Esther 8 9

Esther 8:9 kjv

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

Esther 8:9 nkjv

So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.

Esther 8:9 niv

At once the royal secretaries were summoned?on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai's orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.

Esther 8:9 esv

The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.

Esther 8:9 nlt

So on June 25 the king's secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews.

Esther 8 verses

Esther 8 9 Meaning

This verse details the swift and precise issuance of King Ahasuerus’s new decree, formulated by Mordecai. Sent immediately to all 127 provinces of the vast Persian Empire, from India to Ethiopia, this critical edict granted the Jews the right to assemble, defend themselves, and destroy those who attacked them. The decree was meticulously adapted to the writing and language of each people group and province, ensuring its clear comprehension by everyone, particularly the Jewish communities, signifying a profound reversal of their impending doom.

Esther 8 9 Context

Esther chapter 8 details the triumphant reversal of Haman's wicked plot to annihilate the Jews. After Haman's execution, Esther and Mordecai appeal to King Ahasuerus regarding the decree sealed with the king’s signet ring, which cannot be revoked. As a pragmatic solution, the king empowers Mordecai to draft a new decree. This new edict, issued and distributed with utmost urgency, grants the Jews the legal right to assemble, defend themselves, and destroy those who rise against them. Verse 9 is crucial as it describes the official, meticulous, and rapid dispatch of this life-saving counter-decree, effectively neutralizing the previous death sentence and turning the tables in favor of God's people. This took place just over two months after Haman’s original decree was issued (third month vs. first month), and over eight months before the fateful 13th of Adar.

Esther 8 9 Word analysis

• Then were the king’s scribes called: This signifies immediate action and utilization of the highest administrative resources. The "scribes" (sopherim in Hebrew, meaning "writers" or "secretaries") were crucial functionaries responsible for drafting and copying royal edicts, highlighting the decree’s official nature and importance.
• at that time: Emphasizes urgency and pinpoint timing. The swiftness stands in stark contrast to the initial delay that might have surrounded Haman's plotting and the initial decree's impact.
• in the third month, that is, the month Sivan: Provides a precise date. Sivan (Hebrew: סיון, Sivan) corresponds to late May-early June. The specificity underscores the historical reliability and critical timing, occurring after Pentecost (for Jewish calendar reckoning, Shavuot falls in Sivan) and providing several months for the Jews to prepare for defense before the month of Adar (12th month).
• on the three and twentieth day thereof: Further reinforces the meticulous historical dating, showing exactness in imperial record-keeping.
• and it was written: The process of documenting and legitimizing the new command, giving it official imperial authority.
• according to all that Mordecai commanded: This phrase highlights Mordecai's significant elevation and direct authority, second only to the king. His wisdom and fidelity, orchestrated by divine providence, guided the content of this critical decree.
• unto the Jews: Specifies the primary beneficiaries and target audience of this crucial directive, signifying the focus on their preservation.
• and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces: Identifies the vast and layered hierarchy of the Persian imperial administration who were responsible for disseminating and enforcing the decree. "Lieutenants" (achashdarpenei) refers to satraps, the highest provincial governors; "deputies" (pachoth) are lesser governors or regional chiefs; "rulers" (sarise) denote various officers or officials. This indicates a comprehensive administrative effort.
• which are from India unto Ethiopia: Defines the geographical enormity of the Persian Empire, stretching from its easternmost reaches (Indus Valley) to its southwestern borders (modern Sudan/Egypt). This phrase emphasizes the universal reach of the decree across all segments of the vast kingdom.
• an hundred twenty and seven provinces: A specific enumeration that reinforces the immense geographical scope and administrative complexity, consistent with historical accounts of the Achaemenid Empire.
• unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language: Crucially emphasizes the adaptability and comprehensibility of the decree. The Persian Empire was a mosaic of diverse cultures and languages; for a decree to be effective, it had to be communicated clearly in local scripts and vernaculars, reflecting thoughtful governance.
• and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language: A specific provision for the Jewish population, ensuring that they received the decree directly in Hebrew or Aramaic, in their script, leaving no room for misinterpretation or doubt about their granted right of self-defense. This detail underlines the decree's central purpose.

Esther 8 9 Bonus section

• The speed of dispatch (occurring in Sivan, three months after Haman’s decree was issued and almost nine months before it was to be enacted) highlights the urgency of Mordecai's countermeasure and the King's commitment to righting the wrong. This extended timeframe (Sivan to Adar) was crucial for the Jews to prepare for defense, procure weapons, and organize their communities, showcasing a meticulous working of providence.
• The fact that the previous law could not be revoked but had to be countered by a new law illustrates the Medo-Persian legal system's famous, sometimes problematic, inflexibility. God worked within these political constraints to deliver His people, demonstrating His sovereignty over even seemingly unalterable human decrees.
• This detailed account of imperial communication through multi-lingual scribes and an expansive postal system (as mentioned in verse 10) provides valuable insight into the administrative prowess of the Persian Empire, lending historical authenticity to the biblical narrative.
• The explicit provision for the Jews to receive the decree in "their writing, and according to their language" suggests the recognition of Jewish communities as a distinct, organized ethnic group within the empire, implying the importance of internal communication networks amongst the diaspora.
• This act of official communication reaching the "uttermost parts" of the kingdom also holds thematic resonance with the future spreading of the Gospel to "every tongue and tribe and nation" (Rev 7:9), where God's ultimate decree of salvation is universalized through various means.

Esther 8 9 Commentary

Esther 8:9 serves as the pivotal moment of the narrative's turning point, orchestrating a monumental reversal through divine providence. It starkly contrasts with the haste and malicious intent of Haman's earlier decree, showing God's people granted ample time for preparation. The specific mention of "the king's scribes" and the detailed dates reveal the methodical, legally binding nature of the Persian government, through which God's will was accomplished. The authority vested in Mordecai to command the terms of the decree, then dispatched across the known world "from India unto Ethiopia" in over a hundred provinces, ensured that every segment of society and especially the threatened Jewish communities were made fully aware of their new rights. This divine intervention, executed through meticulous human administration, illustrates God's sovereignty over the mightiest of empires and the detailed attention He gives to the protection of His chosen people. The decree's careful translation into multiple languages and scripts speaks to its intended universal clarity, mirroring the clarity of God's own will and the ultimate proclamation of His salvation to all peoples.