Esther 8:16
What does Esther 8:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 8:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 8:16 means
This verse captures the inner transformation among the Jews: “light and gladness, and joy and honor.” Light replaces the darkness of impending doom. Gladness and joy answer the mourning and fasting that marked earlier chapters. Honor restores dignity lost under threat. The shift is not only legal but emotional and communal; the people taste deliverance before the day arrives because the king’s decree is sure. The language suggests a reversal of fortunes that only God’s hidden hand could orchestrate, working through Esther and Mordecai. Their vindication becomes the people’s uplift, and the entire community breathes again under the promise of protection.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Jews had light and joy and honour.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862to the Jews hath been light, and gladness, and joy, and honour,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But to the Jews, a new light seemed to rise, joy, honour, and dancing.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The Jews had light, and joy, and gladness, and honour.
Context
Following the capital’s rejoicing (verse 15), verse 16 speaks to the Jews’ renewed hope. The decree has not yet been executed, but its announcement has already changed the atmosphere. The concluding verse (17) will extend this joy to every province and add the striking note that many among the nations identified with the Jews, prompted by fear. Together, these verses close the chapter on a note of assurance that God has turned sorrow into joy through wise and timely intervention.
v.15And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
v.16This passage
v.17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
- Proverbs 11:10
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
- Psalms 18:28
For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness.
- Psalms 112:4
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He isgracious, and merciful, and righteous.
- Esther 4:1
Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
- Psalms 30:5
For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning.