Esther 9:20
What does Esther 9:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:20 means
Mordecai records the events and sends letters throughout Ahasuerus’s empire to all Jews, near and far. He moves from narrative to ordinance, from memory to mandate. As a recognized leader whose influence spans the provinces, he ensures that the story of deliverance will not fade with time or be confined to certain locales. The written word carries authority and unifies practice. By taking initiative, Mordecai acts as a shepherd of the dispersed people, binding them together in a shared calendar of thanksgiving that remembers both the danger they faced and the great reversal they experienced.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in every division of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, near and far,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Mordecai writeth these things, and sendeth letters unto all the Jews who <FI>are<Fi> in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus, who are near and who are far off,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And 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,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews near and far that were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus,
Context
After defining the differing rest days and spontaneous customs (vv. 17–19), verse 20 shifts to official codification. Mordecai now writes to establish annual observance, which verses 21–22 will detail. This reflects the administrative capacity granted him in chapter 8 and earlier. The letters form the backbone of Purim’s institution, ensuring coherence across 127 provinces. The coming verses will lay out the specific days, the reasons for the feast, and the practices that mark it, leading to the community’s acceptance (vv. 23–28) and final royal confirmation (vv. 29–32).
v.19Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
v.20This passage
v.21to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 1:10
who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;
- Deuteronomy 31:19
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
- 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),
- 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.
- Psalms 145:4
One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.
- Exodus 17:14
and Jehovah said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.