God’s Word Translation
Esther 8:17
17In every province and every city where the king’s message and decree arrived, the Jews were happy and joyful, feasting and enjoying a holiday. Then many common people pretended to be Jews because they were terrified of the Jews.
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
15Mordecai went out from the presence of the king wearing the royal violet and white robe, a large gold crown, and a purple outer robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa cheered and rejoiced. 16So the Jews were cheerful, happy, joyful, and successful. In every province and every city where the king’s message and decree arrived, the Jews were happy and joyful, feasting and enjoying a holiday. Then many common people pretended to be Jews because they were terrified of the Jews.
Read all of Esther 8Esther 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
- Esther 9:17This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and celebration.
- 1 Samuel 25:8Ask your young men, and let them tell you. Be kind to my young men, since we have come on a special occasion. Please give us and your son David anything you can ⌞spare⌟.’ ”
- Nehemiah 8:10Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.”
- Psalms 18:43You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me:
- Zechariah 8:20This is what the Lord of Armies says: People and citizens from many cities are going to come.
- Esther 9:2The Jews assembled in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes to kill those who were planning to harm them. No one could stand up against them, because all the people were terrified of them.
- Genesis 35:5As they moved on, God made the people of the cities that were all around them terrified so that no one pursued them.
- Exodus 15:16Terror and dread will fall on them. Because of the power of your arm, they will be petrified until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you purchased pass by.
- Deuteronomy 2:25Today I will start to make all the people under heaven terrified of you. When they hear about you, they will tremble and shake because of you.”
- Deuteronomy 11:25No one will be able to stop you. As the Lord your God promised, he will make people terrified of you wherever you go in this 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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