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 Living Translation (NLT)At the king’s command, the decree went out by swift messengers, and it was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa fell into confusion.

Context of Esther 3:15

13And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. 14A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 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.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• The postsרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• went outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• being hastenedדָּחַףdâchaph · to hastenH1765
• by the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• commandmentדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• and the decreeדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• was givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• in Shushanשׁוּשַׁןshûshan · SusaH7800
• the palaceבִּירָהbîyrâh · palaceH1002
• and Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• sat downיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• to drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• but the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• was perplexedבּוּךְbûk · to perplexH943

Cross-references for Esther 3:15

• Proverbs 1:16For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
• Proverbs 4:16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
• Hosea 7:5In the day of our king Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers.
• Amos 6:6Who drink wine from bowls, And anoint yourselves with the best ointments, But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
• John 16:20Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
• Revelation 11:10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
• Esther 4:16“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
• Esther 8:15So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
• Proverbs 29:2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, 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