Esther 9:29
What does Esther 9:29 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:29 means
Esther the queen—named with her lineage, the daughter of Abihail—and Mordecai the Jew write “with all authority” to confirm a second letter concerning Purim. Their joint authorship and stated authority elevate the feast from communal custom to royally backed institution. Esther’s presence ensures the queen’s sanction; Mordecai’s, the chief official’s. The phrase “with all authority” signals that what follows carries binding weight throughout the empire. This step provides stability, preventing regional variation from eroding the feast’s meaning or timing, and ensuring that Purim remains a recognized and unified observance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, sent a second letter giving the force of their authority to the order about the Purim.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, writeth, and Mordecai the Jew, with all might, to establish this second letter of Purim,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established a festival for the time to come.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And queen Esther the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.
Context
After the people’s own commitment (vv. 27–28), verse 29 introduces the final official endorsement. Esther and Mordecai together issue a confirming letter. This prepares for verse 30’s distribution to all 127 provinces and for verse 31’s specific confirmation of Purim’s appointed times and the associated fastings and cry. The interplay of popular adoption and royal confirmation gives Purim both grassroots heart and legal shape. Verse 32 will close the chapter by noting that Esther’s command was written in the book, completing the formal record.
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.
v.29This passage
v.30And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 8:10
And 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:
- Esther 3:15
The posts went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
- Esther 9:20
And 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,
- Esther 2:15
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.