Esther 9:20
New International Version
Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far,

New Living Translation
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes,

English Standard Version
And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Berean Standard Bible
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far,

King James Bible
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

New King James Version
And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,

New American Standard Bible
Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

NASB 1995
Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

NASB 1977
Then Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Mordecai wrote down these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Amplified Bible
Now Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who lived in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Christian Standard Bible
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all of King Ahasuerus’s provinces, both near and far.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all of King Ahasuerus’s provinces, both near and far.

American Standard Version
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

Contemporary English Version
Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. Then he sent letters to the Jews everywhere in the provinces

English Revised Version
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, Mordecai wrote these things down and sent official letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far.

Good News Translation
Mordecai had these events written down and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, throughout the Persian Empire,

International Standard Version
Mordecai wrote these instructions and sent letters to all the Jewish people in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

Majority Standard Bible
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far,

NET Bible
Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

New Heart English Bible
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Achshayarsh, both near and far,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

World English Bible
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Mordecai writes these things, and sends letters to all the Jews who [are] in all provinces of King Ahasuerus, who are near and who are far off,

Young's Literal Translation
And Mordecai writeth these things, and sendeth letters unto all the Jews who are in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus, who are near and who are far off,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Mordecai will write these words, and send letters to all the Jews that were in all the king Ahasuerus's provinces, near and far off,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Mardochai wrote all these things, and sent them comprised in letters to the Jews that abode in all the king's provinces, both those that lay near and those afar off,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Mordecai wrote down all these things and sent them, composed in letters, to the Jews who were staying in all the king’s provinces, as much to those in nearby places as to those far away,

New American Bible
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews, both near and far, in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

New Revised Standard Version
Mordecai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Akhshirash, both near and far.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Murdacai wrote these words and he sent letters to all the Jews in all of the cities of King Akhashiresh which were near and which were far away
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Mardochaeus wrote these things in a book, and sent them to the Jews, as many as were in the kingdom of Artaxerxes, both them that were near and them that were afar off,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Feast of Purim Instituted
19This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another. 20Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far, 21to establish among them an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar…

Cross References
Esther 8:10-17
Mordecai 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. / 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. / The single day appointed throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. ...

Nehemiah 8:9-12
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. / Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” / And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.” ...

Exodus 17:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

1 Samuel 30:26-31
When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” / He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; / to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; ...

2 Chronicles 30:1-5
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. / For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, / since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 35:16-19
So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah. / The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. / No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem. ...

Psalm 78:5-7
For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, / that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children / that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.

Psalm 105:8-10
He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— / the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

Psalm 137:5-6
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. / May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy!

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.” ...

Luke 22:19-20
And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

John 2:23
While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.

Acts 15:30-31
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. / When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, / and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,

gladness.

Esther 9:22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Esther 8:17
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Deuteronomy 16:11,14
And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there…

sending portions.

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Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Division Events Far Jews Kingdom Letters Mordecai Mor'decai Nigh Provinces Recorded Throughout Writeth Wrote Xerxes
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Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Division Events Far Jews Kingdom Letters Mordecai Mor'decai Nigh Provinces Recorded Throughout Writeth Wrote Xerxes
Esther 9
1. The Jews slay their enemies, with the ten sons of Haman.
12. Xerxes, at the request of Esther,
14. grants another day of slaughter, and Haman's sons to be hanged.
20. The two days of Purim are instituted.














Mordecai recorded these events
The phrase "Mordecai recorded these events" highlights the importance of documentation and remembrance in Jewish tradition. Mordecai, a central figure in the Book of Esther, ensures that the miraculous deliverance of the Jews is not forgotten. The Hebrew root for "recorded" is "כָּתַב" (katav), which means to write or inscribe. This act of recording is significant as it establishes a historical account that would be celebrated annually as the festival of Purim. It underscores the value of preserving God's interventions and the faithfulness of His people for future generations.

and sent letters
The act of sending letters signifies the dissemination of important information and the unification of the Jewish people across the vast Persian Empire. The Hebrew word for "letters" is "אִגֶּרֶת" (iggeret), which refers to written communication. This method of communication was crucial in ancient times for maintaining connections and ensuring that all Jews, regardless of their location, were informed and could participate in the celebration of their deliverance. It reflects the communal nature of Jewish life and the importance of shared experiences and observances.

to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes
This phrase emphasizes the widespread nature of the Jewish diaspora during the reign of King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus). The Persian Empire was vast, and the Jews were scattered across its many provinces. The Hebrew term for "provinces" is "מְדִינָה" (medinah), indicating a region or district. Mordecai's letters were sent to every corner of the empire, ensuring that no Jew was left uninformed. This action highlights the inclusivity and unity of the Jewish people, as well as the organizational skills required to reach such a dispersed population.

both near and far
The phrase "both near and far" underscores the comprehensive reach of Mordecai's communication. It signifies that the message of deliverance and the instructions for celebrating Purim were intended for every Jew, regardless of their proximity to the center of power in Susa. This inclusivity is a testament to the unity and solidarity among the Jewish people, as well as the importance of collective memory and celebration. It also reflects the biblical theme of God's care and provision for His people, no matter where they are located.

Verse 20. - Mordecai wrote these things. Mordecai seems, in the first instance, to have written to the provincial Jews, suggesting to them the future observance of two days of Purim instead of one, and explaining the grounds of his proposition, but without venturing to issue any order. When he found his proposition well received (vers. 23, 27) he sent out a second letter, "with all authority" (ver. 29), enjoining the observance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Mordecai
מָרְדֳּכַ֔י (mā·rə·do·ḵay)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4782: Mordecai -- a companion of Zerubbabel, also a cousin of Esther

recorded
וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב (way·yiḵ·tōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

these
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

events
הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

and sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

letters
סְפָרִ֜ים (sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

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

the Jews
הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים (hay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish

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

the provinces
מְדִינוֹת֙ (mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region

of King
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Xerxes,
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ (’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 325: Ahasuerus -- king of Persia

both near
הַקְּרוֹבִ֖ים (haq·qə·rō·w·ḇîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7138: Near

and far,
וְהָרְחוֹקִֽים׃ (wə·hā·rə·ḥō·w·qîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious


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OT History: Esther 9:20 Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 9:19
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