Esther 9:17
What does Esther 9:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:17 means
For most of the empire, the fighting occurs on the thirteenth of Adar, and the people rest on the fourteenth, turning it into a day of feasting and gladness. The verse marks the transition from conflict to celebration. Joy follows deliverance, and feasting publicly remembers what nearly happened and what actually did. The calendar detail matters: these dates will become part of the ongoing rhythm of memory. The stress on “rest” suggests both relief from danger and gratitude for preserved life. The fourteenth thus becomes, for many communities, the emblematic day of thanksgiving after peril.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000This was doneon the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901This was doneon the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949This they did on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same month they took their rest, and made it a day of feasting and joy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, even to rest on the fourteenth of it, and to make it a day of banquet and of joy.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now the thirteenth day of the month Adar was the first day with them all of the slaughter, and on the fourteenth day they left off. Which they ordained to be kept holy day, so that all times hereafter they should celebrate it with feasting, joy, and banquets.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and joy.
Context
This verse outlines the general pattern outside Shushan: battle on the thirteenth, rest and rejoicing on the fourteenth. It sets up a contrast with Shushan’s timeline in verse 18, where an extra day of action delayed rest to the fifteenth. The difference explains why Purim later has two days. Verse 19 will note how villagers in unwalled towns especially mark the fourteenth with feasting and sharing. These chronological details prepare the way for Mordecai’s letters (vv. 20–22), which codify both dates as a yearly memorial across the empire.
v.16And the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.
v.17This passage
v.18But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 9:1
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them),
- Esther 9:18
But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
- Esther 8:9
Then 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.
- Esther 3:12
Then 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.
- Esther 9:21
to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,