Esther 9 27

Esther 9:27 kjv

The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

Esther 9:27 nkjv

the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

Esther 9:27 niv

the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed.

Esther 9:27 esv

the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,

Esther 9:27 nlt

the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year.

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 27 Meaning

Esther 9:27 establishes the perpetual observance of the Jewish festival of Purim. It records that the Jewish people, alongside their descendants and all those who converted to Judaism, formally and voluntarily undertook the commitment to celebrate these two designated days annually. This acceptance ensures the continuity of the festival, keeping it precisely as decreed in the written instructions and on its specific, pre-determined dates each year, thereby serving as an eternal memorial of their miraculous deliverance.

Esther 9 27 Context

This verse appears towards the conclusion of the Book of Esther, following the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from the genocidal plot orchestrated by Haman. Chapter 9 details the victory of the Jews over their enemies and the subsequent establishment of the festival of Purim. Verses 20-22 introduce Mordecai's initial decree to establish the annual observance of these two days as days of feasting and joy. Verses 23-26 recount the history and justification for this new festival, emphasizing Haman's wicked plot and its divine reversal. Esther 9:27-28 formally records the Jewish people's acceptance and perpetual commitment to this decree, affirming its observance across generations and including converts.

Historically and culturally, the Jewish people lived as a diaspora community under Persian rule, a foreign land where their survival often depended on royal decrees. The immutability of Persian law meant a decree, once made, could not be revoked. However, here, the Jewish people voluntarily "ordained and took upon themselves" the observance of Purim, making it a binding self-imposed obligation rooted in their shared experience of deliverance. This act solidified their collective identity and remembrance, serving as a powerful counter-narrative to attempts at their annihilation and affirming God's continued, albeit unseen, providential care over His people. It provided a yearly re-enactment of their national and spiritual triumph against an existential threat.

Esther 9 27 Word analysis

• The Jews: Refers to the Jewish people dispersed throughout the 127 provinces of the Persian Empire. This emphasizes the wide acceptance of the decree.
• ordained (קִבְּלוּ - qiblu): Derived from the Hebrew root QBL, meaning "to receive," "accept," or "undertake." Here, it signifies more than mere obedience; it denotes a willing, active appropriation and a formal commitment or agreement by the community. They chose to establish this practice.
• and took upon them (וְקִבְּלוּ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם - v'qiblu aleihem): A reinforcing phrase emphasizing the voluntary and self-imposed nature of this obligation. It conveys a strong sense of personal and collective responsibility for keeping the tradition.
• and upon their seed (וְעַל־זַרְעָם֙ - v'al zar'am): Extends the covenantal obligation to future generations. This ensures the longevity and intergenerational transmission of the festival and its lessons.
• and upon all such as joined themselves unto them (וְעַל֙ כָּל־הַנִּלְוִ֣ים עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם - v'al kol ha-nilvîm aleihem): Explicitly includes proselytes or converts to Judaism. This highlights the welcoming nature of Jewish identity, which could be adopted by Gentiles who committed to their faith and practices, ensuring the wider spread and observance of Purim.
• so as it should not fail (וְלֹ֣א יַעֲב֔וֹר - v'lo ya'avor): Literally, "and it shall not pass away." This phrase underscores the perpetual, unending nature of the obligation. It speaks to the commitment that this observance should never cease or be forgotten.
• that they would keep these two days (לִהְי֛וֹת עֹשִׂ֥ים אֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים - lihyot 'ośim 'elleh ha-yamim): "To be making/doing these days." It points to the active, annual celebration and remembrance of the 14th and 15th of Adar. "Keep" here implies ritual action and festive observance.
• according to their writing (כִּכְתָבָ֖ם - k'khtavam): Refers to the official written decrees or letters, primarily Mordecai's first letter (Esther 9:20) and later strengthened by Queen Esther (Esther 9:29). This grounds the observance in authoritative, recorded instruction, preventing distortion or omission.
• and according to their appointed time (וְכִזְמַנָּ֑ם - v'khizmanam): Specifies the precise, pre-determined calendar dates. This ensures uniformity and consistency in its annual celebration, emphasizing regularity and predictability.
• every year (בְּכָל־שָׁנָ֖ה וְשָׁנָֽה - b'khol-shanah v'shanah): A strong reiteration of the annual and perpetual nature of the festival, underscoring its role as a recurring reminder of divine providence and deliverance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them": This significant phrase highlights the widespread, collective, voluntary, and covenantal acceptance of the Purim decree. It encompasses both natural descendants and spiritual adherents (converts), demonstrating an expansive and lasting communal commitment. This wasn't merely a king's mandate but a people's deeply felt and enacted pledge.
• "so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days": This clause reveals the purpose behind their solemn commitment: to ensure the unceasing continuity of the observance. The festival must never be neglected or abandoned. It is a vital and non-negotiable part of their national and religious calendar, linking future generations directly to their history of deliverance.
• "according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year": These parallel phrases stress the formal, consistent, and perpetual nature of the observance. "Writing" establishes the authoritative scriptural basis and specific instructions, ensuring faithfulness to the original decree. "Appointed time every year" locks it into the annual calendar cycle, emphasizing precise timing and never-ending recurrence. Together, they prescribe both the content and rhythm of the celebration.

Esther 9 27 Bonus section

The communal decision recorded in Esther 9:27, expressed by the active verbs "ordained" and "took upon them" (qiblu), marks a unique aspect of Purim's establishment. Unlike the Mosaic festivals explicitly commanded by God through Moses, Purim was instituted by a popular and formal resolution of the Jewish people themselves, ratified by Mordecai and Esther, and then accepted across generations. This illustrates a concept of "acceptance upon oneself" which imbues the practice with significant spiritual weight, making it as binding as any biblical ordinance due to the people's unanimous and heartfelt embrace. This demonstrates not just adherence to a command, but an internalized commitment that echoes throughout Jewish history. It shows a living faith that can recognize God's hand in history and create new memorials, reinforcing that their history, though seemingly precarious, is actively shaped by God's guiding hand and the people's response of faith.

Esther 9 27 Commentary

Esther 9:27 encapsulates the Jewish people's solemn covenant to perpetually commemorate their divine deliverance through the festival of Purim. The phrase "ordained, and took upon them" is crucial, signifying a voluntary and binding acceptance by the entire community—not merely an imposed edict, but a self-appropriated duty. This decision extends its obligation to "their seed" and "all such as joined themselves," solidifying its status as an intergenerational and inclusive tradition. The precision required "according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year" underlines the meticulous nature of the observance, ensuring fidelity to the historical events and their ongoing spiritual lessons. Purim stands as a testament to God's providence, though His name is never mentioned in the book, yet His hand is evident in turning sorrow into joy, validating the importance of remembrance and gratitude within God's covenant people. This collective commitment transforms an historical event into a living, ongoing part of their identity.