Esther 9:27
What does Esther 9:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:27 means
The Jews formally obligate themselves, their descendants, and any who join them to keep the two days annually, according to the written instructions and appointed times. This covenantal language ensures continuity. The obligation extends beyond the present generation to “their seed,” anchoring Purim in the identity of the people. Including those who join them signals an open community of remembrance: outsiders who align with the Jews share the duty and the joy. The emphasis on exact times and writing guards against drift, so that gratitude does not fade and the story remains central to communal life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, every year;
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, every year;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The Jews made a rule and gave an undertaking, causing their seed and all those who were joined to them to do the same, so that it might be in force for ever, that they would keep those two days, as ordered in the letter, at the fixed time every year;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the Jews have established and received upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all those joined unto them, and it doth not pass away, to be keeping these two days according to their writing, and according to their season, in every year and year;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the things that they suffered, and that were afterwards changed, the Jews took upon themselves and their seed, and upon all that had a mind to be joined to their religion, so that it should be lawful for none to pass these days without solemnity: which the writing testifieth, and certain times require, as the years continually succeed one another.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890the Jews ordained and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would observe these two days according to their writing and according to their fixed time, every year;
Context
After the name Purim is explained (v. 26), verse 27 records a binding commitment to observe it. The next verse (v. 28) will stress the permanence of this remembrance across every sphere—generation, family, province, city—so that it does not fail or perish. Together, these verses document the people’s resolve, which will then be further confirmed and authorized by Esther and Mordecai’s second letter in verses 29–32. The literary movement secures Purim on both popular and official levels.
v.26Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them,
v.27This passage
v.28and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the remembrance of them perish from their seed.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Samuel 21:1
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
- Joshua 9:15
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
- Isaiah 56:3
Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
- 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,
- Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
- Deuteronomy 5:3
Jehovah made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.