On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

ESTHER 9:17KJV
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Esther 9:17 (KJV)

What does Esther 9:17 mean?

Esther 9:17 describes how, after defending themselves on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jewish people rested on the fourteenth day and turned it into a day of feasting and joy. This verse marks the shift from conflict to celebration, highlighting the relief and happiness that followed their deliverance.

In the story, the Jewish people had been threatened with destruction but were allowed to defend themselves by a royal decree. The verse records the specific days: the thirteenth of Adar was the day of fighting, and the fourteenth became a holiday. This sets the stage for the festival of Purim, which commemorates these events.

The Hebrew behind Esther 9:17

  • "Rested" (נוֹחַ, nuach): This word means to rest or cease from activity. Here, it emphasizes the end of danger and the transition to peace after a time of fear and struggle.
  • "Feasting" (מִשְׁתֶּה, mishteh): This word refers to a banquet or festive meal. It highlights that the celebration was not just relief but involved communal gatherings and joyful eating.
  • "Gladness" (שִׂמְחָה, simchah): This word means joy or happiness. It underlines the emotional response of the people, showing that their celebration was heartfelt and not just a formal observance.

Why Esther 9:17 matters

  • Esther 9:17 clarifies that the celebration of Purim is rooted in a real historical moment of relief and survival, not just a generic festival.
  • The verse shows the importance of marking deliverance with both rest and communal joy, which shapes the ongoing tradition in Jewish life.
  • By specifying the dates, Esther 9:17 connects the events to the Jewish calendar, anchoring the story in time and making the commemoration concrete for future generations.

Where else these words appear

“rested” Hebrew H5118 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 6:41 Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
  • Esther 9:16 But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
  • Esther 9:18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

“Adar” Hebrew H143 · used in 8 verses

  • Esther 3:7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
  • 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.
  • Esther 9:15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

“feasting” Hebrew H4960 · used in 43 verses

  • Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
  • Esther 1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
  • Esther 9:19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

“gladness” Hebrew H8057 · used in 89 verses

  • Genesis 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
  • Esther 9:18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.