Esther 3:13
What does Esther 3:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 3:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 3:13 means
Messengers carry letters to every province commanding the destruction of all Jews—young and old, children and women—on a single day, the thirteenth of Adar, with the right to seize their goods. The language is stark and total, leaving no refuge or exception. By fixing one date, the decree aims for coordinated annihilation. Permission to plunder provides perverse incentive to participate. The edict’s cruelty is not hidden; it is plainly stated and publicly authorized. The focus on all ages and both sexes emphasizes the genocidal character of the command, seeking to erase the people entirely and profit from their ruin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to slay, 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And letters were sent by the runners into every division of the kingdom ordering the death and destruction of all Jews, young and old, little children and women, on the same day, even the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar, and the taking of all their goods by force.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and letters to be sent by the hand of the runners unto all provinces of the king, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy all the Jews, from young even unto old, infant and women, on one day, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month--it <FI> is<Fi> the month of Adar--and their spoil to seize,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Were sent by the king's messengers to all provinces, to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women, in one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to make a spoil of their goods.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the letters were sent by couriers 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, upon the thirteenth of the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.
Context
After the scribes’ work (v. 12), this verse announces the decree’s horrific content. It connects back to the lot cast in verse 7, aligning the chosen day with the scheduled destruction. The following verse (14) ensures public awareness so the population will be prepared to act. The momentum of the chapter reaches its grim peak, with the empire set against the Jews by royal command.
v.12Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.
v.13This passage
v.14A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 30:6
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
- James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.
- 1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
- Romans 3:15
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
- Esther 7:4
for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s damage.
- Job 9:25
Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good.