Esther 8:16

The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Esther 8:16. The Jews had light — Light is often put for gladness, as 2 Samuel 22:29, and Job 18:5-6, because it is pleasant, and disposeth a man to joy. And gladness, and joy — Here the sacred writer explains the former metaphor, by two words signifying the same thing, to denote the greatness of the joy. And honour — Instead of that contempt under which they had lain.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:15-17 Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not worth notice, but as marks of the king's favour, and the fruit of God's favour to his church. It is well with a land, when ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious piety. When the church prospers, many will join it, who will be shy of it when in trouble. When believers have rest, and walk in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they will be multiplied. And the attempts of Satan to destroy the church, always tend to increase the number of true Christians.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the Esther 1:6 note. The "crown" was not a crown like the king's, but a mere golden band or coronet.

A garment - Or, "an inner robe." The tunic or inner robe of the king was of purple, striped with white.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Es 8:15-17. Mordecai's Honors, and the Jews' Joy.

15. Mordecai went out … in royal apparel—He was invested with the khelaat of official honor. A dress of blue and white was held in great estimation among the Persians; so that Mordecai, whom the king delighted to honor, was in fact arrayed in the royal dress and insignia. The variety and the kind of insignia worn by a favorite at once makes known to the people the particular dignity to which he has been raised.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Light is oft put for

gladness, as 2 Samuel 22:29 Job 18:5,6 Psa 27:1, because light is pleasant and disposeth a man to joy, whereas darkness inclines a man to sorrow.

Gladness and joy: this explains the former metaphor by two words expressing the same thing, to note the greatness of the joy.

Honour, instead of that contempt under which they had lain.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Jews had light,.... Prosperity, as opposed to the darkness of adversity in which they had been, see Isaiah 8:22, or lightsomeness and cheerfulness of spirit, as explained by the two next words:

and gladness and joy; at the good news of their deliverance, so unexpected by them; thus light is explained by gladness, Psalm 97:11

and honour: among men; from their neighbours, who before were held in contempt, as a people doomed to destruction.

Geneva Study Bible

The Jews had light, and {l} gladness, and joy, and honour.

(l) He showed by the words that follow, what this light was.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. The Jews had light etc.] The expression reminds us of the Prayer Book Version of Psalm 97:11, ‘There is sprung up a light for the righteous.’ Cp. also Psalm 27:1; Psalm 36:9, for ‘light’ used, as here, metaphorically as equivalent to prosperity and joy.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - The Jews had light. A metaphor for "happiness" (comp. Isaiah 58:8). Esther 8:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The Jews (i.e., in Susa, for those out of the city are not spoken of till Esther 8:17) had light and gladness, and delight and honour." אורה (this form occurs only here and Psalm 109:12), light, is a figurative expression for prosperity. יקר, honour - in the joy manifested by the inhabitants of Susa at the prevention of the threatened destruction.