רִשְׁיוֹן
𐤓𐤔𐤉𐤅𐤍
rishyôwn
H7558 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A formal permit, authorization, or written permission; a grant conferring official leave or authority for a specific action, often issued or recognized by a legal or administrative body. In context, typically refers to written permission for an Israelite to leave a location, especially in exilic or post-exilic periods.
Semantic Range
permit, written authorization, license, official leave, grant (especially in formal or bureaucratic context)
Root / Etymology
The word is derived from a root that is not attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew, but is believed to mean 'to have leave' or 'to permit.' The formation appears to follow a common nominal pattern (-yôn), indicating a thing or result related to an action. Thus, רִשְׁיוֹן (rishyôn) would mean something granted as permission or leave.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רִשְׁיוֹן is a rare term, attested in post-exilic contexts, notably in Ezra 4:7, where it refers to a written permit or official document granting leave or authorization. The social context is imperial administration (Persian period), where official documents were increasingly important. As bureaucratic record-keeping became common, such written grants or permits became key for regulating movement and privileges, including the right to return or undertake construction. The English translation 'license,' 'permit,' or 'leave' captures the primary sense, but may understate the structured bureaucratic character of the term in context. Unlike more general terms for permission or will (e.g., רָצוֹן ratson), רִשְׁיוֹן implies formal, often written, authorization recognized by political or administrative authorities. Later in rabbinic Hebrew, the word develops a broader sense for licenses or permits, and in modern Hebrew is the common word for 'license,' but this usage is not attested in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to have leave; a permit; grant.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רשׁי (r-š-y) — to permit, to grant leave
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7558-01 |
כְּ/רִשְׁי֛וֹן | kerisheyon | HR/Ncmsc |
according to the authorization | according to permit-of | according to permit of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7558-01 |
Ezra 3:7 | כְּ/רִשְׁי֛וֹן | kerisheyon | HR/Ncmsc |
according to the authorization | according to permit-of | according to permit of |