Reference: Tirshatha

Perhaps meaning severe or august, a title of honor borne by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah as Persian governors of Judea, Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65.

a word probably of Persian origin, meaning "severity," denoting a high civil dignity. The Persian governor of Judea is so called (Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65,70). Nehemiah is called by this name in Ne 8:9; 10:1, and the "governor" (pehah) in Ne 5:18. Probably, therefore, tirshatha=pehah=the modern pasha.

The official title of the Persian governor of Judaea (Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65,70); applied to Nehemiah (Ne 8:9; 10:1); also to Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:63). From a Persian root, "his severity." Like the German title of consuls of free and imperial cities, gestrenger herr. So "our most dread sovereign." Pecheh (our pasha) is the title of Nehemiah in Ne 12:26; Hag 1:1; 2:2; Ezr 5:3; implying governor of a province less than a satrapy.

A Persian word = 'His Excellency,' or more probably 'His Reverence,' mentioned Ezr 2:63 (= Ne 7:65), Ne 7:70; 8:9; 10:1. In the first three passages he is unnamed, but is apparently Zerubbabel; in the last two he is Nehemiah. The title is used interchangeably with the Assyrian pechah or 'governor,' of which it may be the Persian equivalent, and apparently represents a plenipotentiary appointed for a special mission.

C. W. Emmet.

Tirsha'tha

Persian title given to Nehemiah. Ne 8:9; 10:1. In Ezr 2:63, and Ne 7:65,70, the same title doubtless refers to Zerubbabel. In the margin it reads 'governor.' It is thought to be similar to the modern word Pasha. This is confirmed by the Hebrew word (pechah), used for the title of Nehemiah in Ne 12:26, and elsewhere for the Persian governors.

(always written with the article), the title of the governor of Judea under the Persians, perhaps derived from a Persian root signifying stern, severe, is added as a title after the name of Nehemiah,

Ne 8:9; 10:1

and occurs also in three other places. In the margin of the Authorized Version

Ezr 2:63; Ne 7:65; 10:1

it is rendered "governor."