Esther 8:11
New International Version
The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies.

New Living Translation
The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.

English Standard Version
saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

Berean Standard Bible
By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

King James Bible
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

New King James Version
By these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather together and protect their lives—to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions,

New American Standard Bible
In the letters the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, kill, and eliminate the entire army of any people or province which was going to attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoils,

NASB 1995
In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil,

NASB 1977
In them the king granted the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them, including children and women, and to plunder their spoil,

Legacy Standard Bible
In them the king gave the Jews who were in each and every city the right to assemble and to make a stand for their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish the entire military force of any people or province which would act as their adversaries, including little ones and women, and to plunder their spoil,

Amplified Bible
In it the king granted the Jews who were in every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives; to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force that might attack them, their little children, and women; and to take the enemies’ goods as plunder,

Christian Standard Bible
The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king’s edict gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war.

American Standard Version
wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

English Revised Version
wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
that the king had given permission for the Jews in every city to assemble, to defend themselves, to wipe out, to kill, and to destroy every armed force of the people and province that is hostile to them, even women and children, and to seize their goods.

Good News Translation
These letters explained that the king would allow the Jews in every city to organize for self-defense. If armed men of any nationality in any province attacked the Jewish men, their children, or their women, the Jews could fight back and destroy the attackers; they could slaughter them to the last man and take their possessions.

International Standard Version
What the king granted the Jewish people in every town was the right to assemble and defend themselves, to annihilate, kill, and destroy every armed force of a people or a province that was hostile to them, including children and women, and to plunder their property.

Majority Standard Bible
By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.

NET Bible
The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves--to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, and to confiscate their property.

New Heart English Bible
In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,

Webster's Bible Translation
In which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to assemble, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

World English Bible
In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their lives—to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that the king has given to the Jews who [are] in each and every city, to be assembled, and to stand for their life, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy the whole force of the people and province who are distressing them, infants and women, and their spoil to seize.

Young's Literal Translation
that the king hath given to the Jews who are in every city and city, to be assembled, and to stand for their life, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy the whole force of the people and province who are distressing them, infants and women, and their spoil to seize.

Smith's Literal Translation
Which the king gave to the Jews which were in every city and city to gather together, and to stand for their soul, to cut off, and to kill and to destroy all the power of the people and province pressing upon them, little ones and women, and their spoil for booty,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king gave orders to them, to speak to the Jews in every city, and to command them to gather themselves together, and to stand for their lives, and to kill and destroy all their enemies with their wives and children and all their houses, and to take their spoil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The king commanded them to bring together the Jews throughout each city, and to instruct them to join together, so as to make a stand for their lives, and to execute and destroy all their enemies, with their wives and children and their entire houses, and to plunder their spoil.

New American Bible
In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every armed group of any nation or province that might attack them, along with their wives and children, and to seize their goods as spoil

New Revised Standard Version
By these letters the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
In these letters the king permitted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their lives, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish every one that might oppress them, both little ones and women, and to take their goods for spoil.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The letters that the King wrote for the Jews who were in every city, to assemble and to stand up for their lives and to use the sword and to kill and to destroy everyone who distresses them, and the children and the women and their property were for spoil
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that the king had granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, and to slay, and to cause to perish, all the forces of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
wherein he charged them to use their own laws in every city, and to help each other, and to treat their adversaries, and those who attacked them, as they pleased,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Decree of Xerxes
10Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares. 11By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions. 12The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.…

Cross References
Esther 3:13
And 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.

Esther 9:1-2
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them. / In each of the provinces of King Xerxes, the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who sought to harm them. No man could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples.

Esther 9:5-10
The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them. / In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, / including Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ...

Esther 9:13-14
Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.” / So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.

Esther 9:16
The rest of the Jews in the royal provinces also assembled to defend themselves and rid themselves of their enemies. They killed 75,000 who hated them, but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Esther 9:22
as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

Deuteronomy 20:13-14
When the LORD your God has delivered it into your hand, you must put every male to the sword. / But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

2 Kings 10:11
So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

2 Kings 11:14-16
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!” / And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” / So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

Nehemiah 4:13-14
So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. / After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Psalm 149:6-9
May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands, / to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, / to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with shackles of iron, ...

Daniel 6:25-28
Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. / I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. / He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” ...

Matthew 5:38-39
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ / But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Luke 22:36
“Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.


Treasury of Scripture

Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

to gather.

Esther 9:2-16
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people…

to destroy.

Psalm 37:14,15
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation…

Psalm 68:3
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Psalm 137:8
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

and to take the spoil.

Esther 3:13
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Esther 9:10,15,16
The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand…

Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Jump to Previous
Assault Cause City Defend Destroy Gather Granted Jews Kill Letters Ones Perish Plunder Possessions Power Province Slay Spoil Stand Themselves Together Wherein Women
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Assault Cause City Defend Destroy Gather Granted Jews Kill Letters Ones Perish Plunder Possessions Power Province Slay Spoil Stand Themselves Together Wherein Women
Esther 8
1. Mordecai is advanced.
3. Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters.
7. Xerxes grants to the Jews to defend themselves.
15. Mordecai's honor, and the Jews' joy.














The king’s edict
The term "edict" refers to a formal proclamation or command issued by a sovereign authority. In the context of ancient Persia, such decrees were irrevocable once sealed with the king's signet ring. This highlights the absolute power of the king and the seriousness of the decree. Historically, this reflects the Persian legal system, where the king's word was law, emphasizing the gravity and authority behind the Jews' newfound right to defend themselves.

granted the Jews
The word "granted" indicates a bestowal of permission or rights. Here, it signifies a reversal of fortune for the Jewish people, who were previously under threat of annihilation due to Haman's earlier decree. This granting is a divine intervention through human agency, showcasing God's providence and faithfulness to His covenant people, even in foreign lands.

in every city
This phrase underscores the widespread nature of the decree, affecting Jews throughout the vast Persian Empire. It highlights the extensive reach of the king's authority and the comprehensive protection offered to the Jewish people. Historically, the Persian Empire was vast, and this decree ensured that Jews in all regions could defend themselves, reflecting God's care for His people wherever they are scattered.

the right to assemble and defend themselves
The "right to assemble" is significant as it empowers the Jewish people to gather and organize for their defense. This right is a reversal of their previous vulnerability and is a testament to the power of unity and community. Biblically, it echoes the theme of God empowering His people to stand against their enemies, reminiscent of the Israelites' battles in the Old Testament where God fought for them.

to destroy, kill, and annihilate
These strong verbs indicate the complete and total defense the Jews were authorized to execute against their enemies. The language mirrors that of Haman's original decree, signifying a just retribution and the seriousness of the threat they faced. It reflects the biblical principle of justice and the protection of God's people against those who seek their harm.

any armed force of any nationality or province
This phrase highlights the indiscriminate nature of the threat against the Jews and the comprehensive nature of their defense. It underscores the reality that the Jewish people were vulnerable to attacks from various groups within the empire. Theologically, it speaks to the universal nature of God's protection over His people, regardless of the source of the threat.

that might attack them and their women and children
The inclusion of "women and children" emphasizes the totality of the threat and the need for comprehensive protection. It reflects the biblical value of protecting the innocent and vulnerable within the community. This phrase underscores the seriousness of the decree and the moral imperative to defend one's family and community.

and to plunder their possessions
The right to "plunder" signifies a complete victory over their enemies, allowing the Jews to take the possessions of those who sought their harm. This mirrors the biblical principle of divine justice, where the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. It also serves as a deterrent to potential aggressors, emphasizing the totality of the Jews' authorized defense.

(11) To stand for their life.--It will be noticed that, so far at any rate as the edict authorises, the Jews are not permitted to take the initiative, but merely to stand on the defensive. As it was, it was risking civil war in all the cities of the empire, though the results were considerably lessened by numbers of people taking the hint obviously presented by the second edict. "Many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews came upon them."

Take the spoil of them.--We find that when the storm actually came, the Jews declined to take advantage of this part of the edict.

Verse 11. - Wherein the king granted. Rather, "that the king granted." Mordecai sent "letters," which said "that the king granted to the Jews to gather themselves together," etc. To gather themselves together. Union is strength. If all the Jews of a province were allowed to collect and band themselves together, they would at once be a formidable body. Scattered in the various towns and villages, they might easily have been overpowered. To stand for their life. The Jews have sometimes been spoken of as the aggressors on the actual 13th of Adar, but there is no evidence to support this view. The edict clearly only allowed them to stand on the defensive. Of course, when fighting once began, both sides did their worst. In repelling attack the Jews had the same liberty to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish as their adversaries (Esther 3:13). Little ones. Rather, "families." Take the spoil of them for a prey. i.e. "seize their property." The earlier edict had given the same permission to the Jews' enemies (Esther 3:13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
By these letters
אֲשֶׁר֩ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the king
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

permitted
נָתַ֨ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

the Jews
לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים ׀ (lay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish

in each
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

and every city
עִיר־ (‘îr-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

the right to assemble
לְהִקָּהֵל֮ (lə·hiq·qā·hêl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6950: To gather as an assembly or congregation

and defend
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

themselves,
נַפְשָׁם֒ (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

to destroy,
לְהַשְׁמִיד֩ (lə·haš·mîḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed

kill,
וְלַהֲרֹ֨ג (wə·la·hă·rōḡ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

and annihilate
וּלְאַבֵּ֜ד (ū·lə·’ab·bêḏ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the forces
חֵ֨יל (ḥêl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2426: An army, an intrenchment

of any people
עַ֧ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

or province
וּמְדִינָ֛ה (ū·mə·ḏî·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region

hostile to them,
הַצָּרִ֥ים (haṣ·ṣā·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege

including women
וְנָשִׁ֑ים (wə·nā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and children,
טַ֣ף (ṭap̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2945: A family

and to plunder
וּשְׁלָלָ֖ם (ū·šə·lā·lām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7998: A prey, spoil, plunder, booty

their possessions.
לָבֽוֹז׃ (lā·ḇō·wz)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 962: To spoil, plunder


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OT History: Esther 8:11 In those letters the king granted (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 8:10
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