Esther 8 אֶסְתֵּר פרק ח׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 8 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   בַּיּוֹםin the dayהַהוּאthatנָתַןgaveהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusלְאֶסְתֵּרto Estherהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenאֶת־בֵּיתhouse ofהָמָןHamanצֹרֵרthe opposer of(היהודיים)[הַיְּהוּדִים]the Jewsוּמׇרְדֳּכַיand Mordecaiבָּאcameלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingכִּי־הִגִּידָהbecause she toldאֶסְתֵּרEstherמַהwhatהוּא־לָהּ׃it is it

   On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

2. 2

   וַיָּסַרand he took offהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶת־טַבַּעְתּוֹsignet his ringאֲשֶׁרwhichהֶעֱבִירhe had takenמֵהָמָןfrom Hamanוַיִּתְּנָהּand he gave itלְמׇרְדֳּכָיfor Mordecaiוַתָּשֶׂםand she putאֶסְתֵּרEstherאֶת־מׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiעַל־בֵּיתto the house ofהָמָן׃Haman

   And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3. 3

   וַתּוֹסֶףand againאֶסְתֵּרEstherוַתְּדַבֵּרand she spokeלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַתִּפֹּלand she shall fallלִפְנֵיbeforeרַגְלָיוhis feetוַתֵּבְךְּand she weptוַתִּתְחַנֶּן־לוֹand she sought favor himלְהַעֲבִירcause to passאֶת־רָעַתthe evil ofהָמָןHamanהָאֲגָגִיthe Agagiteוְאֵתandמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹhis planאֲשֶׁרwhichחָשַׁבhe thoughtעַל־הַיְּהוּדִים׃upon the Jews

   And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

4. 4

   וַיּוֹשֶׁטand extendedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלְאֶסְתֵּרto Estherאֵת־שַׁרְבִטthe scepter ofהַזָּהָבthe goldוַתָּקׇםand she aroseאֶסְתֵּרEstherוַתַּעֲמֹדand shall standלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

   Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

5. 5

   וַתֹּאמֶרand saidאִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְif upon the kingטוֹבgoodוְאִם־מָצָאתִיand if I foundחֵןfavorלְפָנָיוbefore himוְכָשֵׁרand it is properהַדָּבָרthe thingלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְטוֹבָהand I am pleasingאֲנִיIבְּעֵינָיוin his eyesיִכָּתֵבlet it be writtenלְהָשִׁיבto reverseאֶת־הַסְּפָרִיםthe recordsמַחֲשֶׁבֶתthe device ofהָמָןHamanבֶּן־הַמְּדָתָאthe son of Hammedathaהָאֲגָגִיthe Agagiteאֲשֶׁרwhichכָּתַבhe wroteלְאַבֵּדto destroyאֶת־הַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹתin all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

   And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour 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 which are in all the king's provinces:

6. 6

   כִּיforאֵיכָכָהhowאוּכַלI couldוְרָאִיתִיand seenבָּרָעָהon the evilאֲשֶׁר־יִמְצָאwhich shall findאֶת־עַמִּיmy peopleוְאֵיכָכָהand howאוּכַלI couldוְרָאִיתִיand seenבְּאׇבְדַןin perishingמוֹלַדְתִּי׃my kindred

   For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

7. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁAhasuerusלְאֶסְתֵּרto Estherהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenוּלְמׇרְדֳּכַיand to Mordecaiהַיְּהוּדִיthe Jewהִנֵּהbeholdבֵית־הָמָןhouse of HamanנָתַתִּיI gaveלְאֶסְתֵּרto Estherוְאֹתוֹand himתָּלוּthey have hangedעַל־הָעֵץupon the treeעַלuponאֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַחwhich sentיָדוֹhis hand[בַּיְּהוּדִים]׃on the Jews

   Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

8. 8

   וְאַתֶּםand youכִּתְבוּwrite youעַל־הַיְּהוּדִיםupon the Jewsכַּטּוֹבas it seems goodבְּעֵינֵיכֶםin your viewבְּשֵׁםin the name ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְחִתְמוּand seal itבְּטַבַּעַתwith the signet ring ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingכִּי־כְתָבbecause is writingאֲשֶׁר־נִכְתָּבwhich has been writtenבְּשֵׁם־הַמֶּלֶךְby name the kingוְנַחְתּוֹםand it is sealedבְּטַבַּעַתwith the signet ring ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֵיןthere is noלְהָשִׁיב׃to reverse

   Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

9. 9

   וַיִּקָּרְאוּand they were calledסֹפְרֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְthe scribes of the kingבָּעֵת־הַהִיאat the time thatבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהַשְּׁלִישִׁיthe thirdהוּא־חֹדֶשׁit is a month ofסִיוָןSivanבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁהon the threeוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyבּוֹin itוַיִּכָּתֵבand written was itכְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּהas all whose commandedמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiאֶל־הַיְּהוּדִיםunto the Jewsוְאֶלandהָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִים־וְהַפַּחוֹתthe satraps and the governorsוְשָׂרֵיand captains ofהַמְּדִינוֹתthe provincesאֲשֶׁרwhichמֵהֹדּוּfrom Indiaוְעַד־כּוּשׁand unto Ethiopiaשֶׁבַעsevenוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyוּמֵאָהand one hundredמְדִינָהprovincesמְדִינָהprovincesוּמְדִינָהand provinceכִּכְתָבָהּaccording to its writingוְעַםand the people ofוָעָםand peopleכִּלְשֹׁנוֹaccording to its languageוְאֶל־הַיְּהוּדִיםand the Jewsכִּכְתָבָםaccording to their writingוְכִלְשׁוֹנָם׃and according to their language

   Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

10. 10

    וַיִּכְתֹּבand he wroteבְּשֵׁםin the name ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁAhasuerusוַיַּחְתֹּםhaving sealedבְּטַבַּעַתwith the signet ring ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיִּשְׁלַחand sentסְפָרִיםrecordsבְּיַדin the hand ofהָרָצִיםthe runnersבַּסּוּסִיםfor the horsesרֹכְבֵיriders onהָרֶכֶשׁthe steedsהָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִיםthe royalבְּנֵיthe sons ofהָרַמָּכִים׃the mares

    And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

11. 11

    אֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַןgaveהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלַיְּהוּדִיםto the Jewsאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּכׇל־עִיר־וָעִירin all city of and a cityלְהִקָּהֵלto gatherוְלַעֲמֹדand to standעַל־נַפְשָׁםupon their soulלְהַשְׁמִידto destroyוְלַהֲרֹגand to slayוּלְאַבֵּדand to destroyאֶת־כׇּל־חֵילall the army ofעַםpeopleוּמְדִינָהand provinceהַצָּרִיםthose which attackאֹתָםthemטַףlittle onesוְנָשִׁיםand womenוּשְׁלָלָםand their spoilלָבוֹז׃to take as plunder

    Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

12. 12

    בְּיוֹםin the day ofאֶחָדoneבְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹתin all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה־עָשָׂרon the thirteenthלְחֹדֶשׁto monthשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרtwelveהוּא־חֹדֶשׁit is a month ofאֲדָר׃Adar

    Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

13. 13

    פַּתְשֶׁגֶןcopy ofהַכְּתָבthe writingלְהִנָּתֵןwas to be givenדָּתlawבְּכׇל־מְדִינָהin all provincesוּמְדִינָהand provinceגָּלוּיopenלְכׇל־הָעַמִּיםto all the peopleוְלִהְיוֹתand to be(היהודיים)[הַיְּהוּדִים]the Jews(עתודים)[עֲתִידִים]are aboutלַיּוֹםfor the dayהַזֶּהthisלְהִנָּקֵםto take vengeanceמֵאֹיְבֵיהֶם׃from their enemies

    The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

14. 14

    הָרָצִיםthe runnersרֹכְבֵיriders onהָרֶכֶשׁthe steedsהָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִיםthe royalיָצְאוּwent forthמְבֹהָלִיםhastenedוּדְחוּפִיםand hurriedבִּדְבַרat the commandment ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְהַדָּתand the lawנִתְּנָהwas givenבְּשׁוּשַׁןin Shushanהַבִּירָה׃the citadel

    So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

15. 15

    וּמׇרְדֳּכַיand Mordecaiיָצָאhe went forthמִלִּפְנֵיfrom the presence ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingבִּלְבוּשׁin clothing ofמַלְכוּתroyalתְּכֵלֶתviolet stuffוָחוּרand white clothוַעֲטֶרֶתand a crown ofזָהָבgoldגְּדוֹלָהgreatוְתַכְרִיךְand a robe ofבּוּץfine linenוְאַרְגָּמָןand purpleוְהָעִירand the cityשׁוּשָׁןShushanצָהֲלָהit shouted for joyוְשָׂמֵחָה׃and it rejoiced

    And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

16. 16

    לַיְּהוּדִיםto the Jewsהָיְתָהwasאוֹרָהlightוְשִׂמְחָהand happinessוְשָׂשֹׂןand joyוִיקָר׃and honor

    The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

17. 17

    וּבְכׇל־מְדִינָהand in all provincesוּמְדִינָהand provinceוּבְכׇל־עִירand in all city ofוָעִירand a cityמְקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁרwhichדְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְword of the kingוְדָתוֹand his ordersמַגִּיעַwas reachingשִׂמְחָהjoyוְשָׂשׂוֹןand joyלַיְּהוּדִיםto the Jewsמִשְׁתֶּהfeastוְיוֹםand dayטוֹבgoodוְרַבִּיםand manyמֵעַמֵּיfrom the peoples ofהָאָרֶץthe earthמִתְיַהֲדִיםwere becoming Jewsכִּי־נָפַלthat fellפַּחַד־הַיְּהוּדִיםdread the Jewsעֲלֵיהֶם׃upon them

    And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.