Back to Esther 9

Esther 9:24-26

because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast “Pur”, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan, which he had planned against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Therefore they called these days “Purim”, from the word “Pur.” Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,

World English Bible · Public Domain
Show the surrounding paragraph

Esther 9:24-26 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar yearly, as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy. The Jews accepted the custom that they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them; because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast “Pur”, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan, which he had planned against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Therefore they called these days “Purim”, from the word “Pur.” Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them, the Jews established and imposed on themselves, and on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail that they would keep these two days according to what was written, and according to its appointed time, every year; and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their memory perish from their offspring,

Read all of Esther 9 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast “Pur”, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

    but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked plan, which he had planned against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

    Therefore they called these days “Purim”, from the word “Pur.” Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,

  • KJV King James Version

    Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

    But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

    Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast pur, that is, the lot, to discomfit them, and to destroy them;

    but when she came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head; and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

    Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them,

View more translations →

Cross-references (12)

  • Psalms 7:16 (v25) The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
  • Esther 3:5-13 (v24) When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. But he scorned the thought of laying hands on…
  • Esther 9:20 (v26) Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,
  • Numbers 16:40 (v26) to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn…
  • Esther 7:5–8:14 (v25) Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?” Esther said, “An…
Show all 12 cross-references
  • Esther 9:10 (v24) the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy, but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder.
  • Esther 9:13-14 (v25) Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do tomorrow also according to today’s decree,…
  • Psalms 109:17-18 (v25) Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him. He clothed himself also with cursing as…
  • Psalms 140:9 (v25) As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
  • Psalms 141:10 (v25) Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by.
  • Ezekiel 39:11 (v26) “ ‘ “It will happen in that day, that I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of…
  • Matthew 21:44 (v25) He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (15 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv24–25 Read Esther 3.

Read Esther 3.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv24–26 Est 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v26 i.e. Both for the respect which they justly bore…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv24–26 Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v26 Pur - This Persian word signifies a lot, because…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v26 Verse 26. They called these days Purim] That is…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv24, 26 Est 9:24. Because Haman had devised against the Jews…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v25 And. Hebrew, "But when she came." Septuagint, "and how…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v26 they called these days Purim after the name of…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv25–26 25. When Esther came before the king — As…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv24–26 24. Pur, that is, the lot] See on Est_3:7.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv24–26 (24) Pur.—See above on Est_3:7.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv25–26 But when Esther came before the king. Rather, "when…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v26 they called these days Purim, after the name of…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v26 9:26-28 This paragraph justifies Purim as an approved Jewish…
Share