Ezra 4:8

רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל טְעֵ֗ם וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ סָֽפְרָ֔א כְּתַ֛בוּ אִגְּרָ֥ה חֲדָ֖ה עַל יְרֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֖א כְּנֵֽמָא
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

רְח֣וּם
רְח֣וּם
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Rehum")
Dictionary form: רְחוּם · reh-HOOM

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: rehum
rehum ×7 wrote rehum ×1
More options
Rehum — Standard proper-name rendering; use in most contexts.
Rehum (official) — Clarifies his administrative role when context requires.
the official Rehum — Useful when introducing the character for the first time.

BDB7869 H7348

BDB7868 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB7870

רְחוּם, רְחֻם proper name, masculine (compassion, or softness, gentleness ?); — post-exilic name:

1. with Zerubbabel:
  a. רְחוּם Ezra 2:2, A Ιρεουμ’, ᵐ5L Ναουμ ( = נְחוּם || Neh 7:7).
  b. priest, רְחֻם Neh 12:3 Ρεουμ ( = חָרִם vNeh 12:15, compare Neh 7:42 = Ezra 2:39; Ezra 10:21, see חָרִם 3 a).
2. רְחוּם, with Nehemiah:
  a. Levite Neh 3:17, Βασουθ, א A ᵐ5L Ραουμ.
  b. Neh 10:26, Ρα[ε]ουμ.

BDB9898 H7348

BDB9897 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9899

רְחוּם proper name, masculine Persian official Ezra 4:8 (usually explained from √ רחם, see Biblical Hebrew; Scheft92 thinks possibly originally רוחם, Old Iranian proper name rukma, = splendour).

rehum
rĕḥûm
compassion
Rechum, the name of three Israelites
  • an man who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
    • also 'Nehum'
    a commander who wrote a letter to the king Artaxerxes in which he opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem"a Levite of the family of Bani who assisted in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem"one of the chiefs of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah"a priest who returned from exile with Zerubbabel

בְּעֵל
בְּעֵל
Root word chancellor
Dictionary form: בְּעֵל · beh-ALE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: the chancellor
the chancellor ×3
More options
official — Broad term; fits most administrative contexts well.
administrator — Emphasizes bureaucratic or governmental role.
chancellor — Modernized KJV; retains formal, high-office tone.
magistrate — Suits legal or civic authority contexts.
secretary — More specific; fits record-keeping or scribal roles.

BDB9383 H1169 H1167

BDB9382 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9384

בְּעֵל (K§ 54, 3 γ) noun masculine owner, lord (Syriac , used similarly; compare Biblical Hebrew בַּ֫עַל, √ בָּעַל; also ᵑ7 בְּעֵיל); — construct מְֿעֵם׳בּ Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:17 i.e. commander (AndrM 56* as translation of Persian fram¹t¹r, commander).

chancellor
bĕʿēl
a master; hence, a husband
  • owner, lord

טְעֵ֗ם
טְעֵ֗ם
Root word decree, commandment, regarded, tasted, wisdom
Dictionary form: טְעֵם · teh-AME

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

a decree ×13 and according to the commandment ×1 and wisdom ×1 commandment ×1 regarded ×1 whiles he tasted ×1
More options
decree — Best for official royal or governmental pronouncements.
command — Modernizes 'commandment'; suits authoritative directives.
order — Neutral, contemporary alternative for formal instructions.
judgment — Fits contexts of deliberated, wisdom-based decisions.
taste — Literal sensory meaning; also metaphor for discernment.
discretion — Captures the 'wisdom' nuance in reflective contexts.

BDB9562 H2942 H2940 H2941

BDB9561 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9563

טְעֵם30 noun masculineEzra 4:21 taste, judgement, command (Biblical Hebrew טַ֫עַס (late sense)); — absolute ׳ט Dan 3:10 +, construct ׳ט Dan 5:2; Ezra 6:14, טַ֫עַס (of God, mere scribal distinction NöLCB 1896, 305 Str§ 8 c KAramaismen 40) Ezra 6:14; Ezra 7:23 emphatic טַעְמָא Ezra 4:21 —

1. Dan 5:2 in the taste of the wine (while they were enjoying it).
2. judgement, discretion, in reply, ׳הֲתִיב עֵטָא וּט Dan 2:14 (Prov 26:16); in act (person) על ׳שִׂים ט Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 (Prov 26:16); in act (person) על׳שִׂים ט Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 shew proper deference to (עַל).
3. report (of official), with הלך Ezra 5:5, יהב Dan 6:3.
4. command, of God Ezra 6:14; Ezra 7:23, of king Ezra 6:14 ׳שִׂיס ט give command, issue decree Dan 3:10 + 3 t., Ezra 4:19; Ezra 4:21 (twice in verse) + 11 t.; ׳בְּעֵל ט commander Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:17.

BDB9586 H2942 H5843

BDB9585 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9587

עֵטָא noun feminine counsel; — absolute Dan 2:14 (see טְעֵם

2.).

יצא see שֵׁיצֵא.

decree, commandment, regarded, tasted, wisdom
ṭĕʿēm
properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)
  • decree, taste, judgment, command
    • taste
      • "judgment, discretion"report"command

וְ שִׁמְשַׁי֙
וְ
Prefix — connector and (sometimes: but, so, then)
שִׁמְשַׁי֙
Root word a name — transliterate it ("And shimshai")
Dictionary form: שִׁמְשַׁי · shim-SHAI

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: and shimshai
and shimshai ×3 and to shimshai ×1
More options
Shimshai — Standard transliteration; best for most Bible translations.
Shimshay — Alternate spelling reflecting Hebrew vowel more closely.
Shim-Shai — Hyphenated form aiding pronunciation for new readers.

BDB9972 H8124

BDB9971 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9973

שִׁמְשַׁי proper name, masculine; — always סָֽפְרָא ׳שׁ: Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:23 (AndrM 86 * conjectures Old Iranian caritative ששמי, conformed to שׁמשׁ, compare Scheft92, who, however, prefers Old Baktrian sim¢zhi = sima¢zhi, proper name).

שֵׁן see שׁנן. below

shimshai
šimšay
sunny
Shimshai, a Samaritan
  • the scribe for Rehum, the satrap of Judea for the Persian government

סָֽפְרָ ֔א
סָֽפְרָ
Root word scribe
֔א
Prefix — article the
Dictionary form: סָפֵר · saw-PARE

Noun — Common, masculine singular, determined state determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)

In the KJV here: the scribe
the scribe ×5 a scribe ×1
More options
scribe — Standard modern equivalent; widely understood in biblical contexts.
secretary — Emphasizes administrative, official role in government settings.
scholar — Highlights learned, literate aspect; suits priestly or wisdom contexts.
clerk — Stresses record-keeping duties; fits bureaucratic or court settings.

BDB9740 H5613 H5608

BDB9739 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9741

[סָפֵר] noun masculine secretary, scribe (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew סֹפֵר); — emphatic סָֽפְרָא the secretary, Persian official, Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:9; Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:23 construct סָפַר the scribe Ezra 7:12; Ezra 7:21, of Ezra as learned in God's law.

scribe
sāpēr
a scribe (secular or sacred)
  • scribe, secretary

כְּתַ֛בוּ
כְּתַ֛בוּ
Root word wrote, written, write
Dictionary form: כְּתַב · keh-TAHB

Verb — Peal, Perfect (Qatal), third person masculine plural simple action (Aramaic) — like Hebrew Qal completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: wrote
wrote ×3 and wrote ×1 he wrote ×1 was written ×1 we might write ×1 written ×1
More options
write — Core infinitive; broadest and most versatile choice.
record — Prefer when emphasizing official or archival inscription.
inscribe — Use for carving or engraving on stone, metal, or tablets.
compose — Highlights authorship and literary intent of a document.
put in writing — Stresses the act of committing something formally to text.

BDB9628 H3789 H3790

BDB9627 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9629

כְּתַב verb write (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ׳כ Dan 6:26 ל person + oratio recta [direct speech], Dan 7:1 accusative of thing; 3 masculine plural כְּתַ֫בוּ Ezra 4:8 accusative אִגְּרָה; 1 plural נִכְתּוּב Ezra 5:10, accusative of thing; Participle active absolute feminine singular כָּֽתְבָה Dan 5:5, subject יְדָא, feminine plural כָּֽתְבָן vDan 5:5, subject אֶצְבְּעָן. Pe`il (WCG 224) Perfect 3 masculine singular כִּדְנָה כְּ תִּיבEzra 5:7 thus (it) was written, so ׳כֵּן כ Ezra 6:2.

wrote, written, write
kĕtab
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
  • to write
    • (P'al) to write, to be written

אִגְּרָ֥ה
אִגְּרָ֥ה
Root word letter
Dictionary form: אִגְּרָא · ig-geh-RAW

Noun — Common, feminine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: letter
of the letter ×2 letter ×1
More options
letter — Most natural modern term for written correspondence.
written message — Clarifies the written, communicated nature of the document.
dispatch — Formal register; suits official royal or governmental correspondence.
missive — Slightly literary; good for elevated or formal narrative contexts.
document — Broader term; use when content is more decree-like than personal.

BDB9269 H104 H107

BDB9268 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9270

אִגְּרָה (K§ 50, 3) noun feminine letter-missive (late Biblical Hebrew אִנָּ֫רֶת, Old Aramaic אנרת, Palmyrene אגרתא Lzb207); — absolute ׳א Ezra 4:8 (van d. H. רָא-); emphatic אִגַּרְתָּא Ezra 4:11; Ezra 5:6.

letter
ʾiggĕrāʾ
an epistle (as carried by a state courier or postman)
  • letter, missive (Aramaic loan-word used in last Old Testament books)

חֲדָ֖ה
חֲדָ֖ה
Root word first, one, together
Dictionary form: חַד · hahd

Adjective — Cardinal Number, feminine singular, absolute state a number (one, two, three, …)

In the KJV here: a
a ×3 in the first ×3 one ×2 and a ×1 for one ×1 itself on one ×1 together ×1 was first ×1
More options
one — Most versatile; use for cardinal number contexts.
single — Emphasizes unity or singularity of an item.
first — Ordinal sense; prefer for sequence or ranking contexts.
together — Collective sense; use when unity of group is stressed.
a — Indefinite article sense; natural in narrative prose.
alone — Highlights isolation or uniqueness of the referent.

BDB9603 H1768 H1836 H2298

BDB9602 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9604

כ

כְּ particle like, as, about (Biblical Hebrew כְּ, q. v.); — like, as Dan 2:40 תַּקִּיפָא כְּפַרְוְלָא, Dan 4:5; Dan 4:32; Dan 5:1 +; according to Dan 4:32 וּכְּ מִצְבְּיֵהּ עָכֵד and according to his will he doeth, Ezra 6:9; Ezra 6:18 +; about (as Biblical Hebrew 1 a: compare Zinjirli Lzb444 [ן] כשלשן מלכ), Dan 4:16 כְּשָׁעָה חֲדָה, Dan 6:1 with infinitive (Biblical Hebrew 3 b), Dan 6:21 וּכְ מִקְרְנֵהּ לִגֻבָּא and as he drew near, etc. Cpds.: — כְּ דִי and כִּדְנָה, see דִּי and דָּאנה; כַּחֲדָה; together, see חַד (sub אחד).

first, one, together
ḥad
as card. one; as article single; as an ordinal, first; adverbially, at once
  • one (number)
    • one
      • "a (indefinite article)

עַל
עַל
Preposition upon, unto, over, in, against, …
Dictionary form: עַל · al

Preposition

In the KJV here: against
upon ×16 over ×9 unto ×8 against ×7 concerning ×5 in ×5 for ×4 to ×4
More options
on — Most versatile default; covers surface and figurative senses.
over — Use for authority, coverage, or position above.
about — Best for topics or subjects of speech or thought.
against — Use for opposition, complaint, or hostile action.
concerning — Formal; suits legal or prophetic discourse on a subject.
regarding — Neutral modern alternative to 'concerning'.

BDB9768 H5922 H5921

BDB9767 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9769

עַל preposition upon, over, on account of, above, to, against (Biblical Hebrew and general Aramaic id.); — suffix 1 singular עֲלַי; 2 masculine singular עליך Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, CookeNo. 77, A 5, 6, B 8, S-CPap. A 3, B 5 +), עֲלָךְ, Qr (ᵑ7 עֲלַךְ, Dalm§ 47, 2) Dan 3:12 + 6 t. Daniel; Ezra 7:18 3 masculine singular עֲלוֺהִי (so Nabataean, Palmyrene; Egyptian Aramaic עלוי S-CA 6 +) Dan 3:28 +, עֲלֹהִי Ezra 6:11 3 feminine singular עליה Kt (so Egyptian Aramaic, S-CD 24), עֲלַהּ Qr (so ᵑ7) Dan 4:14; Dan 5:21 1 plural עֲלֵינָא Ezra 4:12, עֲלֵ֑ינָא Ezra 4:18; Ezra 5:17 Baer (Gi עֲלֶ֑ינָא); 3 masculine plural עֲלֵיהֹם (so Nabataean, CISii. 226; Egyptian Aramaic, S-CPap. F 5, 8+) Ezra 7:24, עֲלֵיהוֺן Ezra 5:1; Ezra 5:3 —

1. a. upon, Dan 2:10; Dan 2:28; Dan 2:46; Dan 5:5; Dan 5:7; Dan 6:11 + often, Dan 4:26 עַלהֵֿיכַל מַלְכוּתָא (2Sam 11:2); to be established עַל מַלְכוּתִי 2Sam 4:33 (compare 2Chr 1:1 Biblical Hebrew II. 1) to lay an impost upon, Ezra 7:24 to trust on, Dan 3:28 after a verb of motion, מְטָא עַל to come upon, Dan 4:21; Dan 4:25 of times, to pass over, Dan 4:13; Dan 4:20; Dan 4:22; Dan 4:29; Ezra 5:1 בְּשֻׁם אֱלָהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲלֵיהוֺן i.e. (named) over them.
  b. idiomatic (as in Biblical Hebrew; see II. 1 d) of the person who is the subject of an emotion or experience, Dan 5:9 וְזִיוֺתִי שָׁנַיִן עֲלוֺהִי were changed upon him, Dan 7:28; Dan 6:19 וְשִׁנְּתֵהּ נַדַּת עֲלוֺהִי (compare Dan 2:1).
  c. on accusative of (Biblical Hebrew 1 f b), Dan 3:16 פִּתְגָּם עַלדְּֿנָה. So in עַלדְּֿנָה on this accusative Ezra 4:15; Ezra 4:22; Ezra 5:17, עַלמָֿה wherefore ? Dan 2:15 and עַל דִּבְרַת דִּי (see ׳דְּ).
  d. on behalf of (ib. 1 f c), Ezra 6:17.
  e. regarding, concerning (ib. 1 f g), Dan 2:18; Dan 5:14; Dan 5:29; Dan 6:6; Dan 6:13; Ezra 7:14 + often
2. over, with verbs of ruling, appointing, etc., Dan 2:48; Dan 2:49; Dan 3:12; Dan 4:14 +, Ezra 4:20; Ezra 6:18.
3. in a comparative sense, above, beyond, Dan 3:19; Dan 6:4.
4. expressing direction:
  a. to, of a person, after a verb of motion (compare Biblical Hebrew 7 c a a), Dan 2:24; Dan 4:31; Dan 4:33; Dan 6:7; Dan 6:16; Ezra 4:12; Ezra 4:23 + often; after to send (a letter, etc.) Ezra 4:11; Ezra 4:17; Ezra 4:18; Ezra 5:6 +, write Ezra 4:7, prophesy Ezra 5:1 of the direction of the mind (ib. 7c c), Dan 3:12; Dan 6:14 (twice in verse); Dan 6:15 compare Ezra 5:5 הֲוַת עַל ׳וְעֵין אֱל (compare Jer 40:4 and אֶל Ps 34:16).
  b. against, Dan 3:19; Dan 3:29; Dan 5:23; Dan 6:5; Dan 6:6 +; Ezra 4:8; Ezra 7:23.
5. in such phrases as שְׁפַר עַל, טְאֵב (to be) good or acceptable to (as in Syriac and late Hebrew: see Biblical Hebrew 8), Ezra 5:17 אִם עַל מַלְכָּא טָב, Ezra 7:18 (twice in verse); Dan 4:24 (יִשְׁפַּר), Dan 6:15 (בְּאֵשׁ), v.Dan 6:24 (טְאֵב). — compare the synopsis of meanings in Lzb340.

upon, unto, over, in, against, …
ʿal
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
  • upon, over, on account of, above, to, against
    • upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of
      • "over (with verbs of ruling)"above, beyond (in comparison)"to, against (of direction)

יְרֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם
יְרֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Jerusalem")
Dictionary form: יְרוּשָׁלֵם · yeh-roo-shaw-LAME

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: jerusalem
is at jerusalem ×6 is in jerusalem ×5 jerusalem ×3 and jerusalem ×2 at jerusalem ×2 to jerusalem ×2 was in jerusalem ×2 are at jerusalem ×1
More options
Jerusalem — Standard modern spelling; use in virtually all contexts.
the city of Jerusalem — Use when clarifying Jerusalem as a city for new readers.
the holy city — Thematic substitute when sacred significance is being emphasized.
Zion — Poetic or prophetic contexts where Zion is synonymous.

BDB9593 H3390 H3389

BDB9592 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9594

יְרוּשְׁלֵם25 proper name, of a location Jerusalem (Biblical Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלִַם); — Dan 5:2; Dan 5:3; Dan 6:11; Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:12 + 20 t. Ezra.

jerusalem
yĕrûšālēm
teaching of peace
Jerusalem
  • the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split

לְ אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא
לְ
Prefix — preposition to, for
אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא
Root word a name — transliterate it ("To artaxerxes")
Dictionary form: אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׁתָּא · ar-ta-shahsh-TAW

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: to artaxerxes
of artaxerxes ×7 artaxerxes ×6 and artaxerxes ×1 to artaxerxes ×1
More options
Artaxerxes — Standard modern English spelling; use in most contexts.
King Artaxerxes — Add title when royal role needs emphasis.
Artaxerxes the king — Mirrors Hebrew titular style more closely.

BDB788 H783

BDB787 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB789

אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא proper name, masculine Artaxerxes (Persian Artakhshatrâ, SpiegAPK 68, 207 ᵐ5 Ἀρταξερξης, compare BeRy on Ezra 4:23; Ezra 7:1f.; Neh 1:1) ׳א Ezra 4:7 see BD102; אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא Ezra 4:7, אַרְתַּחְשַׁסְתְּא Ezra 7:1; Ezra 7:11; Ezra 8:1; Neh 2:1; Neh 5:14; Neh 13:6 Artaxerxes I, or Longimanus, son & successor of Xerxes, reigned B.C. 465-424.

BDB9350 H783

BDB9349 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9351

אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא proper name, masculine of king, Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:11; Ezra 4:23; Ezra 6:14 = שַׁסְתְּא- Ezra 7:12; Ezra 7:21 (Biblical Hebrew שַׁשְׂתָּא-; Egyptian Aramaic ארתחשסש RES438, S-CB2+; see also AndrM 54* Schefti. 79); — Αρσαρθα, Α(ρ)σαθαθα, Αρθασαθα; ᵐ5L Αρταξερξης.

artaxerxes
ʾartaḥšaštāʾ
I will make the spoiled to boil, I will stir myself (in) winter
Artachshasta (or Artaxerxes), a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings
  • son and successor of Xerxes as emperor of Persia, 465–424 BC

מַלְכָּ ֖א
מַלְכָּ
Root word king, kings, royal
֖א
Prefix — article the
Dictionary form: מֶלֶךְ · meh-LEK

Noun — Common, masculine singular, determined state determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)

In the KJV here: the king
the king ×75 o king ×19 the kings ×12 king ×10 kings ×9 unto the king ×9 and the king ×7 to the king ×6
More options
king — Standard modern rendering; broadly suitable in most contexts.
monarch — Formal or literary tone; emphasizes sovereign authority.
ruler — Broader term; useful when royal title is less central.
sovereign — Elevated register; stresses supreme political power.
royal — Adjectival use; prefer when modifying a noun directly.

BDB9662 H4429 H4430

BDB9661 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9663

מֶ֫לֶךְ178 noun masculine king (general Semitic; see Biblical Hebrew); — ׳מ absolute Dan 2:10 + 2 t.; construct Dan 4:34 + 6 t.; usually emphatic מַלְכָּא Ezra 4:8 + 154 t., ָ  ה Dan 2:11 plural מַלְכִין Ezra 4:15 + 9 t., ִ  ים Ezra 4:13 (Hebraism, BeRy M41*); emphatic מַלְכַיָּא Dan 2:44 + 2 t.; — king Dan 2:4; Dan 2:5 + 132 t. Daniel; Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:11 + 42 t. Ezra (מֶלָךְ מַלְכַיָּא of Nebuchadnezzar Dan 2:37, of Artaxerxes Ezra 7:12 [compare Cooke71.3, of Xerxes]; מַלְכִין Dan 7:17 = kingdoms, compare מַלְכוּ vDan 7:23).

king, kings, royal
melek
a king
  • king

כְּנֵֽמָא
כְּנֵֽמָא
Adverb thus, manner, so, sort
Dictionary form: כְּנֵמָא · keh-nay-MAW

Adverb

In the KJV here: in this sort
and thus ×1 in this sort ×1 so ×1 unto them thus ×1 we unto them after this manner ×1
More options
in this way — Neutral, everyday phrase; broadly applicable in most contexts.
like this — Informal and direct; suits conversational or narrative register.
thus — Slightly formal; good for legal, official, or solemn speech.
in this manner — More deliberate tone; fits formal or procedural contexts.
accordingly — Emphasizes logical consequence or compliance with instructions.
as follows — Use when introducing a statement or set of instructions.

BDB9614 H3660

BDB9613 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9615

כְּנֵ֫מָא adverb accordingly, as follows (derivation uncertain: NöGGA, 1884, 1021 Marti and others from כֵּן + indefinite מָא, so somewhat, ungefähr so: see older improbable view (as we should say, from כְּ and נֵימָא = נֵאמַר, compare Talmud יֵימָא for יֵימַר) in Thes652): referring backwards, Ear Ezra 6:13 כְּנֵמָא ֗֗֗ עֲבַדוּ did accordingly; referring forwards, Ezra 4:8 . . . כְּתַבוּ כְנֵמָא wrote a letter . . . as follows, Ezra 5:4(read c ᵐ5 אֲמַרוּ; אֲמַרְנָא from vEzra 5:9, MeyEntst. 26), vEzra 5:9 vEzra 5:11.

thus, manner, so, sort
kĕnēmāʾ
so or thus
  • thus, so, accordingly, as follows

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
רְח֣וּם בְּעֵל טְעֵ֗ם Revia — a lesser break וְשִׁמְשַׁי֙ Pashta — a lesser break סָֽפְרָ֔א Zaqef Qatan — a strong break כְּתַ֛בוּ Tevir — a lesser break אִגְּרָ֥ה חֲדָ֖ה Tipeha — a lesser break עַל יְרֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥שְׂתְּא מַלְכָּ֖א Tipeha — a lesser break כְּנֵֽמָא Silluq — end of the verse

רְחוּם בְּעֵל-טְעֵם וְשִׁמְשַׁי סָֽפְרָא כְּתַבוּ אִגְּרָה חֲדָה עַל-יְרֽוּשְׁלֶם לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא מַלְכָּא כְּנֵֽמָא׃
8
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
Cross References

Ezra 4:9

אֱדַיִן רְחוּם בְּעֵל-טְעֵם וְשִׁמְשַׁי סָֽפְרָא וּשְׁאָר כְּנָוָֽתְהוֹן דִּֽינָיֵא וַֽאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵא טַרְפְּלָיֵא אֲפָֽרְסָיֵא ‫(ארכוי)‬ אַרְכְּוָיֵא בָֽבְלָיֵא שֽׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵא ‫(דהוא)‬ דֶּהָיֵא עֵֽלְמָיֵֽא׃
9
Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

2 Kings 18:18

וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֵּצֵא אֲלֵהֶם אֶלְיָקִים בֶּן-חִלְקִיָּהוּ אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַבָּיִת וְשֶׁבְנָה הַסֹּפֵר וְיוֹאָח בֶּן-אָסָף הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
18
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

2 Samuel 20:25

‫(ושיא)‬ וּשְׁוָא סֹפֵר וְצָדוֹק וְאֶבְיָתָר כֹּֽהֲנִֽים׃
25
And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

2 Samuel 8:17

וְצָדוֹק בֶּן-אֲחִיטוּב וַֽאֲחִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן-אֶבְיָתָר כֹּֽהֲנִים וּשְׂרָיָה סוֹפֵֽר׃
17
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
Ezra 4:7
Read Ezra 4
Ezra 4:9