Esther 8 12

Esther 8:12 kjv

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

Esther 8:12 nkjv

on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

Esther 8:12 niv

The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

Esther 8:12 esv

on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

Esther 8:12 nlt

The day chosen for this event throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7 of the next year.

Esther 8 verses

Esther 8 12 Meaning

Esther 8:12 records the contents of the second royal decree issued by King Ahasuerus, influenced by Queen Esther and Mordecai. This decree granted the Jewish people in all 127 provinces of the Persian Empire the legal right to assemble and defend themselves. On the specific day appointed for their annihilation (the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar), they were authorized to "destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish" any individuals or groups who might attack them, including their women and children, and to take their assailants' property as spoil. This effectively reversed the destructive intent of Haman's earlier decree by empowering the intended victims with the means and legal authority for self-preservation.

Esther 8 12 Context

Esther 8:12 sits at the dramatic turning point of the Book of Esther. Haman, a high-ranking official, had obtained a royal decree from King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) to annihilate all Jews throughout the vast Persian Empire on a specific day, the 13th of Adar (Esth 3:13). This decree, once sealed with the king's signet ring, was irrevocable according to Persian law (Esth 8:8).

After Haman's treachery was exposed, and he was executed (Esth 7), Queen Esther and Mordecai still faced the grim reality of the original decree. They could not cancel it, but through Esther's courage and Mordecai's wisdom, they obtained permission from King Ahasuerus to issue a new counter-decree. This second decree, authored by Mordecai and sealed by the king, allowed the Jews not just to defend themselves, but explicitly authorized them to gather, strike back, and plunder those who would attack them on that appointed day. This legislative strategy ensured their survival by giving them the legal framework to repel any assaults. It illustrates the incredible shift in power and favor: from intended victims marked for destruction to legally empowered defenders.

Esther 8 12 Word analysis

• to slay, and to cause to perish, and to destroy:

  • The Hebrew terms used here are a powerful triplet: "to slay" (לְהָרֹג - leharog from harag - to kill/slay in battle), "to cause to perish" (וּלְאַבֵּד - ule'abed from abad - to utterly destroy, to wipe out), and "to destroy" (לְהַשְׁמִיד - lehashmid from shamad - to annihilate, decimate, lay waste).
  • Significance: These are precisely the same forceful, comprehensive verbs Haman used in Esther 3:13 to describe his intent for the Jews. Their verbatim repetition in Esther 8:12 emphasizes the poetic justice and dramatic reversal. The very language of destruction intended for the Jews is now authorized for them to use against their would-be oppressors, underscoring the "turning of the tables" central to the Purim narrative.

• upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar:

  • Significance: This specifies the timing and scope. It reaffirms the exact date and widespread geographical reach of the original threat, reinforcing that the counter-decree is a direct response to, and overturning of, the initial murderous plan across the entire vast empire. The singular "one day" emphasizes the focused, sudden, and complete nature of both the original threat and the Jewish response.

• all the power of the people and province that would assault them:

  • Significance: This is crucial. It is not a decree for the Jews to attack indiscriminately. Rather, it specifically targets those who would "assault them" (לַהֲרֹג אֶת כָּל־חֵיל עַם וּמְדִינָה אֲשֶׁר צָרִים אֹתָם - laharog et kol-cheil am umedinah asher tzarim otam, "to kill all the force/host of people and province that distress or are hostile to them"). This limitation defines the Jewish action as self-defense, a righteous retaliation against their enemies, distinguishing their action from Haman's genocidal ambition. It grants them the right to protect themselves proactively against aggressors, not to initiate aggression.

• their little ones and women:

  • Significance: Again, this phrase directly mirrors the target victims in Haman's decree (Esther 3:13). Its inclusion here signifies the total defense authorized for the entire Jewish community, from the most vulnerable to the strongest, protecting every life. It underlines the gravity of the threat and the completeness of the granted defensive permission.

• and to take the spoil of them for a prey:

  • The Hebrew is וּבְשָׁלָלָם לָבוֹז (uveshelalam lavoz) meaning "and their spoil to plunder."
  • Significance: This aspect of the decree granted the Jews the right to plunder the property of their defeated enemies, a common right given to victorious armies or authorized defenders in ancient Near Eastern warfare. It was part of the intended outcome of Haman's decree for the Jews' property. The crucial point of comparison, however, comes in Esther 9:10, 15, and 16, which explicitly states that the Jews "laid not their hands on the spoil." This remarkable act of self-restraint is highly significant. It demonstrated that their actions were solely for self-preservation and justice, not for material gain, distinguishing their divinely sanctioned defense from acts of revenge or banditry. It points to a moral fortitude and obedience beyond the mere legal permission.

Esther 8 12 Bonus section

• The irrevocability of Persian law (Esth 1:19, 8:8; Dan 6:8, 12, 15) made a direct cancellation of Haman's decree impossible, necessitating this clever counter-mandate. This shows the shrewdness of Mordecai in navigating the legal system.
• Though God is never explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, His hand is profoundly evident in the precise timing, the complete reversal of fortune, and the favorable disposition of the king towards Esther and Mordecai. This verse is a clear manifestation of His invisible yet powerful sovereignty protecting His covenant people.
• The decree being published "upon one day" (Esth 8:12) and executed on the "thirteenth day of the twelfth month" (Esth 9:1) highlights the specificity and focused nature of this deliverance. The day that was intended for their destruction became the day of their victory and deliverance.

Esther 8 12 Commentary

Esther 8:12 marks the dramatic turning point in the book, providing the legal framework for the Jewish people's salvation. It exemplifies divine providence at work through human agency, even without direct mention of God's name. The king's advisors could not annul Haman's decree, but Mordecai crafted a masterful counter-decree using the same legal mechanisms and even the same strong language. This counter-decree empowers the Jews with defensive force. The exact reversal of fate—the sword pointed at the Jews now permissible for them to wield against their aggressors—showcases God's justice in returning evil upon the head of the plotter. The permission to take spoil mirrors the original intent for the Jews' property. However, the subsequent historical record in Esther 9, showing that the Jews chose not to take the spoil, profoundly elevates their action from mere retribution or opportunism to one of pure defense and spiritual rectitude. This self-restraint demonstrated their focus on justice and survival, not personal enrichment, further highlighting the distinctness of God's people even when acting within human laws of warfare. The establishment of Purim as a lasting celebration hinges upon this remarkable divine reversal on "one day."