Esther 3:15

Esther 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Context of Esther 3:15

13And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. 14A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day. The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Esther 3:15 word by word

הָֽרָצִ֞ים יָצְא֤וּ דְחוּפִים֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְהַדָּ֥ת נִתְּנָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙ יָשְׁב֣וּ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וְהָעִ֥יר שׁוּשָׁ֖ן נָבֽוֹכָה׃ פRead the interlinear

• The couriersרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• leftיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• spurred onדָּחַףdâchaph · to hastenH1765
• by the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• commandדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• and the edictדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• was issuedנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• in the citadelבִּירָהbîyrâh · palaceH1002
• of Susaשׁוּשַׁןshûshan · SusaH7800
• and Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• sat downיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• to drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• but the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• was in confusionבּוּךְbûk · to perplexH943

Cross-references for Esther 3:15

• Proverbs 1:16For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
• Proverbs 4:16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
• Hosea 7:5The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
• Amos 6:6You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
• John 16:20Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
• Revelation 11:10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
• Esther 4:16“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
• Esther 8:15Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
• Proverbs 29:2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Commentaries on Esther 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The posts - Literally, the couriers, the hircarrahs, those who carried the public despatches; a species of public functionaries, who have been in use in all nations of the world from the remotest antiquity. The decree was given at Shushan - It was dated from the royal Susa, where the king then was. The city Shushan was perplexed - They saw that in a short time, by this wicked measure the whole city would be thrown into confusion; for, although the Jews…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Shushan was perplexed - Susa was now the capital of Persia, and the main residence of the Persians of high rank. These, being attached to the religion of Zoroaster, would naturally sympathize with the Jews, and be disturbed at their threatened destruction. Even apart from this bond of union, the decree was sufficiently strange and ominous to “perplex” thoughtful citizens.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-15Verses 7-15 Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could consent to a dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be thankful for mild and just government. Haman inquires, according to his own superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the designed massacre! God's wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-15This decree had the full authority of King Xerxes. The foolish king and wicked Haman celebrated, but the people of Susa were confused and upset by the unfair decree.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1512-15. Then were the king's scribes called ... and there was written--The government secretaries were employed in making out the proclamation authorizing a universal massacre of the Jews on one day. It was translated into the dialects of all the people throughout the vast empire, and swift messengers were sent to carry it into all the provinces. On the day appointed, all Jews were to be put to death and their property confiscated; doubtless, the means by…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 3:15

• Babylon
• Malice
• Post
• Revenge

In the dictionaries

• Mordecai
• Post
• Epistle
• Guard
• Shushan

Commentaries on Esther 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings