Esther 8:17

Esther 8:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Context of Esther 8:17

15Then Mordecai left the king's palace. He was wearing royal clothes that were purple and white. He had a large gold crown on his head. He wore a beautiful coat made from purple linen. The people in Susa city shouted with joy because of the new law. 16All the Jews were very happy. Everyone respected them and gave them honour. When the new law reached every region and every city, the Jews became very happy. The other people who lived there were now afraid of the Jews. Because of that, many people said that they themselves had become Jews.

Esther 8:17 word by word

וּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֨ה וּמְדִינָ֜ה וּבְכָל־עִ֣יר וָעִ֗יר מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ שִׂמְחָ֤ה וְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה וְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב וְרַבִּ֞ים מֵֽעַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ מִֽתְיַהֲדִ֔ים כִּֽי־נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And in every provinceמְדִינָהmedîynâh · provinceH4082
• and in every cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · excitementH5892
• whithersoeverמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• commandmentדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• and his decreeדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• cameנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• the Jewsיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JewH3064
• had joyשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
• and gladnessשָׂשׂוֹןώâώôn ώâώôn · rejoicingH8342
• a feastמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
• and a goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• And manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• became Jewsיָהַדyâhad · to become a JewH3054
• for the fearפַּ֫חַדpachad · dreadH6343
• fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307

Cross-references for Esther 8:17

• 1 Samuel 25:8Your servants will tell you that, if you ask them. Now we have come to you at this special holiday time. So please be kind to the young men that David has sent to see you. They are your servants as well as his servants. Please give any extra food that you have to these young men and to your good friend David.” ’
• Nehemiah 8:10Nehemiah said to the people, ‘Go to your homes and eat some good food. Drink sweet drinks. Share your food and your drink with people who do not have enough for themselves. This is a holy day for our Lord, so do not be sad. The Lord will give you joy so that you can be strong.’
• Psalms 18:43You have saved me from people who attacked me. You made me a ruler of other nations. People that I did not know before now serve me as their ruler.
• Zechariah 8:20‘People that live in many countries will come to Jerusalem,’ says the Lord Almighty.
• Esther 9:2In all the cities in each region of the kingdom where the Jews lived, they joined together. They punished anyone who tried to hurt them. Nobody could fight against them because all the people were very afraid of them.
• Genesis 35:5Then they began their journey. All the towns near there were afraid of God's power. So no one attacked Jacob and his people.
• Exodus 15:16They will all be afraid. Because of your great power they will want to run away. But they cannot move! They will remain still, like stones, until your people go on past them. They will stand and watch as the people you have saved, Lord, pass by.
• Deuteronomy 2:25Today I will begin to make all the people in the world afraid of you. They will hear reports about you. That will cause them to be very frightened. They will shake with fear!’
• Deuteronomy 11:25Nobody will be able to stop you. The Lord your God will cause everyone in the other nations to be afraid of you. They will shake with fear. He has promised to do that, everywhere that you go in the land.

Commentaries on Esther 8:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Many - became Jews; for - fear - These were a species of converts not likely to bring much honor to true religion: but the sacred historian states the simple fact. They did profess Judaism for fear of the Jews, whether they continued steady in that faith or not. It is only the Gospel which will not admit of coercion for the propagation and establishment of its doctrines. It is a spiritual system, and can be propagated only by spiritual influence. As it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Became Jews - Joined the nation as proselytes, so casting in their lot with them.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 Mordecai's robes now were rich. These things are not worth notice, but as marks of the king's favour, and the fruit of God's favour to his church. It is well with a land, when ensigns of dignity are made the ornaments of serious piety. When the church prospers, many will join it, who will be shy of it when in trouble. When believers have rest, and walk in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they will be multiplied. And…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17many of the people of the land themselves became Jews: They converted to Judaism.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715. Mordecai went out ... in royal apparel--He was invested with the khelaat of official honor. A dress of blue and white was held in great estimation among the Persians; so that Mordecai, whom the king delighted to honor, was in fact arrayed in the royal dress and insignia. The variety and the kind of insignia worn by a favorite at once makes known to the people the particular dignity to which he has been raised.Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 8:17

• Feasts

In the dictionaries

• Proselyte
• Esther, Book of
• Joy

Commentaries on Esther 8

• 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