Translation
letter (4), letters (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אִגֶּ֫רֶת noun feminine letter, letter-missive (late, probably loan-word, Assyrian egirtu DlW) — absolute Nehemiah 2:8 2t.; construct Esther 9:29; plural אִגְּרוֺת absolute 2 Chronicles 30:1 3t.; construct Nehemiah 2:9; אִגְּרֹתֵיהֶם Nehemiah 6:17letter, especially royal letter 2 Chronicles 30:1,6; Nehemiah 2:7,8,9; but also others Nehemiah 6:5,17,19; Esther 9:26,29 ("" סֵפֶר Esther 9:20; Esther 9:30; other synonym מִכְתָּב, נִשְׁתְּוָן q. v.)

אֲגַרְטָל see גרטל.

אֶגְרֹף see גרף.

אֵד, אוֺדוֺת, אֹדוֺת see אוד.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

אִגְרֶת (iggereth) denotes a written letter, dispatch, or epistle. In the Old Testament it consistently refers to formal written communication, whether issued by a king, a governor, or royal officials, and whether employed for benevolent or hostile purposes.

Occurrences in Scripture

2 Chronicles 30:1, 6; Nehemiah 2:7-9; 6:5, 17, 19; Esther 9:26, 29. These ten instances cluster in three historical settings: Hezekiah’s reign (circa 715 BC), Nehemiah’s governorship under Artaxerxes (mid-fifth century BC), and the Persian court of Xerxes (early fifth century BC). Together they illustrate the strategic role of written correspondence within covenant life, civil administration, and spiritual warfare.

Letters as Instruments of Religious Reform

In 2 Chronicles 30:1, 6 King Hezekiah “wrote letters” inviting all Israel and Judah to celebrate Passover at Jerusalem. His appeal transcended tribal divisions, calling the remnant of the northern kingdom back to covenant fidelity. The written form carried royal authority while extending personal appeal, embodying both law and grace:

“Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (2 Chronicles 30:1)

These letters facilitated nationwide repentance and foreshadowed later proclamations of the gospel that summon dispersed people to worship God in unity.

Letters in Governance and Authorization

Nehemiah’s mission to rebuild Jerusalem relied on royal letters. In Nehemiah 2:7-9 he requests documentation guaranteeing safe passage and resources:

“May I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe conduct until I arrive in Judah, and may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber…” (Nehemiah 2:7-8)

These iggrot secure the cooperation of regional authorities and the supply chain for temple and wall construction. The episode underscores the providence of God in turning the heart of a pagan monarch to advance His redemptive purposes (Proverbs 21:1).

Letters as Tools of Opposition

The same genre can serve malice. Nehemiah 6:5 records Sanballat’s “open letter” accusing Nehemiah of rebellion, intending to intimidate and halt the work. Further, Nehemiah 6:17-19 describes an ongoing exchange of letters between the Jewish nobility and Tobiah, revealing divided loyalties within the community. These antagonistic iggrot illustrate the enemy’s tactic of sowing fear and confusion through rumor and political pressure. The believer’s response mirrors Nehemiah’s: prayerful dependence on God and steadfast continuation of the assigned task (Nehemiah 6:9).

Letters Confirming Covenant Identity and Memory

After deliverance from Haman, Mordecai and Esther issue letters establishing Purim:

“Therefore these days were called Purim from the word pur. Because of all that was written in this letter… the Jews established and imposed upon themselves… to observe these two days.” (Esther 9:26-27, cond.)

“So Queen Esther… along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim.” (Esther 9:29)

The written decree perpetuates collective memory of salvation and formalizes communal rejoicing. Here the iggrot function as covenantal memorials, binding a dispersed people to annual celebration of God’s faithfulness.

Theological and Ministry Reflections

1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency: Every occurrence of אִגְרֶת reveals God working through ordinary channels of bureaucratic and diplomatic correspondence to accomplish extraordinary deliverance, restoration, and remembrance.
2. Authority of the Written Word: The pattern anticipates the completed canon of Scripture. Just as ancient letters carried royal authorization, so the inspired writings bear divine authority for doctrine and practice.
3. Spiritual Warfare: Hostile letters expose strategies of intimidation and slander. Faithful leadership must discern content, test motives, and respond with truth and perseverance.
4. Communal Formation: Letters gather the scattered (Hezekiah), protect the vulnerable (Nehemiah), and unite the redeemed in celebration (Esther). Written communication remains vital for teaching, exhortation, and preserving corporate identity.

Foreshadowing New Testament Epistles

The Old Testament iggrot prepare readers for the rich epistolary tradition of the New Testament. As Nehemiah sought resources for rebuilding, Paul later sought prayer support and missionary funding; as Hezekiah summoned worshipers, the apostles call believers to the heavenly Jerusalem; as Mordecai’s decree sealed a perpetual feast, John’s Revelation seals the promise of eternal joy. Each anticipates the climactic dispatch of God: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Forms and Transliterations
אִגְּר֛וֹת אִגְּר֣וֹת אִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם אִגְּרוֹת֙ אִגֶּ֧רֶת אגרות אגרת אגרתיהם בָּֽאִגְּר֜וֹת באגרות הָאִגֶּ֣רֶת האגרת וְאִגֶּ֡רֶת וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת ואגרת ’ig·ge·reṯ ’ig·gə·rō·ṯê·hem ’ig·gə·rō·wṯ ’iggereṯ ’iggərōṯêhem ’iggərōwṯ bā’iggərōwṯ bā·’ig·gə·rō·wṯ baiggeRot hā’iggereṯ hā·’ig·ge·reṯ haigGeret igGeret iggerOt iggeRoteiHem veigGeret wə’iggereṯ wə·’ig·ge·reṯ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Chronicles 30:1
HEB: וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וְגַֽם־ אִגְּרוֹת֙ כָּתַב֙ עַל־
NAS: and wrote letters also
KJV: and wrote letters also to Ephraim
INT: and Judah also letters and wrote unto

2 Chronicles 30:6
HEB: וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ הָרָצִ֨ים בָּֽאִגְּר֜וֹת מִיַּ֧ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ
NAS: and Judah with the letters from the hand
KJV: went with the letters from
INT: went the couriers the letters the hand of the king

Nehemiah 2:7
HEB: הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֔וֹב אִגְּרוֹת֙ יִתְּנוּ־ לִ֔י
NAS: the king, let letters be given
KJV: the king, let letters be given
INT: the king please letters be given for

Nehemiah 2:8
HEB: וְאִגֶּ֡רֶת אֶל־ אָסָף֩
NAS: and a letter to Asaph the keeper
KJV: And a letter unto Asaph the keeper
INT: letter to Asaph

Nehemiah 2:9
HEB: לָהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אִגְּר֣וֹת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח
NAS: them the king's letters. Now the king
KJV: them the king's letters. Now the king
INT: the River and gave letters the king's had sent

Nehemiah 6:5
HEB: אֶֽת־ נַעֲר֑וֹ וְאִגֶּ֥רֶת פְּתוּחָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
NAS: time with an open letter in his hand.
KJV: time with an open letter in his hand;
INT: A fifth his servant letter an open his hand

Nehemiah 6:17
HEB: חֹרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ אִגְּרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם הוֹלְכ֖וֹת עַל־
NAS: days many letters went from the nobles
KJV: many letters unto Tobiah,
INT: the nobles of Judah letters went unto

Nehemiah 6:19
HEB: מוֹצִיאִ֖ים ל֑וֹ אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה
NAS: sent letters to frighten
KJV: sent letters to put me in fear.
INT: become and reported letters sent Tobiah

Esther 9:26
HEB: כָּל־ דִּבְרֵ֖י הָאִגֶּ֣רֶת הַזֹּ֑את וּמָֽה־
NAS: in this letter, both what
KJV: Therefore for all the words of this letter, and [of that] which they had seen
INT: all manner of the instructions letter both what

Esther 9:29
HEB: לְקַיֵּ֗ם אֵ֣ת אִגֶּ֧רֶת הַפּוּרִ֛ים הַזֹּ֖את
NAS: this second letter about Purim.
KJV: this second letter of Purim.
INT: authority to confirm letter Purim likewise

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 107
10 Occurrences


bā·’ig·gə·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
hā·’ig·ge·reṯ — 1 Occ.
’ig·ge·reṯ — 1 Occ.
’ig·gə·rō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
’ig·gə·rō·ṯê·hem — 1 Occ.
wə·’ig·ge·reṯ — 2 Occ.

106
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