Esther 8 · Verse 11

Esther 8:11

Wherein 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,
Esther 8:11, King James Version

Esther 8:11 in other translations

BSBBy these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.
WEBIn those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their lives—to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,
ASVwherein the king granted the Jews that 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, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
YLTthat the king hath given to the Jews who are in every city and city, to be assembled, and to stand for their life, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy the whole force of the people and province who are distressing them, infants and women, and their spoil to seize.
DARBYstating that the king granted the Jews that 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 might assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
BBEIn these letters the king gave authority to the Jews in every town to come together and make a fight for their lives, and to send death and destruction on the power of any people in any part of the kingdom attacking them or their children or their women, and to take their goods from them by force,
WebsterIn which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to assemble, 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,

What does Esther 8:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Esther 8:11-13
11-13. the king granted the Jews ... to stand for their life ... to slay ... all ... that would assault them--The fixed and unalterable character claimed for Persian edicts often placed the king in a very awkward dilemma; for, however bitterly he might regret things done in a moment of haste and thoughtlessness, it was beyond even his power to prevent the consequences. This was the reason on account of which the king was laid under a necessity not to reverse, but to issue a contradictory edict; according to which it was enacted that if, pursuant to the first decree, the Jews were assaulted, they might, by virtue of the second, defend themselves and even slay their enemies. However strange and even ridiculous this mode of procedure may appear, it was the only one which, from the peculiarities of court etiquette in Persia, could be adopted. Instances occur in sacred (Da 6:14), no less than profane, history. Many passages of the Bible attest the truth of this, particularly the well-known incident of Daniel's being cast into the den of lions, in conformity with the rash decree of Darius, though, as it afterwards appeared, contrary to the personal desire of that monarch. That the law of Persia has undergone no change in this respect, and the power of the monarch not less immutable, appear from many anecdotes related in the books of modern travellers through that country.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 To destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish - The same words as in Haman's decree: therefore the Jews had as much authority to slay their enemies, as their enemies had to slay them. Little ones and women - This was the ordinary custom, to destroy the whole family of those convicted of great crimes; and whether this was right or wrong, it was the custom of the people, and according to the laws. Besides, as this edict was to give the Jews the same power against their enemies as they had by the former decree against them, and the women and children were there included; consequently they must be included here.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Esther 8:3-14

It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at stake. Esther, though safe herself, fell down and begged for the deliverance of her people. We read of no tears when she begged for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept for her people. Tears of pity and tenderness are the most Christ-like. According to the constitution of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed or…

Read the full comment on Esther 8:3-14 →

Esther 8:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherthatH834
נָתַ֨ןna.Tanhe had permittedH5414
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים\׀lai.ye.hu.Dimto the JewsH3064
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhoH834
בְּכָל\־be.khol[were] in everyH3605
עִיר\־'ir-cityH5892
וָעִ֗ירva.'Irand cityH5892
לְהִקָּהֵל֮le.hi.ka.Helto assembleH6950
וְלַעֲמֹ֣דve.la.'a.Modand to make a standH5975
עַל\־'al-onH5921
נַפְשָׁם֒naf.Shamlife theirH5315
לְהַשְׁמִיד֩le.hash.Midto annihilateH8045
וְלַהֲרֹ֨גve.la.ha.Rogand to killH2026
וּלְאַבֵּ֜דu.le.'a.Bedand to destroyH6
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
חֵ֨ילcheilarmy ofH2428
עַ֧ם'ampeopleH5971
וּמְדִינָ֛הu.me.di.Nahand provinceH4082
הַצָּרִ֥יםha.tza.Rimwhich attacksH6696
אֹתָ֖ם'o.Tam<obj.> themH853
טַ֣ףtaflittle one[s]H2945
וְנָשִׁ֑יםve.na.Shimand womenH802
וּשְׁלָלָ֖םu.she.la.Lamand spoil theirH7998
לָבֽוֹז\׃la.Vozto take as plunderH962

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Esther 8:11

  • Esther 3:13

    And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

  • Psalms 37:14-15

    The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

  • Ezekiel 39:10

    So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God.

  • Psalms 146:6-9

    Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

  • Psalms 137:8

    O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

  • Esther 9:2-16

    The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people. And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater. Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them. …

  • Psalms 68:3

    But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to gather.
9:2-16
to destroy.
Ps 37:14,15; 68:3; 137:8; 146:6-9; Eze 39:10
and to take the spoil.
3:13; 9:10,15,16; Isa 10:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Esther 8:10

    And 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:

  • Esther 8:11

    Wherein 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,

  • Esther 8:12

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

Read all of Esther 8

Esther 8:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Con intimación de que el rey concedía á los Judíos que estaban en todas las ciudades, que se juntasen y estuviesen á la defensa de su vida, prontos á destruir, y matar, y acabar con todo ejército de pueblo ó provincia que viniese contra ellos, aun niños y mujeres, y su despojo para presa,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ces lettres portaient que le roi accordait aux Juifs, dans chaque ville, de s’assembler et de se mettre en défense pour leur vie, et de détruire, tuer, et faire périr toute force du peuple et de la province qui les opprimerait, – eux et leurs enfants et leurs femmes, et de mettre au pillage leurs biens,
German
Elberfelder 1871
daß der König den Juden, die in jeder einzelnen Stadt wären, gestattet habe, sich zu versammeln und für ihr Leben einzustehen, zu vertilgen, zu töten und umzubringen alle Heeresmacht von Volk und Landschaft, die sie, ihre Kinder und Weiber bedrängen würden, und ihre Habe zu plündern:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quibus imperavit rex, ut convenirent Judæos per singulas civitates, et in unum præciperent congregari ut starent pro animabus suis, et omnes inimicos suos cum conjugibus ac liberis et universis domibus, interficerent atque delerent, et spolia eorum diriperent.