Ambassador
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word tsir, meaning “one who goes on an errand,” is rendered thus (Josh 9:4; Prov 13:17; Isa 18:2; Jer 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of melits, meaning “an interpreter,” in 2 Chr 32:31; and of malak, a “messenger,” in 2 Chr 35:21; Isa 30:4; 33:7; Ezek 17:15. This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Cor 5:20; Eph 6:20).
The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances (Josh 9:4), to solicit favours (Num 20:14), to remonstrate when wrong was done (Judg 11:12), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2 Sam 10:2), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kgs 5:1).
To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2 Sam 10:5).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
am-bas'-a-dor (mal'akh, "messenger"; 'luts, "interpreter"; tsir, "to go"; hence a messenger; presbeuo, "to act as an ambassador," literally, to be older): An ambassador is an official representative of a king or government, as of Pharaoh (Isa 30:4); of the princes of Babylon (2 Chr 32:31); of Neco, king of Egypt (2 Chr 35:21); of the messengers of peace sent by Hezekiah, king of Judah, to Sennacherib, king of Assyria (Isa 33:7). The same Hebrew term is used of the messengers sent by Jacob to Esau (Gen 32:3); by Moses to the king of Edom (Num 20:14). For abundant illustration consult "Messenger" (mal'akh) in any concordance. See Concordance. The inhabitants of Gibeon made themselves pretended ambassadors to Joshua in order to secure by deceit the protection of a treaty ("covenant") (Josh 9:4).
In the New Testament the term is used in a figurative sense. As the imprisoned representative of Christ at Rome Paul calls himself "an ambassador in chains" (Eph 6:20); and in 2 Cor 5:20 includes, with himself, all ministers of the gospel, as "ambassadors .... on behalf of Christ," commissioned by Him as their sovereign Lord, with the ministry of reconciling the world to God. The Bible contains no finer characterization of the exalted and spiritual nature of the minister's vocation as the representative of Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Saviour of the world.
Dwight M. Pratt
Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).