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פַּתְבַּג

𐤐𐤕𐤁𐤂

pathbag

H6598 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A prepared dish or portion of food, often understood as a delicacy or set meal, especially one provisioned at a royal or official table. The term is used for food apportioned, frequently in the context of royal banquets or court provisions, with a nuance of an allotted, specific share.

Semantic Range

portion of food, official ration, serving from a royal table, delicacy, designated meal or provision

Root / Etymology

פַּתְבַּג is a loanword from Old Persian (possibly *pati-baga-), meaning 'portion, food, allotted share (of meat or fare)', reflecting the official distribution of food in Persian administrative contexts, particularly at the royal table. The root does not occur in native Hebrew and the word is not derived from a native Hebrew root; it is a Persian loanword incorporated during the Persian period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פַּתְבַּג occurs exclusively in post-exilic books (Ezra 1:7, Daniel 1:5, 1:8, 1:13, 1:15, 1:16), in the context of royal courts under Persian and Babylonian rule. In these settings, it refers not to generic food but to officially appointed rations, especially those granted from the royal table to courtiers, officials, or others under royal favor. Its use reflects Persian administrative culture, where food distribution was highly formalized, and the culinary term was borrowed into Biblical Aramaic and Hebrew to describe these institutional meals. In Daniel, the term specifically refers to food and wine given to Daniel and his companions from the Babylonian king's provisions. English translations as 'dainty', 'portion', or 'meat' may understate the institutional character of the word—the core meaning revolves around a designated share, usually from high-status (royal) cuisine, rather than everyday fare. There is no direct equivalence in typical Israelite terminology; contrasts with terms like לֶחֶם (leḥem, 'bread') or מָנָה (manah, 'portion'), which have broader, more native senses.

Translation Consistency

primary "portion" 5 occurrences

The lemma is a noun denoting an allotted serving or dish. 'Portion' is a simple, natural English noun that covers the full SILEX range (allocated share, serving, official ration, or dish from a royal table). It is clearer and more broadly applicable than 'allotted' (which is adjectival/verb-like) or narrower terms like 'ration' or 'delicacy.'

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"allotted food-portion" (2x) "allotted food-portion of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Persian origin; a dainty; portion (provision) of meat.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פתבג (pathbag (loanword)) — apportioned food, allotted share, official provision

Root uncertain to apportion, allocate shares, distribute food

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6598-06 פַּתְבַּ֣ג patebag HNcmsc the king's food allotted food-portion allotted food-portion 2
H6598-03 בְּ/פַתְבַּ֥ג befatebag HR/Ncmsc with the food in allotted portion of with the portion of food 1
H6598-01 בַּ֤ג bag HNcmsc food allotted portion allotted portion 1
H6598-07 פַּתְבָּגָ֔/ם patebagam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their food their allotted portion their allotted portion 1
H6598-02 בָּג֛/וֹ bago HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his delicacies his allotted portion his allotted portion 1
H6598-04 פַת fat HNcmsc bread allotted food-portion of allotted portion 1
H6598-05 מִ/פַּת mipat HR/Ncmsc from portion allotted food-portion of allotted food-portion of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6598-05 Daniel 1:5 מִ/פַּת mipat HR/Ncmsc from portion allotted food-portion of allotted food-portion of
H6598-01 Daniel 1:5 בַּ֤ג bag HNcmsc food allotted portion allotted portion
H6598-03 Daniel 1:8 בְּ/פַתְבַּ֥ג befatebag HR/Ncmsc with the food in allotted portion of with the portion of food
H6598-06 Daniel 1:13 פַּתְבַּ֣ג patebag HNcmsc the king's food allotted food-portion allotted food-portion
H6598-06 Daniel 1:15 פַּתְבַּ֥ג patebag HNcmsc the portion allotted food-portion allotted food-portion
H6598-07 Daniel 1:16 פַּתְבָּגָ֔/ם patebagam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their food their allotted portion their allotted portion
H6598-04 Daniel 11:26 פַת fat HNcmsc bread allotted food-portion of allotted portion
H6598-02 Daniel 11:26 בָּג֛/וֹ bago HNcmsc/Sp3ms of his delicacies his allotted portion his allotted portion
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