סִיוָן

סִיוָן

Sivan, the third Hebrew month

Definition

Sivan is the name of the third month in the Hebrew religious calendar, corresponding roughly to May-June on the Gregorian calendar. It is a proper noun used exclusively to designate this specific time period. In the biblical text, it is mentioned only in Esther 8:9, where it dates the royal decree that allowed the Jews to defend themselves. As part of the post-exilic calendar, which adopted Babylonian month names, Sivan marks a period in late spring.

Biblical Usage

The word סִיוָן (Sivan) is used only once in the Old Testament, in Esther 8:9. It functions solely as a calendar date to specify the timing of a crucial event: the issuance of King Ahasuerus's edict on behalf of the Jews. This singular usage places it within the context of the Persian Empire's administration and the narrative of Jewish deliverance during the feast of Purim.

Etymology

The word סִיוָן (Sivan) is a loanword, almost certainly borrowed from the Akkadian/Babylonian month name 'Simanu.' This reflects the historical influence of the Babylonian calendar on the Jewish people following the exile. Its adoption into Hebrew is part of a broader pattern where several Hebrew month names (e.g., Nisan, Adar) have Mesopotamian origins.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a simple calendar term, its single biblical occurrence in Esther 8:9 is theologically significant. It anchors the date of the decree that led to the deliverance of the Jewish people, a central theme of the Book of Esther. Understanding this term as part of the post-exilic calendar enriches the reading by highlighting the historical setting of God's providence operating within a foreign empire's framework. In its original setting, Sivan was a month in the civil calendar used during the Persian period. For the Jewish community, it fell during the late spring harvest. Its mention in Esther reflects the reality of Jewish life in the Diaspora, using the official imperial dating system. This contrasts with the earlier, Canaanite-derived month names used in the pre-exilic period (e.g., Ziv, Ethanim). חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh, H2320) — The general Hebrew word for 'month,' of which Sivan is a specific named example. זִו (Ziv, H2099) — The Canaanite-derived name for the second month (Iyyar) in the older Israelite calendar, illustrating the shift to Babylonian names like Sivan.

Word Details