Original Word: מְדִינָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mdiynah
Pronunciation: meh-dee-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (med-ee-naw')
KJV: (X every) province
NASB: provinces, province, each, each province, every province, realm
Word Origin: [from H1777 (דִּין דּוּן - judge)]

1. (properly) a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction
2. (by implication) a district (as ruled by a judge)
3. (generally) a region

every province

From diyn; properly, a judgeship, i.e. Jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region -- (X every) province.

see HEBREW diyn

Word Origin
from din
Definition
a province
NASB Translation
each (3), each province (3), every province (2), province (10), provinces (28), realm (1).

מְדִינָה noun feminine province (an Aramaic word, compare Syriac , Arabic city) **compare also Old Aramaic מדינתא city, Palmyrene מדיתא city, suffix מדיתהון, plural מדינתא SAC⁷⁰ Lzb³⁰⁶ Cooke²⁶⁶. — Esther 1:1 28t.; plural מְדִינוֺת 1 Kings 20:14 23t.; — a district of an empire,

1 districts of realm of Ahab with שׂרים over them 1 Kings 20:14,15,17,19.

2 of the Babylonian empire: Ezekiel 19:8; Daniel 8:2 (of Elam); שָׂרָתִי בַּמְּדִינוֺת princess among the provinces Lamentations 1:1 (of Judea).

3 of the Persian empire Esther 1:1 + often; one of which was Palestine, Nehemiah 1:3; the returning exiles, בְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה children of the province Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:6 having רָאשֵׁי הַמְּדִינָה Nehemiah 11:3.

4 provinces in General Ecclesiastes 2:8; Ecclesiastes 5:7; בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּי מְדִינָה in the fat places of the province Daniel 11:24 (fertile regions, probably Egypt; other translations see in Bev.)

Meaning and Concept

מְדִינָה describes an administratively defined district under the oversight of a governor or satrap. The term embraces both territory and the governmental authority exercised there. A מְדִינָה can be Israelite (1 Kings) or foreign (Esther, Daniel), reflecting whichever empire or kingdom controls the land at the time.

Biblical Distribution

Approximately fifty-three occurrences are spread across ten books:
• 1 Kings – 4
• Lamentations – 1
• Ezra – 4
• Nehemiah – 4
• Esther – 29
• Daniel – 10
• Minor scattered references in Chronicles and elsewhere do not use the word.

The high concentration in Esther and Daniel mirrors the Persian and Babylonian setting where provincial organization was pivotal.

Early Monarchical Usage (1 Kings 20)

Under Ahab the northern kingdom already had “district governors.” “Then he asked, ‘Who will start the battle?’ And he answered, ‘By the young men of the district governors.’ ” (1 Kings 20:14). Israel, though independent, had subdivided its realm for military and civil administration, suggesting a precedent later emulated by larger empires.

Poetic Reflection (Lamentations 1:1)

“How lonely lies the city, once great with people! She who was great among the nations has become like a widow. The princess among the provinces has become a slave.” The fall of Jerusalem reduces her status from head of provinces to servant, underscoring the depth of covenant judgment.

Restoration Era (Ezra and Nehemiah)

After exile Judah is called “the province” (Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:6; 11:3), signaling dependence upon Persia. Yet imperial structure facilitates God’s plan:
• Ezra 5:8 reports to Darius that the temple work is occurring “in the province of Judah.”
• Ezra 6:2 records the search in the archives of “the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media,” showing how royal decrees preserved in distant provinces advance covenant promises.

Administrative vocabulary does not hinder covenant identity; instead it frames Israel’s mission in a Gentile environment.

Persian Imperial Context (Esther)

The book of Esther is virtually a treatise on מְדִינָה. “In the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush…” (Esther 1:1). Royal edicts must reach every province (Esther 3:12; 8:9). Salvation likewise spreads “to every province and city” (Esther 8:17). The repeated pairing of “province and city” shows the thoroughness of God’s deliverance: no administrative boundary can limit His covenant preservation.

Key movements:
• Genocide decree (3:12-15) travels the provincial network.
• Esther’s counter-edict (8:8-14) reverses the threat using the same channels.
• Provincial Jews assemble and prevail (9:1-19).

The narrative demonstrates that while empires shape communication, providence shapes outcomes.

Babylonian and Medo-Persian Context (Daniel)

Daniel serves in the “province of Babylon” (Daniel 2:48). He and his friends are promoted over provincial satraps (3:1-3; 3:30). Under Darius the Mede, “it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom” (Daniel 6:1). The prophet’s faithfulness within this structure models allegiance to God above all earthly jurisdictions.

Theological Themes

1. Divine sovereignty over political geography. God raises and removes provincial boundaries according to His redemptive purposes (Esther 1:1; Lamentations 1:1).
2. Covenant faithfulness in foreign administration. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Daniel illustrate how believers live holy lives while honoring Gentile authority (cf. Romans 13:1).
3. The spread of revelation and redemption through imperial systems. Official messengers carry both hostile and salvific decrees; God turns the machinery of empire to protect His people (Esther 8:10-14).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Christians serving in governmental structures can maintain integrity and influence, following Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah.
• Prayer for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2) acknowledges that modern “provinces” remain under God’s providence.
• Evangelistic strategy may legitimately use existing political or communication networks, just as Esther’s letter rode the royal couriers.

Key References for Study

1 Kings 20:14-19; Lamentations 1:1; Ezra 2:1; 5:8; 6:2; Nehemiah 7:6; 11:3; Esther 1:1; 3:12-13; 8:9-17; 9:1-19; Daniel 2:48-49; 3:1-3, 30; 6:1-3.

בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת בַּמְּדִינָ֔ה בַמְּדִינָ֔ה במדינה במדינות הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת הַמְּדִינ֔וֹת הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת הַמְּדִינ֜וֹת הַמְּדִינָ֑ה הַמְּדִינָ֔ה הַמְּדִינָ֗ה המדינה המדינות וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וּמְדִינָ֔ה וּמְדִינָ֖ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה וּמְדִינָ֛ה וּמְדִינָ֜ה וּמְדִינָה֙ והמדינות ומדינה לַמְּדִינוֹת֙ למדינות מְדִינ֖וֹת מְדִינ֣וֹת מְדִינ֥וֹת מְדִינ֨וֹת מְדִינָ֔ה מְדִינָ֣ה מְדִינָ֤ה מְדִינָ֥ה מְדִינָ֨ה מְדִינָֽה׃ מְדִינָה֮ מְדִינוֹת֙ מִמְּדִינ֑וֹת מדינה מדינה׃ מדינות ממדינות bam·mə·ḏî·nāh ḇam·mə·ḏî·nāh bam·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ bammediNah bamməḏînāh ḇamməḏînāh bammediNot bamməḏînōwṯ bim·ḏî·nō·wṯ bimdiNot bimḏînōwṯ ham·mə·ḏî·nāh ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ hammediNah hamməḏînāh hammediNot hamməḏînōwṯ lam·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ lammedinOt lamməḏînōwṯ mə·ḏî·nāh mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ mediNah məḏînāh mediNot məḏînōwṯ mim·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ mimediNot mimməḏînōwṯ ū·mə·ḏî·nāh umediNah ūməḏînāh vammediNah vehammediNot wə·ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ wəhamməḏînōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts