Esther 9 17

Esther 9:17 kjv

On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9:17 nkjv

This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9:17 niv

This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

Esther 9:17 esv

This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9:17 nlt

This was done throughout the provinces on March 7, and on March 8 they rested, celebrating their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 17 Meaning

Esther 9:17 describes how the Jewish people in the provinces, after successfully defending themselves on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, spent the fourteenth day resting from their battles. They consecrated this day as a time for celebratory feasting and joyful commemoration, marking their divine deliverance and the profound reversal of their intended doom. This verse encapsulates the culmination of the Jews' salvation from Haman's decree, transforming a day of dread into one of widespread festivity.

Esther 9 17 Context

Esther 9:17 is a pivotal verse within the larger narrative of the Book of Esther, serving as the bridge from a day of self-defense and vengeance to a day of rest and celebration. The preceding verses (9:1-16) recount how the Jews, empowered by Mordecai's second decree, rose up throughout the Persian provinces on the 13th of Adar and defended themselves, executing thousands of their enemies who had sought to destroy them. This marked a miraculous reversal of Haman's original decree which had set the 13th of Adar as the date for their extermination. Esther 9:17 describes the outcome of that day's events for those in the provinces – the cessation of conflict and the establishment of the celebratory tradition of Purim for provincial Jews. Historically, this event transpired during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), highlighting the Jewish people's resilience and God's sovereign, though often hidden, preservation amidst a powerful pagan empire.

Esther 9 17 Word analysis

• וְיֹ֥ום (və-yōm) – "and the day" / "Now on the day." This marks a specific temporal shift. The precise dating highlights the historical accuracy and significance of the event. In Hebrew thought, specific "days" often carry immense theological weight, like Creation or Exodus.
• אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂר֙ (ʾarbāʿāh ʿāśār) – "fourteenth." Hebrew 'arba'ah ('four') + 'asar ('ten') forms "fourteen." The definite numerical precision anchors the event in time, establishing a precise calendar date for the celebration.
• לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר (ləḥōḏeš ʾăḏār) – "of the month Adar." Adar is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil calendar, coinciding with late winter (February-March). Its mention provides the specific context within the annual cycle. The events of Purim, by God's providence, fell on the last month of the year, bringing a year of hidden favor to a joyous close.
• וַיָּ֖נ֥וּחוּ (wa-yyā́nūḥū) – "and they rested." From the Hebrew root nuach, meaning to rest, settle down, be quiet, or at ease. This signifies the cessation of their physical exertions in self-defense. It denotes security and peace after conflict, echoing the Sabbath rest as a divine provision for relief and contentment, and foreshadowing the ultimate rest in God's completed salvation.
• וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ אֹתֹ֔ו (wa-yyaʿăśū ʾōtōw) – "and they made it." From the Hebrew root asah, meaning "to do" or "to make." This verb emphasizes their active role in establishing and observing this day as a custom. It wasn't just a natural pause but a conscious decision to commemorate.
• י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה (yōwm mišetetēh) – "a day of feasting" / "a day of banqueting." Mishteh refers to a feast, often a drinking party or banquet. Throughout Esther, feasts are significant (Esther 1, 5, 7), initially for kings, now for the people. This transformation indicates the turning of their sorrow into celebratory joy. It's a public and communal expression of delight and thanksgiving.
• וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ (wəśimḥāh) – "and gladness" / "and joy." Simchah refers to deep, heartfelt joy and mirth. This is not just superficial pleasure but a profound gladness that accompanies God's deliverance and blessing. It's an internal state expressed externally.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "on the fourteenth day... they rested": This phrase precisely demarcates the end of the violent phase of self-defense and the beginning of the celebratory phase. The resting on the day after the conflict for the provincial Jews indicates their rapid success in fending off their enemies and establishing a newfound peace. It stands in contrast to the inhabitants of Shushan who needed an extra day for defense (Esth 9:18).
• "and made it a day of feasting and gladness": This phrase highlights the deliberate establishment of a new annual tradition. The pairing of "feasting" (physical enjoyment and communal gathering) with "gladness" (deep internal joy and gratitude) captures the essence of the Purim celebration. It signifies that the day of imminent destruction was completely reversed into a day of joyous communion and divine favor.

Esther 9 17 Bonus section

The specific mention of the 14th of Adar for provincial Jews subtly differentiates it from those in Susa (Shushan) who fought for an additional day and thus celebrated on the 15th (Esth 9:18). This detail explains the two distinct dates sometimes observed for Purim (Purim vs. Shushan Purim). The act of "resting" points to a type of peace that God brings to His people after deliverance, a theme seen from creation's Sabbath rest to the promised ultimate rest for believers. This rest, coupled with feasting and gladness, emphasizes that spiritual triumph often culminates in tangible expressions of joy and community.

Esther 9 17 Commentary

Esther 9:17 marks the pivotal transition from crisis to celebration for the Jewish people in the Persian provinces. Having victoriously defended themselves on the 13th of Adar, they observe the 14th as a day of "rest." This rest is not mere idleness but a sacred pause, signifying the peace and security found in God's hidden providence. More profoundly, they actively "made it a day of feasting and gladness." This conscious act establishes a new festival, Purim, born out of deep gratitude for a salvation that transformed impending doom into overflowing joy. The verse encapsulates the heart of the Purim narrative: the reversal of fortune, the divine turning of mourning into dancing, and the perpetual commemoration of God's faithful preservation of His people through unlikely means.