Esther 3 אֶסְתֵּר פרק ג׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 3 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   אַחַרa/CHARafterהַדְּבָרִיםhad/de/va/RIMthe thingsהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseגִּדַּלgid/DALpromotedהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusאֶת־הָמָןet-Ha/MANHamanבֶּן־הַמְּדָתָאben-Ham/me/DA/tathe son of Hammedathaהָאֲגָגִיha/A/ga/GIthe Agagiteוַיְנַשְּׂאֵהוּvay/nas/se/E/huand he exalted himוַיָּשֶׂםvay/YA/semand he setאֶת־כִּסְאוֹet-kis/Ohis seatמֵעַלme/ALaboveכׇּל־הַשָּׂרִיםkol-has/sa/RIMall the princesאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat wereאִתּוֹ׃it/TOwith him

   After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

2. 2

   וְכׇל־עַבְדֵיve/KHOL-av/DEand all the servants ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁר־בְּשַׁעַרa/SHER-be/SHA/arthat were in the gate ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingכֹּרְעִיםkor/IMbowedוּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִיםu/mish/ta/cha/VIMand did obeisanceלְהָמָןle/Ha/MANto Hamanכִּי־כֵןki-khenfor soצִוָּה־לוֹtsiv/VA-lohad commanded concerning himהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוּמׇרְדֳּכַיu/Mor/do/KHAYand Mordecaiלֹאlonotיִכְרַעyikh/RAbowedוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה׃yish/ta/cha/VEdid obeisance

   And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidעַבְדֵיav/DEthe servants ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁר־בְּשַׁעַרa/SHER-be/SHA/arthat were in the gate ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלְמׇרְדֳּכָיle/Mor/do/KHAYto Mordecaiמַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhyאַתָּהat/TAyouעוֹבֵרo/VERtransgressאֵת־מִצְוַתet-mits/VATthe commandment ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃ham/ME/lekhthe king

   Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

4. 4

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to pass(באמרם)vmaram[כְּאׇמְרָם]ke/om/RAMwhen they spokeאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himיוֹםyomdayוָיוֹםva/YOMand dayוְלֹאve/LOand notשָׁמַעsha/MAhe hearkenedאֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMto themוַיַּגִּידוּvay/yag/GI/duthat they toldלְהָמָןle/Ha/MANto Hamanלִרְאוֹתlir/OTto seeהֲיַעַמְדוּha/ya/am/DUwhether would standדִּבְרֵיdiv/REthe words ofמׇרְדֳּכַיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiכִּי־הִגִּידki-hig/GIDfor he had toldלָהֶםla/HEMto themאֲשֶׁר־הוּאa/SHER-huthat he wasיְהוּדִי׃Ye/hu/DIa Jew

   Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5. 5

   וַיַּרְאvay/YARand sawהָמָןHa/MANHamanכִּי־אֵיןki-enthat notמׇרְדֳּכַיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiכֹּרֵעַko/RE/abowedוּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶהu/mish/ta/cha/VEand did obeisanceלוֹloto himוַיִּמָּלֵאvay/yim/ma/LEand was filledהָמָןHa/MANHamanחֵמָה׃che/MAwith wrath

   And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

6. 6

   וַיִּבֶזvay/YI/vezand he scornedבְּעֵינָיוbe/e/NAYVin his eyesלִשְׁלֹחַlish/LO/achto layיָדyadhandבְּמׇרְדֳּכַיbe/Mor/do/KHAYon Mordecaiלְבַדּוֹle/vad/DOaloneכִּי־הִגִּידוּki-hig/GI/dufor they had toldלוֹloto himאֶת־עַםet-amthe people ofמׇרְדֳּכָיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiוַיְבַקֵּשׁvay/vak/KESHand soughtהָמָןHa/MANHamanלְהַשְׁמִידle/hash/MIDto destroyאֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִיםet-Kol-hay/ye/hu/DIMall the Jewsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat wereבְּכׇל־מַלְכוּתbe/KHOL-mal/KHUTthroughout the whole kingdom ofאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusעַםamthe people ofמׇרְדֳּכָי׃Mor/do/KHAYMordecai

   And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

7. 7

   בַּחֹדֶשׁba/CHO/deshin the monthהָרִאשׁוֹןha/ri/SHONthe firstהוּא־חֹדֶשׁhu-CHO/deshthat is the monthנִיסָןNi/SANNisanבִּשְׁנַתbish/NATin the yearשְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵהshtem-es/REtwelveלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhof the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusהִפִּילhip/PILthey castפּוּרPurPurהוּאhuthat isהַגּוֹרָלhag/go/RALthe lotלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהָמָןHa/MANHamanמִיּוֹםmiy/YOMfrom dayלְיוֹםle/YOMto dayוּמֵחֹדֶשׁu/me/CHO/deshand from monthלְחֹדֶשׁle/CHO/deshto monthשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרshe/NEM-a/SARtwelveהוּא־חֹדֶשׁhu-CHO/deshthat is the monthאֲדָר׃A/DARAdar

   In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהָמָןHa/MANHamanלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhto the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusיֶשְׁנוֹyesh/NOthere isעַם־אֶחָדam-e/CHADa certain peopleמְפֻזָּרme/fuz/ZARscatteredוּמְפֹרָדu/me/fo/RADand dispersedבֵּיןbenamongהָעַמִּיםha/am/MIMthe peoplesבְּכֹלbe/KHOLin allמְדִינוֹתme/di/NOTthe provinces ofמַלְכוּתֶךָmal/khu/TE/khayour kingdomוְדָתֵיהֶםve/da/te/HEMand their lawsשֹׁנוֹתsho/NOTare diverseמִכׇּל־עָםmik/KOL-amfrom all peopleוְאֶת־דָּתֵיve/ET-da/TEand the laws ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֵינָםe/NAMthey are notעֹשִׂיםo/SIMdoingוְלַמֶּלֶךְve/lam/ME/lekhand for the kingאֵין־שֹׁוֶהen-sho/VEit is not fittingלְהַנִּיחָם׃le/han/ni/CHAMto tolerate them

   And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.

9. 9

   אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְim-al-ham/ME/lekhif to the kingטוֹבtovit be goodיִכָּתֵבyik/ka/TEVlet it be writtenלְאַבְּדָםle/ab/be/DAMthat they be destroyedוַעֲשֶׂרֶתva/a/SE/retand tenאֲלָפִיםa/la/FIMthousandכִּכַּר־כֶּסֶףkik/KAR-KE/seftalents of silverאֶשְׁקוֹלesh/KOLI will payעַל־יְדֵיal-ye/DEinto the hands ofעֹשֵׂיo/SEthose that have charge ofהַמְּלָאכָהham/me/la/KHAthe businessלְהָבִיאle/ha/VIto bring itאֶל־גִּנְזֵיel-gin/ZEto the treasures ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃ham/ME/lekhthe king

   If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

10. 10

    וַיָּסַרvay/YA/sarand tookהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֶת־טַבַּעְתּוֹet-tab/ba/TOhis ringמֵעַלme/ALfromיָדוֹya/DOhis handוַיִּתְּנָהּvay/yit/te/NAand he gave itלְהָמָןle/Ha/MANto Hamanבֶּן־הַמְּדָתָאben-Ham/me/DA/tathe son of Hammedathaהָאֲגָגִיha/A/ga/GIthe Agagiteצֹרֵרtso/RERthe enemy ofהַיְּהוּדִים׃hay/Ye/hu/DIMthe Jews

    And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלְהָמָןle/Ha/MANto Hamanהַכֶּסֶףhak/KE/sefthe moneyנָתוּןna/TUNis givenלָךְlakhto youוְהָעָםve/ha/AMthe people alsoלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doבּוֹbowith themכַּטּוֹבkat/TOVas seems goodבְּעֵינֶיךָ׃be/e/NE/khain your eyes

    And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

12. 12

    וַיִּקָּרְאוּvay/yik/ka/re/Uthen were calledסֹפְרֵיsof/REthe scribes ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingבַּחֹדֶשׁba/CHO/deshin the monthהָרִאשׁוֹןha/ri/SHONthe firstבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה־עָשָׂרbish/lo/SHA-a/SARon the thirteenthיוֹםyomdayבּוֹboof itוַיִּכָּתֵבvay/yik/ka/TEVand there was writtenכְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּהke/KHOL-a/SHER-tsiv/VAaccording to all that commandedהָמָןHa/MANHamanאֶלeltoאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְa/chash/dar/pe/NE-ham/ME/lekhthe satraps of the kingוְאֶל־הַפַּחוֹתve/EL-hap/pa/CHOTand the governorsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat wereעַל־מְדִינָהal-me/di/NAover provinceוּמְדִינָהu/me/di/NAand provinceוְאֶל־שָׂרֵיve/EL-sa/REand to the princes ofעַםampeopleוָעָםva/AMand peopleמְדִינָהme/di/NAprovinceוּמְדִינָהu/me/di/NAand provinceכִּכְתָבָהּkikh/ta/VAaccording to its writingוְעַםve/AMand peopleוָעָםva/AMand peopleכִּלְשׁוֹנוֹkil/sho/NOaccording to its languageבְּשֵׁםbe/SHEMin the name ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusנִכְתָּבnikh/TAVwas it writtenוְנֶחְתָּםve/nech/TAMand sealedבְּטַבַּעַתbe/tab/BA/atwith the signet ring ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃ham/ME/lekhthe king

    Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

13. 13

    וְנִשְׁלוֹחַve/nish/LO/achand were sentסְפָרִיםse/fa/RIMlettersבְּיַדbe/YADbyהָרָצִיםha/ra/TSIMthe runnersאֶל־כׇּל־מְדִינוֹתel-kol-me/di/NOTto all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלְהַשְׁמִידle/hash/MIDto destroyלַהֲרֹגla/ha/ROGto slayוּלְאַבֵּדu/le/ab/BEDand to cause to perishאֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִיםet-Kol-hay/ye/hu/DIMall the Jewsמִנַּעַרmin/NA/arfrom youngוְעַד־זָקֵןve/AD-za/KENeven to oldטַףtaflittle childrenוְנָשִׁיםve/na/SHIMand womenבְּיוֹםbe/YOMin the day ofאֶחָדe/CHADoneבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה־עָשָׂרbish/lo/SHA-a/SARon the thirteenthלְחֹדֶשׁle/CHO/deshof the monthשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרshe/NEM-a/SARtwelveהוּא־חֹדֶשׁhu-CHO/deshthat is the monthאֲדָרA/DARAdarוּשְׁלָלָםu/she/la/LAMand their spoilלָבוֹז׃la/VOZto take for a prey

    And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

14. 14

    פַּתְשֶׁגֶןpat/SHE/genthe copy ofהַכְּתָבhak/ke/TAVthe writingלְהִנָּתֵןle/hin/NA/tento be given asדָּתdata decreeבְּכׇל־מְדִינָהbe/KHOL-me/di/NAin every provinceוּמְדִינָהu/me/di/NAand provinceגָּלוּיga/LUYpublishedלְכׇל־הָעַמִּיםle/KHOL-ha/am/MIMto all the peoplesלִהְיוֹתlih/YOTthat they should beעֲתִדִיםa/ti/DIMreadyלַיּוֹםlay/YOMfor the dayהַזֶּה׃haz/ZEthis

    The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

15. 15

    הָרָצִיםha/ra/TSIMthe runnersיָצְאוּya/tse/Uwent forthדְחוּפִיםde/chu/FIMhastenedבִּדְבַרbid/VARby the word ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְהַדָּתve/had/DATand the decreeנִתְּנָהnit/te/NAwas givenבְּשׁוּשַׁןbe/Shu/SHANin Shushanהַבִּירָהhab/bi/RAthe citadelוְהַמֶּלֶךְve/ham/ME/lekhand the kingוְהָמָןve/Ha/MANand Hamanיָשְׁבוּya/she/VUsat downלִשְׁתּוֹתlish/TOTto drinkוְהָעִירve/ha/IRbut the cityשׁוּשָׁןShu/SHANShushanנָבוֹכָה׃na/VO/khawas perplexed

    The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.