New Living Translation
Esther 9:31
31These letters established the Festival of Purim—an annual celebration of these days at the appointed time, decreed by both Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther. (The people decided to observe this festival, just as they had decided for themselves and their descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.)
Esther 9:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
- New International Version (NIV)to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation.
- English Standard Version (ESV)that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting.
- New King James Version (NKJV)to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.
Context of Esther 9:31
29Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote another letter putting the queen’s full authority behind Mordecai’s letter to establish the Festival of Purim. 30Letters wishing peace and security were sent to the Jews throughout the 127 provinces of the empire of Xerxes. These letters established the Festival of Purim—an annual celebration of these days at the appointed time, decreed by both Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther. (The people decided to observe this festival, just as they had decided for themselves and their descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.) 32So the command of Esther confirmed the practices of Purim, and it was all written down in the records.
Read all of Esther 9Esther 9:31 word by word
לְקַיֵּ֡ם אֵת־יְמֵי֩ הַפֻּרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ קִיַּ֨ם עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם מָרְדֳּכַ֤י הַיְּהוּדִי֙ וְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וְכַאֲשֶׁ֛ר קִיְּמ֥וּ עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖ם וְעַל־זַרְעָ֑ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַצֹּמ֖וֹת וְזַעֲקָתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- To confirmקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- these daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of Purimפּוּרpûr pûrîym pûrîym · PurimH6332
- in their timesזְמָ֑ןzemân · timeH2165
- according as Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
- the Jewיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JewH3064
- and Estherאֶסְתֵּר'estêr · EstherH635
- the queenמַלְכָּהmalkâh · queenH4436
- for themselvesנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- and for their seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- the mattersדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- of the fastingsצוֹםtsôm tsôm · fastH6685
- and their cryזְעָקָהza‛aq ze‛âqâh · outcryH2201
Cross-references for Esther 9:31
- Esther 1:1These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia.
- Esther 8:9So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews.
- Isaiah 39:8Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”
- Zechariah 8:19“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.
Commentaries on Esther 9:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31As they had decreed for themselves and for their seed - There is no mention of their receiving the approbation of any high priest, nor of any authority beyond that of Mordecai and Esther; the king could not join in such a business, as he had nothing to do with the Jewish religion, that not being the religion of the country.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31The matters of the fastings and their cry - The Jews of the provinces had added to the form of commemoration proposed by Mordecai certain observances with respect to fasting and wailing, and Mordecai‘s second letter sanctioned these.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-32Verses 20-32 The observance of the Jewish feasts, is a public declaration of the truth of the Old Testament Scriptures. And as the Old Testament Scriptures are true, the Messiah expected by the Jews is come long ago; and none but Jesus of Nazareth can be that Messiah. The festival was appointed by authority, yet under the direction of the Spirit of God. It was called the feast of Purim, from a Persian word, which signifies a lot. The name of this festival…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-32The letter that Queen Esther wrote officially supported Mordecai's proposal (Esther 9:20–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-3220. Mordecai wrote these things--Commentators are not agreed what is particularly meant by "these things"; whether the letters following, or an account of these marvellous events to be preserved in the families of the Jewish people, and transmitted from one generation to another.Read the comment
Topics related to Esther 9:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Esther 9
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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