Esther 9:3
What does Esther 9:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:3 means
High-ranking officials—princes, satraps, governors, and royal agents—actively aid the Jews. Their support is not merely passive permission but practical help. The reason is clear: “the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.” Power structures tend to align with where authority and favor reside. Mordecai’s elevation in the court changed calculations at every level. Bureaucrats and provincial elites, seeing who stood near the throne, understood the king’s intent and adjusted accordingly. Their assistance further ensured that those who sought Jewish harm would not succeed. Political realities thus reinforce the legal and providential shift already underway.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And all the chiefs and the captains and the rulers and those who did the king's business gave support to the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai had come on them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And all heads of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the governors, and those doing the work that the king hath, are lifting up the Jews, for a fear of Mordecai hath fallen upon them;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the judges of the provinces, and the governors, and lieutenants, and every one in dignity, that presided over every place and work, extolled the Jews for fear of Mardochai:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors and officers of the king, helped the Jews; for the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them.
Context
Verses 1–2 describe a turning of the tide and rising fear among the peoples. Verse 3 specifies how that fear took shape among officials: they helped the Jews because of Mordecai. This connects the narrative to earlier developments in chapter 8, where Mordecai received royal authority. The verse prepares for verse 4’s focus on Mordecai’s growing greatness and explains why victories reported in verses 5–16 were so comprehensive. The alignment of state power with Jewish safety is a crucial piece in the chapter’s account of deliverance.
v.2the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples.
v.3This passage
v.4For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
- Ezra 8:36
And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
- 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 8:5
And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king’s provinces:
- Esther 3:2
And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.
- Daniel 6:1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;