Esther 3 14

Esther 3:14 kjv

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

Esther 3:14 nkjv

A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day.

Esther 3:14 niv

A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.

Esther 3:14 esv

A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.

Esther 3:14 nlt

A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and proclaimed to all peoples, so that they would be ready to do their duty on the appointed day.

Esther 3 verses

Esther 3 14 meaning

Esther 3:14 describes the wide dissemination of Haman’s decree across the Persian Empire. This document, officially copied and proclaimed as a law, ensured that every province and all diverse peoples knew of the impending extermination of the Jews. The purpose of this universal proclamation was to make the inhabitants ready and prepared for the designated day of massacre, setting the stage for Haman’s cruel plan to unfold empire-wide.

Esther 3 14 Context

Esther chapter 3 unfolds Haman’s sinister plot. Elevated by King Ahasuerus to a position of power above all officials, Haman demanded obeisance. Mordecai, a Jew, refused to bow due to his faith and allegiance to God. Incensed by this personal affront, and upon discovering Mordecai’s Jewish identity, Haman sought not only to punish Mordecai but to annihilate his entire people throughout the vast Persian Empire. He manipulated the king through deceit, casting lots ("Pur") to determine the day, and then secured a royal decree for the destruction of all Jews. Verse 14 specifically details the subsequent mandatory dissemination of this death edict, ensuring that it was widely known and people were prepared to carry out the massacre on the appointed day. This public decree stands in stark contrast to God's unseen providence, setting the stage for the dramatic conflict that will follow.

Esther 3 14 Word analysis

• A copy: Hebrew פַּתְשֶׁגֶן (patshagen). This Aramaic loanword means 'copy' or 'duplicate.' It signifies that the original, sealed decree, directly from the king, was replicated and distributed. This gave the copies full legal authority, ensuring no ambiguity regarding the king's mandate. The use of an official "copy" underscores the legality and enforceability of Haman's decree throughout the empire, demonstrating meticulous bureaucratic evil.
• of the document: Refers to the letter or official order drafted by Haman and sealed by the king's signet ring (Esth 3:12). This makes it an irrevocable royal decree in Persian law (Dan 6:8, 12).
• was to be issued: Highlights the authoritative and mandatory nature of its publication. It wasn't an optional suggestion but a legal requirement for immediate and universal distribution.
• as a decree: Hebrew דָּת (dat). This Persian loanword refers to a 'law' or 'edict.' It emphasizes the binding nature of the order, confirming its status as official state law, unchallengeable by ordinary means.
• in every province and proclaimed: The Persian Empire was vast, spanning 127 provinces (Esth 1:1). "Every province" signifies comprehensive reach, leaving no Jewish community unaffected. The proclamation ensured oral and public awareness, especially critical in times of widespread illiteracy.
• to all peoples: לְכָל הָעַמִּים (lechol ha'amim). This refers to the diverse populations living within the empire, not exclusively the Persians. It signifies the global reach of the decree, requiring participation or at least knowledge from all citizens. It demonstrates the universal nature of the threat.
• so that they might be ready: לִהְיוֹת עֲתִידִים (lihyot atidim), meaning 'to be ready' or 'prepared.' This crucial phrase states the decree's primary objective: not merely to inform, but to galvanize the populace into action for the massacre. It highlights the premeditated and organized nature of the intended genocide.
• for that day: The specific date chosen by lot, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar (Esth 3:13). This provides a precise deadline for preparation and the impending destruction, building suspense and highlighting the imminence of the threat.

Words-group analysis:

• "A copy of the document...as a decree": This phrase emphasizes the legality and authority bestowed upon Haman's malevolent plan. It was not a private conspiracy but an imperial law, backed by the king's power and the bureaucracy of the land. This legal binding made the situation incredibly perilous for the Jews, seemingly without any recourse under human law.
• "in every province and proclaimed to all peoples": This highlights the sheer scale of the intended genocide. The command permeated every corner of the vast empire and reached every ethnic group. It implies meticulous execution and underscores the widespread vulnerability of the Jews, scattered among many nations, with no safe haven from this all-encompassing threat.
• "so that they might be ready for that day": This clarifies the chilling purpose of the proclamation. It wasn't simply informational; it was an activation command. It reveals the strategic evil behind Haman’s plan, allowing ample time for people to prepare their weapons, gather their forces, and be fully equipped to carry out the mass murder of the Jews. This phrase evokes the horrific reality of the impending destruction, setting the stage for a seemingly inevitable calamity.

Esther 3 14 Bonus section

The seemingly arbitrary nature of Haman "casting lots" (Pur, which gives the feast its name) is directly juxtaposed with God’s absolute sovereignty. While Haman consulted fate for his malevolent timing, the narrative implicitly argues that divine providence ultimately determines all outcomes, even those seemingly left to chance (Prov 16:33). The immense administrative apparatus required to disseminate such a decree across 127 provinces also highlights the vulnerability of a scattered people and the daunting task ahead for Mordecai and Esther. This very verse, detailing the plot’s perfection, actually creates the framework for its eventual subversion, as the wide public announcement allows the Jews to respond.

Esther 3 14 Commentary

Esther 3:14 describes the bureaucratic and systematic implementation of Haman's genocidal decree. This seemingly straightforward verse is pregnant with chilling significance. The dissemination of the 'copy' as an unchangeable 'decree' underscores the Persian legal system’s irrevocable nature, trapping the Jews in a seemingly inescapable predicament. The comprehensive reach—'every province' and 'all peoples'—demonstrates the scale of the impending destruction. Haman's aim was a thorough extermination, ensuring no Jew could hide. The chilling objective, "so that they might be ready," exposes the malicious intent: not merely to announce but to arm and incite the population for the massacre. This verse exemplifies the world’s enmity against God's people and the organized nature of evil. Yet, unbeknownst to Haman, this widely disseminated decree also provides the essential information for the Jews, led by Mordecai and Esther, to understand their desperate plight and to respond with prayer, fasting, and ultimately, by God's hand, defensive action. It is in this context of absolute human desperation, decreed and announced, that God's hidden providence begins to work for the salvation of His chosen people. The ultimate failure of this comprehensive, meticulously planned evil plot showcases God's sovereignty over the decrees of powerful earthly rulers and the schemes of the wicked.