Esther 8:9
What does Esther 8:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 8:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 8:9 means
The machinery of empire turns. On the twenty-third day of Sivan, in the third month, the king’s scribes are summoned. Mordecai dictates the content, and it is written to every level of authority—satraps, governors, princes—across the vast span from India to Ethiopia, encompassing one hundred twenty-seven provinces. Care is taken to communicate in each region’s script and language, including a distinct version for the Jews in their own writing and tongue. Nothing is left to chance. Speed and clarity matter when lives are at stake. The verse emphasizes the vast reach of Persia and the thoroughness of the response needed to match Haman’s original edict.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentiethday thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentiethday thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then at that time, on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is the month Sivan, the king's scribes were sent for; and everything ordered by Mordecai was put in writing and sent to the Jews and the captains and the rulers and the chiefs of all the divisions of the kingdom from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven divisions, to every division in the writing commonly used there, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing and their language.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the scribes of the king are called, at that time, in the third month--it <FI>is<Fi> the month of Sivan--in the three and twentieth of it, and it is written, according to all that Mordecai hath commanded, unto the Jews, and unto the lieutenants, and the governors, and the heads of the provinces, that <FI>are<Fi> from Hodu even unto Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces--province and province according to its writing, and people and people according to its tongue, and unto the Jews according to their writing, and according to their tongue.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then the king's scribes and secretaries were called for (now it was the time of the third month which is called Siban) the three and twentieth day of the month, and letters were written, as Mardochai had a mind, to the Jews, and to the governors, and to the deputies, and to the judges, who were rulers over the hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India even to Ethiopia: to province and province, to people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Jews, according as they could read and hear.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors, and the princes of the provinces which are from India even to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people according to their language, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.
Context
With authority granted in verse 8, verse 9 details the immediate drafting of the new decree. The time, scope, and multilingual nature mirror and answer the earlier letters sent by Haman. This sets the stage for verses 10–13, which highlight the official sealing, the courier system, and the legal provisions empowering Jewish self-defense on a specific day. The narrative thus demonstrates that the countermeasure is as comprehensive and official as the threat it counters, ensuring no province is left uninformed.
v.8Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.
v.9This passage
v.10And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king’s service, bred of the stud:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 1:22
for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
- Daniel 6:1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
- 1 Corinthians 14:9
So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.
- Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
- 2 Kings 18:26
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
- Esther 1:1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),