Marshal

MARSHAL. Not found in the KJV, but the ASV and RSV represent two Heb. words: 1. סֹפֵֽר (Judg 5:14). The duty of the marshal was to muster soldiers for a military campaign; and later, to keep a register of available names for military service (2 Kings 25:19 ASV CAPTAIN; Jer 52:25 OFFICER; 2 Chron 26:11 CAPTAIN).

2. טִפְסָ֔ר. This denotes a military officer of high rank (Jer 51:27 KJV CAPTAIN; Nahum 3:17 KJV CAPTAIN).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

mar’-shal: Not found in the King James Version, but in the Revised Version (British and American) the word represents two Hebrew words: (1) copher (Jud 5:14), translated "they that handle the marshal’s staff." A difficulty arises because the usual meaning of copher is "scribe" or "writer" (so the King James Version). The revisers follow Septuagint and Greek authority which favor "marshal" as against "scribe." The office of marshal was to help the general to maintain discipline (compare 1 Macc 5:42). (2) Tiphcar (Jer 51:27), a loan-word whose meaning is clear. Lenormant thinks it akin to a Babylonian-Assyrian word meaning "tablet-writer" (compare Delitzsch). Accordingly, the Revised Version margin renders Na 3:17 "thy scribes," though the Syriac has "thy warriors," as does the Targum in Jeremiah. We must await further light on both words.

George B. Eager