Esther 9:31
What does Esther 9:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 9:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 9:31 means
The letters confirm Purim’s days in their appointed times, in accordance with what Mordecai and Esther had enjoined and what the people had ordained for themselves and their descendants. It also mentions “the fastings and their cry,” recalling the earlier season of lament that preceded deliverance. Thus Purim is framed by both sorrow and joy—fasting and crying, followed by feasting and gladness. The institution does not forget the desperation that drove the people to plead for help. By linking the feast to prior fasting, the letters preserve humility and memory alongside celebration.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
KJV
King James Version · 1611To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen, and in keeping with the rules they had made for themselves and their seed, in connection with their time of going without food and their cry for help.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862to establish these days of Purim, in their seasons, as Mordecai the Jew hath established on them, and Esther the queen, and as they had established on themselves, and on their seed--matters of the fastings, and of their cry.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890to confirm these days of Purim in their fixed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and queen Esther had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, as to the matters of the fastings and their cry.
Context
Verse 31 specifies the contents of the confirming letters: the appointed times of Purim and acknowledgment of the community’s practices, including fasting and lament that led up to deliverance. This integration of past grief and present joy rounds out the observance’s meaning. The final verse (v. 32) will declare that Esther’s command confirmed these matters and that it was written in the book, providing an official archival record. With that, the chapter closes the narrative arc from threat to triumph to enduring remembrance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 4:3
And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
- Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Jonah 3:2
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.