Esther 8 15

Esther 8:15 kjv

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Esther 8:15 nkjv

So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Esther 8:15 niv

When Mordecai left the king's presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.

Esther 8:15 esv

Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

Esther 8:15 nlt

Then Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree.

Esther 8 verses

Esther 8 15 Meaning

Esther 8:15 depicts Mordecai's public emergence from the king's presence, splendidly arrayed in royal colors and insignia of high authority. This spectacle of honor and power symbolizes the complete reversal of fortune for Mordecai and the Jewish people, transitioning from the threat of annihilation to vindication and deliverance. The verse further highlights the city of Shushan's jubilant response, indicating widespread relief and celebration at this significant shift.

Esther 8 15 Context

Esther chapter 8 is a pivotal turning point in the book. After Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews was revealed and he was executed, Mordecai was given Haman's authority and ring. The king, however, could not revoke the irreversible decree signed and sealed with the royal ring. Therefore, Esther and Mordecai devised a counter-decree, allowing Jews to defend themselves against their attackers. Esther 8:15 follows the drafting and sealing of this new decree. Mordecai's magnificent attire and the city's celebration signal the effective implementation of this life-saving measure and the triumphant establishment of Jewish safety, replacing fear with hope. Historically, the Persian Empire, ruled by Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), was a vast and powerful kingdom known for its strict adherence to royal decrees. The change in Mordecai's public status, from a mourning supplicant in chapter 4 to a triumphant official, would have been immediately recognizable and understood by the original audience as a monumental shift in power and fortune, demonstrating the unseen hand of divine providence.

Esther 8 15 Word analysis

• And Mordecai:
  • Mordecai (מָרְדֳּכַי, Mordekhay): A key figure, signifying God's instrument in reversing the Jews' fate. His name is of Babylonian origin, yet he remains faithful to Yahweh, a powerful paradox showing God's ability to work through unlikely means in any culture.
• went out:
  • went out (יָצָא, yatza): Implies a formal, authorized departure from the presence of royalty, often marking an official assumption of duty or display of newfound status. This public exit contrasts sharply with Mordecai's previous appearance in sackcloth (Esth 4:1-2), signifying his radical elevation.
• from the presence of the king:
  • Signifies direct approval and empowerment by the highest earthly authority. All authority and regalia are granted by the king, yet ultimately, through God's providential working.
• in royal apparel:
  • royal apparel (לְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת, levush malkhut): Clothing that signifies kingship, power, and dignity. It's a visible declaration of Mordecai's elevated status, akin to a royal decree made manifest on his person. This display assures the people that the king's favor is now fully with Mordecai and, by extension, the Jews.
• of blue and white:
  • blue (תְּכֵלֶת, tekhelet): A highly prized indigo dye, associated with royalty, divinity (sky-color), and high priestly garments in ancient Israel (Exod 28:6, 15; Num 15:38). It symbolized the sacredness of office and dignity.
  • white (חוּר, khur): Referred to fine, bleached white linen, denoting purity, luxury, and nobility. Together, these colors would have signaled extraordinary prestige and power. In the context of Persia, these were also colors associated with royal attire.
• and with a great crown of gold:
  • crown of gold (וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה, va'ateret zahav gedolah): An atera (crown) here refers not to a monarch's royal crown but likely a magnificent, large turban or a regal headpiece adorned with gold, signifying exceptional honor, distinction, and perhaps high administrative rank. Its "greatness" implies a grand scale and profound significance.
• and with a garment of fine linen and purple:
  • garment of fine linen (תַּחְרִיט בּוּץ, takhrit butz): Butz refers to Byssus, a rare, exceedingly fine, and expensive Egyptian linen. It was a fabric exclusively for the wealthiest, indicating immense prestige and luxury (e.g., Lk 16:19). This layer of clothing reinforces Mordecai's high social standing.
  • purple (וָאַרְגָּמָן, ve'argaman): An extremely valuable dye (derived from murex snails) universally recognized as a symbol of royalty, wealth, and power across the ancient world. It would have visually announced Mordecai's exalted position and influence within the Persian court.
• and the city of Shushan:
  • Shushan (שׁוּשַׁן, Shushan): The capital city, and seat of royal power. The city's reaction reflects the broader sentiment, especially among the Jewish population and perhaps also others who sympathized or feared the implications of the prior decree.
• rejoiced and was glad:
  • rejoiced (צָהֲלָה, tzahalah): Often implies shouts of joy, an outward and exultant expression of happiness, especially after overcoming hardship or threat.
  • was glad (וְשָׂמֵחָה, v'samekha): Denotes a deep sense of inner joy and contentment. The two verbs together convey the overwhelming, widespread, and heartfelt nature of the city's elation, transitioning from collective fear and lamentation (Esth 4:3) to collective relief and celebration due to this turning point.

Esther 8 15 Bonus section

The entire book of Esther uniquely does not mention God's name explicitly, yet His presence is overwhelmingly evident through the meticulous timing, seemingly coincidental events, and the remarkable reversals of fortune, of which Esther 8:15 is a crowning visual manifestation. Mordecai's elevation serves as a divine counter-display to Haman's former pomp. This strategic "absence" of God's name subtly emphasizes His omnipresence and omnipotence in human affairs, demonstrating that He works behind the scenes, using even pagan kings and human decrees to fulfill His purposes. The specific colors of Mordecai's garments (blue, white, and purple) resonate deeply within a Judeo-Christian framework. Beyond Persian royal connotations, these colors were also central to the garments of the Israelite High Priest (Exod 28), blurring the lines between Mordecai's new secular authority and a subtle, almost priestly, role in mediating deliverance for his people. This visual code could suggest God's sanctification of his high position, mirroring Joseph's promotion in Egypt (Gen 41) and Daniel's in Babylon (Dan 5), where God's chosen servants are raised to deliver their people amidst hostile foreign powers.

Esther 8 15 Commentary

Esther 8:15 vividly portrays the reversal of fortune for Mordecai and the Jewish people through symbolic visual language. Mordecai's elaborate attire—blue, white, and purple garments, a gold crown, and fine linen—is not merely about personal aesthetics; it's a profound public declaration of the king's favor, signifying Mordecai's ascendancy to a position of immense power, second only to Ahasuerus. This splendid display assured all witnesses that the earlier decree of annihilation would be powerfully countered. The transition from Mordecai's sackcloth and ashes in earlier chapters to this glorious outfit mirrors the divine reversal of destiny for God's people. His elevated status brings the solution to the grave threat they faced, symbolizing the end of a dark period and the dawn of a new era of safety. The widespread joy in Shushan affirms this collective relief, echoing the truth that when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice (Prov 29:2). This episode underscores God's providential care for His people, demonstrating how He orchestrates political shifts and human actions to deliver and honor His faithful servants, turning impending doom into celebration without ever explicitly being named in the text. This also stands as a testament that even in seemingly dire circumstances, God’s ultimate plan of deliverance will prevail, and the mourning of His people can be turned into dancing.