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.
ESTHER 3:13KJVWhat does Esther 3:13 mean?
Esther 3:13 describes how official letters were sent throughout the Persian Empire, ordering the destruction, killing, and annihilation of all Jewish people—regardless of age or gender—on a single day, the thirteenth of the month Adar, and allowing their possessions to be taken as plunder. This verse records the legal command for a planned, empire-wide massacre of the Jews.
The verse is set in the Persian court, where Haman, an official angered by Mordecai, has convinced King Xerxes to approve this decree. Messengers carried these orders to every province, making the threat immediate and universal. The language is deliberately thorough, emphasizing that no one—young, old, child, or woman—was to be spared, and that their goods could be seized.
The Hebrew behind Esther 3:13
- "Destroy" (שָׁמַד, shamad), "kill" (הָרַג, harag), and "perish" (אָבַד, avad): These three words are stacked together for emphasis, showing the totality and brutality of the planned action, leaving no room for survival or escape.
- "Spoil" (שָׁלָל, shalal) and "prey" (בַּז, baz): These words refer to taking the possessions of the Jews as loot. The decree not only targeted lives but also encouraged taking their property, making the violence profitable for those who carried it out.
- "Posts" (רָצִים, ratsim): This word refers to swift messengers or couriers. The use of official runners highlights how seriously and efficiently the Persian administration enforced the decree, ensuring that every corner of the empire would receive the order quickly.
Why Esther 3:13 matters
- Esther 3:13 makes clear the extreme danger facing the Jewish people, showing the full scope of Haman’s plan and the powerlessness of the Jewish community under Persian law.
- The verse’s detailed language underscores the calculated nature of the decree, not just permitting but commanding violence and theft against an entire people group.
- Understanding this verse helps explain the urgency and desperation in the rest of the book, as Esther and Mordecai seek a way to save their people from total destruction.