אֶסְתֵּר

Esther — Chapter 8

Read Esther Chapter 8 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 17 verses. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נָתַ֤ן הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה אֶת בֵּ֥ית הָמָ֖ן צֹרֵ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים וּמָרְדֳּכַ֗י בָּ֚א לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי הִגִּ֤ידָה אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַה ה֖וּא לָֽהּ׃

KJVOn that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.

וַיָּ֤סַר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת טַבַּעְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱבִ֖יר מֵהָמָ֑ן וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑י וַתָּ֣שֶׂם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת מָרְדֳּכַ֖י עַל בֵּ֥ית הָמָֽן׃

KJVAnd the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

וַתּ֣וֹסֶף אֶסְתֵּ֗ר וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר לִפְנֵי הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וַתִּפֹּ֣ל לִפְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֗יו וַתֵּ֤בְךְּ וַתִּתְחַנֶּן לוֹ֙ לְהַעֲבִ֗יר אֶת רָעַ֤ת הָמָן֙ הָאֲגָגִ֔י וְאֵ֥ת מַחֲשַׁבְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָשַׁ֔ב עַל הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

KJVAnd Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.

וַיּ֤וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת שַׁרְבִ֥יט הַזָּהָ֖ב וַתָּ֣קָם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVThen the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.

וַתֹּ֡אמֶר אִם עַל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ טוֹב֩ וְאִם מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן לְפָנָ֗יו וְכָשֵׁ֤ר הַדָּבָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְטוֹבָ֥ה אֲנִ֖י בְּעֵינָ֑יו יִכָּתֵ֞ב לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶת הַסְּפָרִ֗ים מַחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת הָמָן֩ בֶּן הַמְּדָ֣תָא הָאֲגָגִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּתַב֙ לְאַבֵּ֣ד אֶת הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּכָל מְדִינ֥וֹת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVAnd said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

And she said: If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.

כִּ֠י אֵיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְרָאִ֔יתִי בָּרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִמְצָ֣א אֶת עַמִּ֑י וְאֵיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְרָאִ֔יתִי בְּאָבְדַ֖ן מוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃

KJVFor how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וּלְמָרְדֳּכַ֖י הַיְּהוּדִ֑י הִנֵּ֤ה בֵֽית הָמָן֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר וְאֹת֣וֹ תָל֔וּ עַל הָעֵ֖ץ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלַ֖ח יָד֥וֹ בַּיְּהוּדִֽים׃

KJVThen the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew: Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.

וְאַתֶּ֗ם כִּתְב֤וּ עַל הַיְּהוּדִים֙ כַּטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֖ם הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְחִתְמ֖וּ בְּטַבַּ֥עַת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ כִּֽי כְתָ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִכְתַּ֤ב בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְנֶחְתָּ֣ם בְּטַבַּ֣עַת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֥ין לְהָשִׁ֖יב׃

KJVWrite ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.

וַיִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡יא בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֣י הוּא חֹֽדֶשׁ סִיוָ֡ן בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים ב֣וֹ וַיִּכָּתֵ֣ב כְּכָל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֶל הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים וְאֶל הָ֠אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִים וְהַפַּחוֹת֩ וְשָׂרֵ֨י הַמְּדִינוֹת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר מֵהֹ֜דּוּ וְעַד כּ֣וּשׁ שֶׁ֣בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים וּמֵאָ֣ה מְדִינָ֗ה מְדִינָ֤ה וּמְדִינָה֙ כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ וְעַ֥ם וָעָ֖ם כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ וְאֶ֨ל הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים כִּכְתָבָ֖ם וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃

KJVThen were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.

וַיִּכְתֹּ֗ב בְּשֵׁם֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וַיַּחְתֹּ֖ם בְּטַבַּ֣עַת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח סְפָרִ֡ים בְּיַ֣ד הָרָצִ֣ים בַּסּוּסִ֡ים רֹכְבֵ֣י הָרֶ֣כֶשׁ הָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֡ים בְּנֵי הָרַמָּכִ֡ים׃

KJVAnd he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring and sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,

אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֣ן הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ לַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּכָל עִ֣יר וָעִ֡יר לְהִקָּהֵ֣ל וְלַעֲמֹ֣ד עַל נַפְשָׁ֡ם לְהַשְׁמִ֣יד וְלַהֲרֹ֣ג וּלְאַבֵּ֡ד אֶת כָּל חֵ֣יל עַ֣ם וּמְדִינָ֗ה הַצָּרִ֣ים אֹתָ֣ם טַ֣ף וְנָשִׁ֡ים וּשְׁלָלָ֣ם לָבֽוֹז׃

KJVWherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,

saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

בְּי֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד בְּכָל מְדִינ֖וֹת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂ֖ר הוּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ אֲדָֽר׃

KJVUpon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַכְּתָ֗ב לְהִנָּתֵ֤ן דָּת֙ בְּכָל מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֔ה גָּל֖וּי לְכָל הָֽעַמִּ֑ים וְלִהְי֧וֹת הַיְּהוּדִ֛ים עֲתִידִ֖ים לַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לְהִנָּקֵ֥ם מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃

KJVThe copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.

הָרָצִ֞ים רֹכְבֵ֣י הָרֶ֣כֶשׁ הָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֡ים יָצְא֣וּ מְבֹהָלִ֣ים וּדְחוּפִ֡ים בִּדְבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְהַדָּ֗ת נִתְּנָ֙ה֙ בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֔ה׃

KJVSo the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.

So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

וּמָרְדֳּכַ֞י יָצָ֣א מִלִּפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ בִּלְב֣וּשׁ מַלְכ֣וּת תְּכֵ֣לֶת וָחוּר֩ וַעֲטֶ֨רֶת זָהָ֤ב גְּדוֹלָה֙ וְתַכְרִ֣יךְ בּ֔וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֑ן וְהָעִ֣יר שׁוּשָׁ֔ן צָהֲלָ֖ה וְשָׂמֵֽחָה׃

KJVAnd Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, while the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וִיקָֽר׃

KJVThe Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.

וּבְכָל מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה וּבְכָל עִ֤יר וָעִיר֙ מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָת֣וֹ מַגִּ֔יעַ שִׂמְחָ֤ה וְשָׂשׂוֹן֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה וְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב וְרַבִּ֞ים מֵֽעַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ מִֽתְיַהֲדִ֔ים כִּֽי נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

KJVAnd 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.

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.