Original Word: פַרְשֶׁגֶן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: parshegen
Pronunciation: par-sheh'-gen
Phonetic Spelling: (par-sheh'-ghen)
KJV: copy
NASB: copy
Word Origin: [of foreign origin]

1. a transcript

copy

Or pathshegen {path-sheh'-gen}; of foreign origin; a transcript -- copy.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a copy
NASB Translation
copy (4).

מַּרְשֶׁ֫גֶן noun masculine copy (loan-word from Perssian through Aramaic, see Biblical Aramaic); — construct הַנִּשְׁתְּוָן ׳פ Ezra 7:11, compare מַּתְשֶׁגֶן.

מַּתְשֶׁ֫גֶן noun masculine copy ( = מַּרְשֶׁנֶן q. v.); — construct (הַ)כְּתָב ׳מּ Esther 3:14; Esther 4:8; Esther 8:13.

Meaning and Scope

פַרְשֶׁגֶן (parshegen) denotes an authenticated “copy,” “text,” or “exact transcript,” most often of an imperial decree. The word reflects the administrative vocabulary of the Persian Empire, underscoring the precision expected when royal directives were disseminated throughout the provinces.

Occurrences and Contextual Analysis

• Ezra 7:11 – “This is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest…” The term spotlights the written authorization that empowered Ezra’s return and reforms, showing that covenant renewal was legally anchored in the king’s own words.
• Esther 3:14 – “A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the peoples…” Here the word introduces the decree of death that threatened the Jews, illustrating how bureaucratic machinery could be wielded for evil.
• Esther 4:8 – Mordecai hands Esther “a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction,” providing tangible evidence to spur intercession.
• Esther 8:13 – “A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province…” Now the same imperial mechanism transmits deliverance, highlighting divine reversal.

Historical Setting

The occurrences cluster in the Persian period (fifth–fourth centuries BC), when Aramaic served as the lingua franca of administration and multiple-language copies circulated to ensure uniform compliance. The Jewish community’s fate appeared subject to human bureaucracy, yet the narrative reveals the Lord steering those very documents for covenant preservation.

Theological Themes

1. Providence Through Secular Authority: God directs imperial paperwork to accomplish His redemptive plan (Proverbs 21:1).
2. Unalterable Word: The irrevocable nature of Persian edicts (Esther 8:8) contrasts with the unchanging reliability of divine promises (Numbers 23:19).
3. Death-to-Life Pattern: The two sets of decrees in Esther prefigure the gospel movement from condemnation to salvation (Romans 8:1-2).

Ministry Implications

• Importance of Accurate Transmission: Just as an exact “copy” preserved the king’s intent, faithful handling of Scripture safeguards apostolic teaching for the church (2 Timothy 2:15).
• Advocacy and Intercession: Mordecai’s dispatch of the written decree equipped Esther to plead before the throne; contemporary believers likewise bring the documented promises of God before Him in prayer.
• Public Proclamation: The edicts were “published to all the peoples” (Esther 3:14), modeling transparent, wide-ranging publication of God’s Word (Matthew 24:14).

Christological and Canonical Connections

The lethal decree (Esther 3) mirrors the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” (Colossians 2:14, KJV), while the counter-decree (Esther 8) anticipates the New Covenant. In Ezra 7 the written authorization foreshadows the heavenly “letters of recommendation” given to believers (2 Corinthians 3:1-3), affirming that our mission is legally sealed by the King of kings.

Summary

פַרְשֶׁגֶן, though a technical term for an imperial “copy,” becomes a theological witness to God’s meticulous oversight. Whether enabling temple reform or reversing genocidal plots, each transcript shows the Lord orchestrating human words to fulfill His eternal Word.

פַּרְשֶׁ֣גֶן פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן פרשגן פתשגן par·še·ḡen paršeḡen parShegen paṯ·še·ḡen paṯšeḡen patShegenInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts