Original Word: תִּפְתַּי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tiphtay
Pronunciation: tif-tah-YEH
Phonetic Spelling: (tif-tah'-ee)
KJV: sheriff
NASB: magistrates
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) perhaps from H8199 (שָׁפַט - judge)]

1. judicial, i.e. a lawyer

sheriff

(Aramaic) perhaps from shaphat; judicial, i.e. A lawyer -- sheriff.

see HEBREW shaphat

Word Origin
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation
Definition
(title of an official) perhaps magistrates
NASB Translation
magistrates (2).

תִּפְתָּיֵא Kt, תָּאֵי- Qr, noun masculine plural name of the official Daniel 3:2,3(so Egyptian Aramaic RÉS^{361B 4} דיניא תיפתיא וגושכיא; meaning unknown, conjectures in Bev, Behrm, compare Dr).

[תַּקִּיף] see תְּקִף. below

Biblical Occurrences

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that he had set up” (Daniel 3:2).

“So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it” (Daniel 3:3).

Historical and Administrative Context

The title appears only in the Aramaic section of Daniel and identifies a class of officials within the Babylonian imperial bureaucracy. Nebuchadnezzar’s eight-part list of dignitaries reflects a highly stratified civil service that combined military, fiscal, legal, and provincial oversight. The term translated “magistrates” (“sheriffs” in some older English versions) designates officers responsible for executing royal edicts and maintaining public order—similar to police prefects or chief marshals in later cultures. Their presence at the ceremony underscores how thoroughly Nebuchadnezzar marshaled every level of government to legitimize his idolatrous image.

Function within Nebuchadnezzar’s Government

1. Enforcement: The group enforced decrees, particularly those requiring immediate, public compliance such as compulsory worship of the golden image.
2. Judiciary: Alongside judges and counselors, they helped constitute a portable court, capable of punishing dissent on the spot (Daniel 3:6, 3:11).
3. Provincial Liaison: They bridged capital policy and local populations, ensuring that even distant provinces conformed to imperial religion.
4. Ceremonial Presence: Their attendance signaled total governmental endorsement, lending political weight to the event and pressuring subjects to conform.

Implications for the Fiery Furnace Narrative

The officials’ prompt obedience highlights the dramatic contrast with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. While the empire’s representatives bowed, the three Hebrews stood, revealing that genuine faith may isolate believers from every social stratum yet remain victorious (Daniel 3:28). The existence of these magistrates did not hinder God’s deliverance; instead, their official witness magnified the miracle’s publicity throughout the empire (Daniel 3:29–30).

Theological Observations

• Human authority is accountable to divine authority. Nebuchadnezzar’s magistrates could command outward compliance but could not compel conscience, foreshadowing New Testament teaching that “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
• Civil structures can be co-opted for idolatry, yet God remains sovereign, turning oppressive edicts into stages for His glory (Daniel 3:15–17, 29).
• Believers may face organized, systemic pressure rather than merely individual hostility; faithfulness requires courage against institutionalized sin.

Application for Contemporary Believers

1. Discernment: Evaluate governmental commands in light of Scripture. When law conflicts with allegiance to God, Scripture remains supreme.
2. Courageous Witness: Like the three Hebrews, modern Christians may stand virtually alone against coordinated cultural or governmental pressure, yet the Lord accompanies His servants in the “fire.”
3. Public Faithfulness: Positions of civic responsibility (police, judiciary, administration) present both temptation and opportunity. Christians serving in such roles must guard against using authority to propagate unrighteousness while leveraging their platform to honor God.
4. Prayer for Officials: Paul urges prayers “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2). The narrative reminds believers to intercede for contemporary “magistrates” so that governmental power may serve justice rather than idolatry.

Summary

The brief appearances of תִּפְתַּי spotlight a class of Babylonian magistrates who embodied state power at Nebuchadnezzar’s idolatrous ceremony. Their inclusion in Daniel’s account accentuates the totality of the empire’s pressure, contrasts with the steadfast faith of God’s servants, and ultimately magnifies the Lord’s supremacy over every human authority.

תִּפְתָּיֵ֔א תִּפְתָּיֵ֗א תפתיא tiftaYe tip̄·tā·yê tip̄tāyêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts