Esther 3:12
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקָּֽרְאוּ֩
called
H7121
וַיִּקָּֽרְאוּ֩
called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 40
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
סֹֽפְרֵ֨י
scribes
H5608
סֹֽפְרֵ֨י
scribes
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
2 of 40
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
הָֽרִאשׁ֗וֹן
of the first
H7223
הָֽרִאשׁ֗וֹן
of the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
5 of 40
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה
on the thirteenth
H7969
בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה
on the thirteenth
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
6 of 40
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
עָשָׂ֣ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֣ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
7 of 40
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
יוֹם֮
day
H3117
יוֹם֮
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
8 of 40
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
נִכְתָּ֔ב
and there was written
H3789
נִכְתָּ֔ב
and there was written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
10 of 40
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
כְּֽכָל
H3605
כְּֽכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 40
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 40
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵֽי
lieutenants
H323
אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנֵֽי
lieutenants
Strong's:
H323
Word #:
16 of 40
a satrap or governor of a main province (of persia)
הַפַּח֞וֹת
and to the governors
H6346
הַפַּח֞וֹת
and to the governors
Strong's:
H6346
Word #:
19 of 40
a prefect (of a city or small district)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 40
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
21 of 40
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
H4082
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
Strong's:
H4082
Word #:
22 of 40
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
H4082
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
Strong's:
H4082
Word #:
23 of 40
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
H5971
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
26 of 40
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
H5971
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
27 of 40
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
H4082
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
Strong's:
H4082
Word #:
28 of 40
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
H4082
וּמְדִינָה֙
of every province
Strong's:
H4082
Word #:
29 of 40
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ
according to the writing
H3791
כִּכְתָבָ֔הּ
according to the writing
Strong's:
H3791
Word #:
30 of 40
something written, i.e., a writing, record or book
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
H5971
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
31 of 40
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
H5971
וָעָ֖ם
of every people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
32 of 40
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ
after their language
H3956
כִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ
after their language
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
33 of 40
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
בְּשֵׁ֨ם
in the name
H8034
בְּשֵׁ֨ם
in the name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
34 of 40
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙
Ahasuerus
H325
אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙
Ahasuerus
Strong's:
H325
Word #:
36 of 40
achashverosh (i.e., ahasuerus or artaxerxes, but in this case xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a persian king
נִכְתָּ֔ב
and there was written
H3789
נִכְתָּ֔ב
and there was written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
37 of 40
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
Cross References
1 Kings 21:8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.Esther 1:22For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
Historical Context
Persian administrative efficiency enabled rapid empire-wide communication. The mention of multiple languages reflects the empire's diversity—Aramaic served as lingua franca, but provincial languages were also used. Archaeological discoveries including the Behistun Inscription demonstrate Persian practice of multilingual official documents. The seal with the king's ring made the decree irreversible (Persian law's immutability, 1:19). The timing during Nisan (Passover month) creates theological irony—the month celebrating redemption from Egypt becomes the month decreeing destruction in Persia, yet will ultimately bring new redemption. The bureaucratic detail demonstrates how institutional machinery can efficiently serve evil purposes when directed by wicked leaders.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the use of administrative efficiency for genocide illustrate that institutional capability is morally neutral—serving good or evil depending on leadership?
- What does the Passover timing teach about God's redemptive patterns and His ability to transform threats into deliverance?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. The genocidal decree was formalized through Persian bureaucratic machinery: scribes drafted it, lieutenants and governors received copies, each province and people group got versions in their own languages. The decree went forth "in the name of king Ahasuerus" and was "sealed with the king's ring," giving it full legal authority. The same administrative efficiency that enabled Cyrus's decree allowing Jewish return (Ezra 1) now enabled their attempted destruction. The thirteenth day of the first month (Nisan) means this occurred during Passover season—bitter irony that the month celebrating Israel's deliverance from Egypt became the month decreeing their destruction in Persia. Yet God's providence would transform this into ultimate deliverance, celebrated annually as Purim.