Esther 9 26

Esther 9:26 kjv

Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

Esther 9:26 nkjv

So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,

Esther 9:26 niv

(Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them,

Esther 9:26 esv

Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them,

Esther 9:26 nlt

That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots. So because of Mordecai's letter and because of what they had experienced,

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 26 Meaning

Esther 9:26 states the reason for naming the two-day festival of Purim: it was derived from the "lot" (pur) that Haman had cast to determine the day to destroy the Jews. The verse highlights that the naming of this memorial feast came about because of all that was written in Mordecai's letters concerning the events, what the Jews had witnessed and experienced directly, and the deliverance that had providentially come to them. It underscores the communal remembrance and the lasting significance of their salvation from genocide.

Esther 9 26 Context

Esther 9:26 occurs at the conclusion of the book of Esther, following the miraculous reversal of fortune for the Jews in the Persian Empire. Haman's plot to annihilate the Jewish people was turned back on his own head and on those who sought to harm them. The previous verses (Esther 9:20-25) describe Mordecai's sending of letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces, instructing them to observe these two days annually as days of feasting, gladness, and giving. Verse 26, specifically, names the festival "Purim" and explains its origin from Haman's casting of the pur (lot). It establishes the permanent nature of this celebration as a remembrance of God's unseen hand bringing about salvation and transforming impending doom into unprecedented joy. The context emphasizes not only the dramatic turn of events but also the importance of remembering and commemorating God's acts of deliverance through appointed celebrations, similar to how other biblical festivals functioned for Israel.

Esther 9 26 Word analysis

• Therefore (עַל־כֵּ֞ן 'al-ken): This linking word indicates a conclusion or consequence derived from the preceding events and the decision mentioned in earlier verses. It emphasizes the direct causal link between Haman's lot, the deliverance, and the establishment of the festival.
• they called (קָרְא֥וּ qar'u): From the verb qara', "to call," "to name," or "to proclaim." This signifies a communal, deliberate act of naming. It points to the establishment of the name by the Jewish people themselves, highlighting their collective ownership and adoption of this new memorial.
• these days (הַיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה ha-yamim ha-elleh): Refers specifically to the 14th and 15th of Adar, which became the days of celebration. This denotes a specific annual occurrence, establishing the fixed time of the festival.
• Purim (פּוּרִ֖ים Purim): The plural form of pur (פּוּר). This is the key term. Pur is a Babylonian loanword meaning "lot" or "chance," similar to what one might use to cast dice or lots to make decisions or determine outcomes. The irony is profound: Haman intended to use this "lot" to determine the day of Jewish destruction based on chance or fate, but God's divine providence completely overruled this human calculation, transforming a potential day of tragedy into one of triumph and celebration. This renaming can be seen as a polemic against reliance on "fate" or "luck" as primary movers of destiny; instead, God is sovereign over all circumstances, even those determined by lots (Prov 16:33).
• from the name of Pur (עַל־שֵׁ֥ם הַפּֽוּר 'al-shem ha-pur): This phrase explicitly connects the festival's name back to Haman's original lot-casting. It's not just a general reference to 'fate,' but a direct reference to the specific action that initiated Haman's plot. This reinforces the festival's origin in the very instrument intended for their destruction.
• therefore (עַל־כֵּ֞ן 'al-ken): A repetition of the initial "therefore." The reiteration underscores the certainty and importance of the rationale. It acts as an emphatic summary: because of these specific details and outcomes, this specific naming and observance came to be.
• because of all that was written (כְּכׇל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הָאִגֶּ֣רֶת k'kol-divrei ha-iggeret): Refers to the letters sent by Mordecai (Esther 9:20, 29). The written record provided authoritative documentation and instructions for the observance, ensuring its spread and longevity. It highlights the importance of the official decree and its impact on establishing the festival. This shows the process of making an oral tradition into a written law, a crucial aspect for its perpetual observance.
• in this letter (הָאִגֶּ֣רֶת ha-iggeret): This singular refers to the comprehensive royal and Jewish correspondence that officially mandated the Purim observance. It indicates a clear, recorded account and instruction.
• and what they had seen (וְעַר־כָּ֥כָה v'ar-kachah): Literally "and upon thus" or "and according to thus." This points to the vivid, personal experience of the Jews. It's not just an abstract command, but something they lived through, witnessed, and knew to be true firsthand – the visible, undeniable turning of events. This experiential aspect lent weight to the ordinance.
• and what had come to them (וּמַה־הִגִּ֖יעַ עֲלֵיהֶֽם u-mah higia' aleihem): "And what had reached them" or "what had come upon them." This signifies the actual outcome – the deliverance, the safety, the turning of sorrow into joy. It's the tangible result, the full scope of God's unseen intervention that was manifested in their lives.

• "Therefore they called these days Purim from the name of Pur": This phrase directly establishes the etymology of the festival, linking its celebration to the lot Haman cast. It signifies the deliberate act of the Jewish community to name and institutionalize a remembrance. The choice of "Purim" serves as a perpetual reminder of how what was intended for their harm was transformed into their salvation.
• "therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and what they had seen, and what had come to them": This repeated "therefore" emphatically reiterates the three pillars upon which the observance of Purim is founded: the authoritative written decree (Mordecai's letter), the personal and communal experience of witnessing the deliverance, and the profound outcome of salvation. This tripartite justification strengthens the validity and necessity of observing the feast annually. It integrates legal command, lived experience, and divine providence.

Esther 9 26 Bonus section

The uniqueness of Purim compared to other biblical festivals lies in its origin; it is the only major Jewish festival not commanded in the Pentateuch, arising instead from post-exilic history. This suggests the ongoing nature of God's interaction with His people and the capacity for new divinely ordained remembrances beyond the initial covenant. Furthermore, the absence of God's explicit name in the Book of Esther, even in a verse like this, contributes to its "secular" or "human agency" feel, yet paradoxically amplifies the theological message that God works powerfully and providentially even in situations where His hand is not overtly declared. The fact that the holiday is named after the pagan concept of a "lot" highlights the complete subversion of a device meant to determine a chance, terrible fate, into a name that forever signifies divine intervention and assured deliverance, even against the odds.

Esther 9 26 Commentary

Esther 9:26 succinctly articulates the origin and justification for the annual festival of Purim. Its naming after the "lot" (pur) that Haman cast to determine the Jews' destruction is profoundly ironic. It showcases divine sovereignty turning the enemy's chosen method of destruction into the very name of the Jews' salvation. Though the name of God is notably absent from the book of Esther, the entire narrative, culminating in this verse, demonstrates His hidden hand at work, meticulously orchestrating events to protect His people. The establishment of Purim was not merely a royal decree but arose from the collective experience, documented written instructions, and the clear realization by the Jewish community of the extraordinary deliverance that had "come to them." This transformation of fear into feasting, sorrow into joy, emphasizes the theme of divine reversal and the power of communal remembrance through perpetual celebration, ensuring future generations would understand their history and God's unseen providence.