Bible Dictionaries
Ambassador
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word Tsir , Meaning "one who goes on an errand," is rendered thus ( Joshua 9:4; Proverbs 13:17; Isaiah 18:2; Jeremiah 49:14; Obadiah 1:1 ). This is also the rendering of Melits , Meaning "an interpreter," in 2 Chronicles 32:31; and of Malak , A "messenger," in 2 Chronicles 35:21; Isaiah 30:4; 33:7; Ezekiel 17:15 . This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20 ). The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances (Joshua 9:4 ), to solicit favours (Numbers 20:14 ), to remonstrate when wrong was done (Judges 11:12 ), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2 Samuel 10:2 ), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kings 5:1 ).
To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2 Samuel 10:5 ).
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ambassador'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/ambassador.html. 1897.