Hebrew word · H8660

תִּרְשָׁתָא

hatirshata'

governor

A Persian loanword, used in the Bible only as a title for the governor of Judah (Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65, 70; 8:9; 10:1). Most scholars trace it to an Old Persian word meaning 'the feared one' or 'the respected one', which makes it a term of honour like 'His Excellency'.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

1) Tirshatha-governor

1a) a title used by the Persian governor in Judea

1a1) Nehemiah used this title

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ezra 2:63

Range of meaning: A Persian loanword, used in the Bible only as a title for the governor of Judah (Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65, 70; 8:9; 10:1). Most scholars trace it to an Old Persian word meaning 'the feared one' or 'the respected one', which makes it a term of honour like 'His Excellency'.
Against the English: KJV, YLT and NASB-style versions leave it as a name ('the Tirshatha'). BSB, WEB, NIV and ESV translate it as 'the governor'. 'Governor' gets the job right but loses that this is a Persian court title. That detail tells the reader that a foreign empire's appointee was ruling on Israel's priesthood.
How it drifted: Not real drift. 'Governor' is a reasonable equivalent, though a modern reader may picture an elected regional official rather than a man appointed by the Persian crown.
Used elsewhere in the period: Nehemiah 8:9 and 10:1 apply it to Nehemiah, while Nehemiah 5:14 uses the ordinary Hebrew word for governor (peḥah) for the same office. The Greek translation of Ezra just spells out the sound (Atharsatha / Athersatha), and 1 Esdras 5:40 takes it as a personal name, 'Attharias'. The Latin Vulgate keeps 'Athersatha'. HALOT treats it as an Iranian title.

From the study of Nehemiah 8:9

Range of meaning: A Persian title for the governor of Judah. It is probably from an Old Persian word meaning 'the one to be respected or feared', close to 'His Excellency'. The exact origin is uncertain.
Against the English: KJV and YLT simply transliterate it as 'the Tirshatha'. Modern versions translate it as 'governor', which is accurate but loses the sense that it is a foreign honorific of the empire.
Used elsewhere in the period: Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65, 69 (70); 8:9; 10:1 (10:2 Heb). Elsewhere Nehemiah is called pechah, the ordinary word for governor (Neh 5:14; 12:26). The Vulgate gives 'Athersatha'. 1 Esdras 9:49 turns the title into a personal name, 'Attharates'.

Where it appears

Ezra · 1

Ezra 2:63 הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙ the governor

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

Here: A Persian title of honour, roughly 'His Excellency', used for the man the Persian crown put over Judah. It names his office, not his personal name. He was a civil official ruling on a question about priests.

Nehemiah · 4

Nehemiah 7:65 הַתִּרְשָׁ֙תָא֙ the governor

The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.
Nehemiah 7:70 הַתִּרְשָׁ֜תָא the governor

Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
Nehemiah 8:9 הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא [was] the governor

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.

Here: A Persian loanword for the governor of Judah, probably an honorific roughly like 'His Excellency'. It marks the speaker as the imperial authority in the province, not only a community elder.
Nehemiah 10:1 הַתִּרְשָׁ֛תָא the governor

Now these were the ones who sealed the document: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.