Esther 8 8

Esther 8:8 kjv

Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

Esther 8:8 nkjv

You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; for whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke."

Esther 8:8 niv

Now write another decree in the king's name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king's signet ring?for no document written in the king's name and sealed with his ring can be revoked."

Esther 8:8 esv

But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked."

Esther 8:8 nlt

Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king's name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king's signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king's name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked."

Esther 8 verses

Esther 8 8 Meaning

Esther 8:8 records King Ahasuerus's pivotal instruction to Mordecai, empowering him and Esther to draft a new edict concerning the Jewish people. This decree was to be written in the king's name and sealed with his royal signet ring, bestowing upon it an unalterable authority. The verse highlights the immutable nature of Medo-Persian law, emphasizing that once a decree is ratified in this manner, it cannot be revoked. This forced the new decree to be a counter-measure allowing Jewish self-defense rather than a direct annulment of Haman's initial malicious edict.

Esther 8 8 Context

Esther chapter 8 directly follows Haman's downfall and execution. The initial decree, ordered by Haman and sealed with the king's ring, commanded the annihilation of all Jews throughout the Persian Empire on the 13th day of the twelfth month (Esth 3:13). Because Medo-Persian law dictated that a royal decree, once sealed with the king's signet, could not be revoked, a unique challenge arose for Queen Esther and Mordecai. They could not simply overturn Haman's order. Instead, the king provided them with his authority to issue a new decree, one that would enable the Jews to defend themselves against the attack prescribed by the previous law. This verse, therefore, marks a critical turning point: the shift from the Jews being passively doomed to actively empowered. It underscores the king's immense favor towards Esther and Mordecai and the clever solution devised by divine providence to bypass the unalterable law while securing the deliverance of God's people.

Esther 8 8 Word analysis

• Write ye also for the Jews:

  • "Write ye" (Hebrew: kitvu - כִּתְבוּ, imperative plural): This signifies a direct command from the king, granting agency to Mordecai and Esther. The plural indicates they were jointly tasked, contrasting with Haman's singular authority in drafting the initial decree (Esth 3:12).
  • "also": Implies a parallelism or counter-action to what was previously written. Haman wrote against the Jews; now a decree is to be written for them.
  • "for the Jews" (Hebrew: al-hayehooh-deem - עַל־הַיְּהוּדִים, literally "upon/concerning the Jews"): This clearly defines the beneficiaries of the new decree, signaling a positive outcome for them. It’s a complete reversal of the previous intent.

• as it liketh you:

  • (Hebrew: kaṭṭōwḇ bəʿêneyḵem - כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם, "as good in your eyes/judgment"): This phrase indicates an extraordinary degree of trust and delegated authority. The king grants Mordecai and Esther the freedom to frame the new law exactly as they see fit. This unbridled discretion is a testament to the king's deep favor, likely influenced by God's unseen hand. This level of autonomy for subjects was rare and signifies the reversal of the original contempt for the Jews by Haman, whose will the king also allowed previously (Esth 3:10-11).

• in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring:

  • "in the king's name" (Hebrew: bəšēm hammeleḵ - בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ): To issue a decree "in the king's name" means to invoke his full royal authority, making the command official and legally binding across the entire empire.
  • "seal it with the king's ring" (Hebrew: wəneḥtām bəṭabaʿat hammeleḵ - וְנֶחְתָּם בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ): The king's signet ring (a personal seal worn on a ring) was the ultimate symbol of imperial power and authenticity. Imprinting a document with this seal made it irrefutable. This was precisely the same method Haman used to legalize his destructive edict (Esth 3:10, 12). Its application here highlights that the counter-decree carried the same unassailable legal weight.

• for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse:

  • "for the writing...": This clause explains the underlying reason for the king's specific instructions.
  • "which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring": This repeats the method of legitimation, emphasizing the gravity of any document authenticated this way.
  • "may no man reverse" (Hebrew: ’ên ləhāšîḇ - אֵין לְהָשִׁיב, "there is no reversing"): This immutable aspect of Medo-Persian law is critical. It underscores the profound theological point that while human laws, even those of mighty empires, are unchangeable within their system, they are still limited. They necessitate workarounds or new counter-measures to address unintended or evil consequences. This stands in contrast to the eternal, unchangeable nature of God's Word and decrees, which perfectly fulfill His righteous purpose without need for amendment or workaround (Num 23:19; Ps 33:11). The Medo-Persian legal principle implicitly reveals the fallenness of human systems which can legislate injustice, a problem only God’s perfect, immutable justice can ultimately rectify.

Esther 8 8 Bonus section

The subtle theology of the book of Esther, where God's name is conspicuously absent, is profoundly evident in this verse. Although divine intervention is never explicitly stated, the rapid and complete turnaround in the king's disposition, his unparalleled trust in Mordecai and Esther, and the clever, legally sound solution to an insurmountable problem all point to the active and sovereign hand of God at work. He worked through the established human system to deliver His people, showcasing His providential care even in circumstances governed by seemingly unbreakable human laws. This passage demonstrates that while human law has its limitations, God's purposes will ultimately prevail.

Esther 8 8 Commentary

Esther 8:8 provides the ingenious solution to the life-threatening dilemma faced by the Jewish people. Rather than attempting the impossible—revoking an immutable Persian law—divine providence orchestrated a workaround that respected the empire's legal system while ensuring the deliverance of God's people. The verse highlights King Ahasuerus's transfer of ultimate executive power to Mordecai and Esther concerning the Jews, trusting their judgment completely ("as it liketh you"). By allowing them to write a counter-edict, authenticated with the highest royal authority (the king's name and ring), the new decree gained equal legal standing to Haman's original one. This was not a passive annulment but an active empowerment for self-defense, effectively creating a "legal battlefield." The emphasis on the unchangeable nature of Persian law also implicitly draws a contrast with the eternal, unchanging, and ultimately supreme nature of God’s decrees, which are never circumvented or foiled, always achieving His purpose. This legal maneuver ensured the survival of the Jewish people, setting the stage for the reversal of fortune seen in the subsequent chapters and demonstrating God’s profound work behind the scenes.