Esther

Esther 3:8–15

8Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silverd into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

10So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

12On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

13And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews— young and old, women and children— and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

14A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day. 15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Footnotes

  • d 3:9 10,000 talents is approximately 377 tons or 342 metric tons of silver.

Read all of Esther 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Esther 3:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Hamanהָמָן֙hā·mānNoun - proper - masculine singularH2001 Haman
informedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Kingלַמֶּ֣לֶךְlam·me·leḵPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōšNoun - proper - masculine singularH325 Ahasuerus
Thereיֶשְׁנ֣וֹyeš·nōwAdverb; third person masculine singularH3426 being, substance, existence
is a certainאֶחָ֗ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
peopleעַם־‘am-Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
scatteredמְפֻזָּ֤רmə·p̄uz·zārVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularH6340 scatter
and dispersedוּמְפֹרָד֙ū·mə·p̄ō·rāḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularH6504 divide
amongבֵּ֣יןbênPrepositionH996 interval, space between
the peoplesהָֽעַמִּ֔יםhā·‘am·mîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5971 people
of everyבְּכֹ֖לbə·ḵōlPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
provinceמְדִינ֣וֹתmə·ḏî·nō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH4082 province
of your kingdomמַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָmal·ḵū·ṯe·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom
Their lawsוְדָתֵיהֶ֞םwə·ḏā·ṯê·hemConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH1881 decree, law, usage
are differentשֹׁנ֣וֹתšō·nō·wṯVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine pluralH8138 change
from everyoneמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
else’sעָ֗ם‘āmNoun - masculine singularH5971 people
and they do notאֵינָ֣ם’ê·nāmAdverb; third person masculine pluralH369 nothing, nought
obeyעֹשִׂ֔ים‘ō·śîmVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH6213 do, make
the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
lawsדָּתֵ֤יdā·ṯêNoun - feminine plural constructH1881 decree, law, usage
So it is notאֵין־’ên-AdverbH369 nothing, nought
in the king’sוְלַמֶּ֥לֶךְwə·lam·me·leḵConjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
best interestשֹׁוֶ֖הšō·wehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7737 be even, smooth
to tolerate themלְהַנִּיחָֽם׃lə·han·nî·ḥāmPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH5117 rest

Esther 3:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
it pleasesט֔וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
letיִכָּתֵ֖בyik·kā·ṯêḇVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3789 write
to destroy themלְאַבְּדָ֑םlə·’ab·bə·ḏāmPreposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct; third person masculine pluralH6 perish
and I will depositלְהָבִ֖יאlə·hā·ḇîPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH935 come in, come, go in, go
tenוַעֲשֶׂ֨רֶתwa·‘ă·śe·reṯConjunctive waw; Number - masculine singular constructH6235 ten
thousandאֲלָפִ֜ים’ă·lā·p̄îmNumber - masculine pluralH505 thousand
talentsכִּכַּר־kik·kar-Noun - feminine singular constructH3603 a round
of silverכֶּ֗סֶףke·sep̄Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
intoאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the royalהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
treasuryגִּנְזֵ֥יgin·zêNoun - masculine plural constructH1595 treasure
to payאֶשְׁקוֹל֙’eš·qō·wlVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularH8254 weigh
those who carry it outעֹשֵׂ֣י‘ō·śêVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructH6213 do, make

Esther 3:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
removedוַיָּ֧סַרway·yā·sarConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5493 turn aside
the signet ringטַבַּעְתּ֖וֹṭab·ba‘·tōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2885 signet, signet-ring, ring
fromמֵעַ֣לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
his fingerיָד֑וֹyā·ḏōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand
and gaveוַֽיִּתְּנָ֗הּway·yit·tə·nāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
it to Hamanלְהָמָ֧ןlə·hā·mānPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH2001 Haman
sonבֶּֽן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Hammedathaהַמְּדָ֛תָאham·mə·ḏā·ṯāNoun - proper - masculine singularH4099 Medatha
the Agagiteהָאֲגָגִ֖יhā·’ă·ḡā·ḡîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH91 Agagite
the enemyצֹרֵ֥רṣō·rêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6887 bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped
of the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hay·yə·hū·ḏîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3064 Jewish

Esther 3:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Keep your moneyהַכֶּ֖סֶףhak·ke·sep̄Article; Noun - masculine singularH3701 silver, money
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
to Hamanלְהָמָ֔ןlə·hā·mānPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH2001 Haman
These peopleוְהָעָ֕םwə·hā·‘āmConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
givenנָת֣וּןnā·ṯūnVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
to youלָ֑ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
with themבּ֖וֹbōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
as you pleaseבְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃bə·‘ê·ne·ḵāPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; second person masculine singularH5869 eye

Esther 3:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
On the thirteenthבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨הbiš·lō·wō·šāhPreposition-b; Number - masculine singularH7969 a three, triad
dayיוֹם֮yō·wmNoun - masculine singularH3117 day
of the firstהָרִאשׁ֗וֹןhā·ri·šō·wnArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH7223 former, first, chief
monthבַּחֹ֣דֶשׁba·ḥō·ḏešPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH2320 (newness), new moon, month
the royalהַמֶּ֜לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
scribesסֹפְרֵ֨יsō·p̄ə·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH5613 secretary, scribe
were summonedוַיִּקָּרְאוּ֩way·yiq·qā·rə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7121 call, proclaim, read
and the order was writtenוַיִּכָּתֵ֣בway·yik·kā·ṯêḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3789 write
exactly asכְּֽכָל־kə·ḵāl-Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Hamanהָמָ֡ןhā·mānNoun - proper - masculine singularH2001 Haman
commandedצִוָּ֣הṣiw·wāhVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
the royalהַ֠מֶּלֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
satrapsאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵֽי־’ă·ḥaš·dar·pə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH323 satrap, governor
the governorsהַפַּח֞וֹתhap·pa·ḥō·wṯArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH6346 governor
of each provinceמְדִינָ֣הmə·ḏî·nāhNoun - feminine singularH4082 province
and the officialsשָׂ֤רֵיśā·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
of eachעַם֙‘amNoun - masculine singularH5971 people
peopleוָעָ֔םwā·‘āmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
in the scriptכִּכְתָבָ֔הּkiḵ·ṯā·ḇāhPreposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH3791 writing
of each provinceוּמְדִינָה֙ū·mə·ḏî·nāhConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH4082 province
and the languageכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹkil·šō·w·nōwPreposition-k; Noun - common singular construct; third person masculine singularH3956 tongue
of every peopleוָעָ֖םwā·‘āmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
It was writtenנִכְתָּ֔בniḵ·tāḇVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH3789 write
in the nameבְּשֵׁ֨םbə·šêmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
of Kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙’ă·ḥaš·wê·rōšNoun - proper - masculine singularH325 Ahasuerus
and sealedוְנֶחְתָּ֖םwə·neḥ·tāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH2856 seal, affix seal, seal up
with the royalהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
signet ringבְּטַבַּ֥עַתbə·ṭab·ba·‘aṯPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH2885 signet, signet-ring, ring

Esther 3:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the lettersסְפָרִ֜יםsə·p̄ā·rîmNoun - masculine pluralH5612 missive, document, writing, book
were sentוְנִשְׁל֨וֹחַwə·niš·lō·w·aḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absoluteH7971 send
byבְּיַ֣דbə·yaḏPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
couriersהָרָצִים֮hā·rā·ṣîmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH7323 run
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
eachכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
of the royalהַמֶּלֶךְ֒ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
provincesמְדִינ֣וֹתmə·ḏî·nō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH4082 province
with the order to destroyלְהַשְׁמִ֡ידlə·haš·mîḏPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH8045 be exterminated, destroyed
killלַהֲרֹ֣גla·hă·rōḡPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2026 kill, slay
and annihilateוּלְאַבֵּ֣דū·lə·’ab·bêḏConjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructH6 perish
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the Jewsהַ֠יְּהוּדִיםhay·yə·hū·ḏîmArticle; Noun - proper - masculine pluralH3064 Jewish
youngמִנַּ֨עַרmin·na·‘arPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singularH5288 a shaking, scattering
andוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
oldזָקֵ֜ןzā·qênAdjective - masculine singularH2205 old
womenוְנָשִׁים֙wə·nā·šîmConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female
and childrenטַ֤ףṭap̄Noun - masculine singularH2945 children
and to plunderלָבֽוֹז׃lā·ḇō·wzPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH962 spoil, plunder
their possessionsוּשְׁלָלָ֖םū·šə·lā·lāmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH7998 prey, spoil, plunder, booty
on a singleאֶחָ֔ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
dayבְּי֣וֹםbə·yō·wmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
the thirteenthבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥הbiš·lō·wō·šāhPreposition-b; Number - masculine singularH7969 a three, triad
day of Adarאֲדָ֑ר’ă·ḏārNoun - proper - feminine singularH143 Adar
the twelfthשְׁנֵים־šə·nêm-Number - mdH8147 two
monthחֹ֣דֶשׁḥō·ḏešNoun - masculine singular constructH2320 (newness), new moon, month

Esther 3:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
A copyפַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpaṯ·še·ḡenNoun - masculine singular constructH6572 copy
of the textהַכְּתָ֗בhak·kə·ṯāḇArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3791 writing
of the edictדָּת֙dāṯNoun - feminine singularH1881 decree, law, usage
was to be issuedלְהִנָּ֤תֵֽןlə·hin·nā·ṯênPreposition-l; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructH5414 give, put, set
in everyבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
provinceמְדִינָ֣הmə·ḏî·nāhNoun - feminine singularH4082 province
and publishedגָּל֖וּיgā·luiVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH1540 uncover, remove
to allלְכָל־lə·ḵālPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the peopleהָֽעַמִּ֑יםhā·‘am·mîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5971 people
so that they would be readyעֲתִדִ֖ים‘ă·ṯi·ḏîmAdjective - masculine singularH6264 ready, prepared
on thatהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
dayלַיּ֥וֹםlay·yō·wmPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day

Esther 3:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The couriersהָֽרָצִ֞יםhā·rā·ṣîmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH7323 run
leftיָצְא֤וּyā·ṣə·’ūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3318 go or come out
spurred onדְחוּפִים֙ḏə·ḥū·p̄îmVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine pluralH1765 drive, hasten
by the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
commandבִּדְבַ֣רbiḏ·ḇarPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH1697 speech, word
and the edictוְהַדָּ֥תwə·had·dāṯConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singularH1881 decree, law, usage
was issuedנִתְּנָ֖הnit·tə·nāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
in the citadelהַבִּירָ֑הhab·bî·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1002 castle, palace
of Susaבְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ןbə·šū·šanPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7800 Susa
Then the kingוְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְwə·ham·me·leḵConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
and Hamanוְהָמָן֙wə·hā·mānConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH2001 Haman
sat downיָשְׁב֣וּyā·šə·ḇūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH3427 sit, remain, dwell
to drinkלִשְׁתּ֔וֹתliš·tō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH8354 drink
but the cityוְהָעִ֥ירwə·hā·‘îrConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
of Susaשׁוּשָׁ֖ןšū·šānNoun - proper - masculine singularH7800 Susa
was in confusionנָבֽוֹכָה׃פnā·ḇō·w·ḵāhVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH943 perplex, confuse

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Esther 3:8 Ezra 4:12–15 · Acts 16:20–21 · Leviticus 26:33 · John 7:35 · Zechariah 7:14 · Jeremiah 50:17 · Deuteronomy 4:27

Esther 3:10 Genesis 41:42 · Esther 8:2 · Esther 7:6

Esther 3:11 Luke 23:25 · Jeremiah 40:4 · Jeremiah 26:14

Esther 3:12 1 Kings 21:8 · Esther 1:22

Esther 3:13 2 Chronicles 30:6 · Esther 9:10 · Esther 8:10–14 · 1 Samuel 15:3

Esther 3:14 Esther 8:13–14

Esther 3:15 Esther 8:15 · John 16:20

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.